Find Marriage Records in Marion County
Marion County marriage records are managed by the Marion County Clerk's Office, which operates multiple locations across Indianapolis to serve the county's large population. The process involves completing an online application first and then visiting an office in person for review. This page covers where to apply, what to bring, how the Marion County system works, fees, and where to search existing marriage records through the state and county databases.
Marion County Marriage Records Quick Facts
Marion County Clerk's Office Locations
The Marion County Clerk handles marriage records from three locations in Indianapolis. The main location is at the City-County Building, 200 E. Washington St., Room W122, Indianapolis, IN 46204. Phone is 317-327-4720 and email is marriage@indy.gov. Hours run from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. A second location at the Community Justice Campus is at 675 Justice Way. The Records Facility at 1330 Madison Ave can be reached at 317-327-4715.
Marion County does not accept personal checks for marriage license fees. Bring cash, a credit card, or a money order. The fee is $25 for Indiana residents and $65 for out-of-state applicants. Both people must show up to complete the review in person. You can start the process online, but the office visit is required to finish. The clerk's office describes the steps this way: "To obtain a marriage license, you must complete an online marriage license application, complete your application review in the office, and then get married by a wedding officiant who records the marriage license in the office."
| Main Office | City-County Building, 200 E. Washington St., Room W122, Indianapolis, IN 46204 |
|---|---|
| Phone | 317-327-4720 |
| marriage@indy.gov | |
| Community Justice Campus | 675 Justice Way, Indianapolis |
| Records Facility | 1330 Madison Ave (317-327-4715) |
| Hours | 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday |
| Resident Fee | $25 (no personal checks) |
| Out-of-State Fee | $65 (no personal checks) |
| License Valid | 60 days |
Applying for a Marriage License in Marion County
Marion County requires couples to complete the Indiana online marriage license application before their in-person visit. This is different from some smaller Indiana counties where you can walk in without any prior preparation. In Marion County, the online step is required first. After that, both applicants visit an office location together for the application review. The license is then issued, and the ceremony must take place within 60 days.
Indiana law under IC 31-11 sets the baseline rules for marriage licenses statewide. Both applicants must be 18 or older. There is no waiting period. The clerk's office states plainly that "both applicants must present physical, unexpired identification documentation." That means no digital ID copies or phone screenshots. You need the actual physical card or document. A driver's license, state ID, or passport all work, but they must be current and not expired.
After the wedding, the officiant signs the license and brings it back to the clerk's office for recording. Once recorded, that document becomes the official Marion County marriage record.
The license is valid for 60 days. Use it within that window or you will need to start over.
Marion County Marriage Records and the Digitization Project
Marion County launched a digitization project in August 2024 to make older marriage records available electronically. Before that project, pre-1990 records existed only in paper or microfilm form. As of 2024, those older records are being converted, but the process is ongoing. If you need a Marion County marriage record from before 1990, allow an extra 24 to 48 hours for retrieval while staff locate and pull the physical document.
You can learn more about Marion County's clerk services at indy.gov/agency/marion-county-clerks-office. The site covers hours, locations, procedures, and contact details for the full clerk's operation. For marriage license questions specifically, the email at marriage@indy.gov is often the fastest way to get an answer without waiting on hold.
The Marion County Clerk's website is the main resource for current procedures and office updates.
The Marion County Clerk's Office manages marriage records for Indianapolis and all of Marion County, including records going back over a century.
Search Marion County Marriage Records Online
The Indiana Office of Judicial Administration maintains the Marriage License Public Lookup, which covers all Indiana counties including Marion. The database goes back to 1993. Search by name and find basic details about a license, including the county, date, and both parties' names. The tool is free and open to anyone. No account is needed and there is no fee to search.
For records before 1993, the Indiana Legacy Database hosted by the Indiana State Library is the next resource to check. It holds older Marion County marriage records in digitized and indexed form. These records are valuable for genealogy and for locating marriages that happened well before the current state database existed.
The Indiana Judicial Branch public records page also provides guidance on how to access court records, including marriage-related filings that may have gone through the court system rather than the clerk's standard license process.
The Marriage License Public Lookup is updated regularly and covers all Marion County marriage licenses issued since 1993.
Indiana's free statewide marriage search tool is the quickest way to look up a Marion County marriage license from the past three decades by name at no cost.
Certified Copies of Marion County Marriage Certificates
A certified copy of a Marion County marriage record is the document used for legal name changes, Social Security updates, passport applications, and estate or insurance matters. Certified copies carry a seal and signature that plain printouts do not. To get one, contact the Marion County Clerk at 317-327-4720 or email marriage@indy.gov. The Records Facility at 1330 Madison Ave may also handle copy requests. Call 317-327-4715 for that location.
The Indiana State Department of Health issues certified copies of marriage records statewide under IC 16-37-1-10. The state charges $8 per certified copy. Requests go through the ISDH vital records office by mail. State processing typically takes several weeks. The county clerk may be faster, especially for recent records. For pre-1990 Marion County records, add buffer time due to the ongoing digitization work.
State vital records requests require the full names of both parties and the approximate date of the marriage.
Indiana Law and Access to Marion County Marriage Records
Indiana's Access to Public Records Act at IC 5-14-3 makes marriage licenses public documents. The Marion County Clerk must respond to records requests and can charge a reasonable copying fee. You do not need to explain why you want a record or show any connection to the parties involved. The law treats standard adult marriage records as open to inspection by anyone.
Narrow exceptions apply to sealed records or records involving minors, but those are unusual. For standard adult marriage records, the public right of access is clear. If a request is denied improperly, the Indiana Public Access Counselor handles those disputes and can help you understand your rights. Most requests at the Marion County Clerk level go through without any issue, particularly for records that are more than a few years old.
Cities in Marion County
Marion County includes Indianapolis and several smaller incorporated cities. Two cities have dedicated records pages.
Other communities within Marion County include Beech Grove, Southport, and Speedway. Those cities do not have separate records pages but share the Marion County Clerk's services for marriage licenses.