Marshall County Marriage Records Search
Marshall County marriage records are filed at the Clerk of the Circuit Court's office in Plymouth, Indiana. The clerk issues marriage licenses, records completed certificates after weddings, and provides certified copies to anyone who needs them. Marshall County also offers something unusual in Indiana: the clerk's office will perform marriage ceremonies for applicants right there, on-site. This page covers the full process, fees, what to bring, and how to find existing marriage records through county and state resources.
Marshall County Marriage Records Quick Facts
Marshall County Clerk of the Circuit Court
Clerk Jenny Bennitt operates the Marshall County Clerk's Office at 211 West Madison Street in Plymouth, Indiana 46563. The phone number is 574-936-8922 and fax is 574-936-8893. Hours are Monday through Friday during standard business hours. Both applicants must appear together in person to apply for a marriage license. The office does not accept personal checks for payment. You need to bring cash, a money order, or a credit card to cover the fee.
The clerk's office says the license application process takes approximately 15 minutes from start to finish. You can also use the Indiana online marriage license pre-application before your visit, which can make things go a little faster at the window. Still, both applicants must be physically present to complete the process and sign the application in front of the clerk.
Certified copies of Marshall County marriage records cost $4.00 each. Payment must be in cash, money order, or credit card.
| Office | Marshall County Clerk of the Circuit Court |
|---|---|
| Clerk | Jenny Bennitt |
| Address | 211 West Madison Street, Plymouth, IN 46563 |
| Phone | 574-936-8922 |
| Fax | 574-936-8893 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday |
| Resident Fee | $25 |
| Out-of-State Fee | $65 |
| Certified Copies | $4.00 each |
| Payment | Cash, money order, or credit card only |
| License Valid | 60 days |
Marriage Ceremonies at the Marshall County Clerk's Office
Marshall County stands out because the clerk's office will perform marriage ceremonies for applicants who want to get married on the spot. This service is available to Marshall County marriage license applicants only, and it is for English-speaking ceremonies. The ceremony option is available during office hours from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Note that the ceremony window closes at 3:00 PM, which is earlier than the office's regular closing time.
This is a practical option for couples who do not want to arrange a separate officiant or plan a larger ceremony. You apply for the license, pay the fee, and if you choose, the clerk's office can perform the ceremony the same visit. The completed license is then recorded by the clerk and becomes the official Marshall County marriage record. Not many Indiana county clerk offices offer this service directly, which makes Marshall County a notable exception.
Ceremony hours: 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM, Monday through Friday. English-speaking only.
How to Get a Marriage License in Marshall County
Indiana law under IC 31-11 sets the statewide rules that Marshall County follows. Both applicants must be at least 18 years old. There is no waiting period after the license is issued. You can use it the same day. The license stays valid for 60 days. If your wedding does not happen within that period, it expires and you have to apply again.
Bring a valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID. If either party was previously married, you must bring documentation showing how that marriage ended. A final divorce decree, annulment order, or death certificate all satisfy this requirement. The clerk will check those documents before issuing the new license. The whole process typically takes about 15 minutes once both applicants are at the window with the right paperwork.
After the ceremony, the officiant or clerk signs the completed license and returns it to the Marshall County Clerk's office for recording. That recorded document is the official marriage record for the county.
Search Marshall County Marriage Records Online
Indiana's free online tool for searching marriage license records covers Marshall County alongside all other Indiana counties. The Marriage License Public Lookup at public.courts.in.gov/MLPL holds records from 1993 to the present. You can search by name and find basic license information including the county, date issued, and names of both parties. The tool is free and does not require a login or account. Anyone can use it.
For records before 1993, the best starting point is the Indiana State Library's resources. The library holds genealogy collections covering many Indiana counties, and Marshall County records are included. You can explore what is available at in.gov/library/genealogy.htm. Some older records have been digitized and indexed, making them searchable without a visit to the library. Others require a request or in-person visit.
The Marriage License Public Lookup is the fastest starting point for modern Marshall County marriage records.
The state lookup covers all Indiana counties including Marshall, giving free access to marriage license records from 1993 forward by name search.
Historical Marshall County Marriage Records
Marshall County was organized in 1836, and marriage records reach back into the county's first decades. Early records are held at the courthouse and may also be available through the Indiana State Archives. The Indiana Archives vital records section describes what county materials are stored there. For genealogy purposes, the archives can be a key source for marriages that predate any digital system by many decades.
The Indiana State Library's genealogy division also has older Marshall County records in its collections. Some of those are available as scanned images or typed indexes. Research on 19th-century marriages in northern Indiana often goes through the state library because courthouse records for that era are not always catalogued in searchable databases. The library's staff can help identify what is available for Marshall County and how to access it remotely or in person.
Older records that predate the state's online system can often be found through the Indiana Legacy Database.
The Indiana State Library genealogy resources include older Marshall County marriage documents useful for historical and genealogy research.
Public Records Access in Marshall County
Marriage records in Marshall County are public records under Indiana's Access to Public Records Act at IC 5-14-3. The clerk's office must respond to requests and may charge a copying fee, but cannot withhold public marriage records without legal cause. You do not need to show a reason for the request or any connection to the people in the record. Standard adult marriage records are open documents.
Certified copies cost $4.00 per copy at the Marshall County Clerk. For state-level certified copies, the Indiana State Department of Health charges $8 per copy under IC 16-37-1-10. Mail-in requests go to the ISDH vital records office. The county is often faster than the state for recent records, while the state is sometimes the better route for older documents held centrally.
Cities in Marshall County
Marshall County's largest city is Plymouth, the county seat. No cities in Marshall County meet the population threshold for a dedicated records page. Plymouth, Bourbon, Bremen, and other communities all use the Marshall County Clerk's office in Plymouth for marriage license services.