Miami County Marriage Records
Miami County marriage records are filed at the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Peru, Indiana. The clerk's office issues marriage licenses, records completed certificates after ceremonies, and provides certified copies to the public. Miami County has a few specific requirements that set it apart from some Indiana counties, including additional information about parents' birthplaces and names that both applicants must provide. This page covers the full application process, fees, search tools, and public access rights.
Miami County Marriage Records Quick Facts
Miami County Clerk's Office in Peru
The Miami County Clerk's Office is located at 25 N Broadway, Room 108, Peru, IN 46970. The main phone number is 765-472-3901 extension 1226. You can also call the main line at 765-472-3995 or fax to 765-472-1778. The office is open Monday through Friday during standard business hours. Both applicants must come in together in person to apply. You cannot apply alone or through the mail.
Miami County's marriage license fee includes the cost of a certified copy. The clerk's office states it plainly: "The cost is $25 for this license plus $4 for the certified copy." So the total for Indiana residents is $29. For out-of-state applicants, the fee is $65 plus $4, for a total of $69. Payment amounts and accepted forms of payment should be confirmed when you call ahead. The clerk's staff can answer those questions at 765-472-3901 ext. 1226.
| Office | Miami County Clerk of the Circuit Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 25 N Broadway, Room 108, Peru, IN 46970 |
| Phone | 765-472-3901 ext. 1226 |
| Main Line | 765-472-3995 |
| Fax | 765-472-1778 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday |
| Resident Fee | $29 ($25 license + $4 certified copy) |
| Out-of-State Fee | $69 ($65 license + $4 certified copy) |
| License Valid | 60 days |
| Waiting Period | None |
What Miami County Requires for a Marriage License
Miami County follows Indiana law under IC 31-11, but also collects additional family information that not every Indiana county asks for. The clerk's office notes that "both applicants have to provide their mother's maiden name and their parents' place of birth." This means you should know both parents' birthplaces, not just your own. Some applicants are caught off guard by this requirement, so it is worth gathering that information before you visit.
You also need to bring a valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID. Driver's licenses, state IDs, and passports all work. Both people must be 18 years old or older. There is no waiting period once the license is issued. The license is valid for 60 days. If either applicant was previously married, bring documentation of how that marriage ended. A final divorce decree, annulment order, or death certificate are all accepted. The clerk will review those before processing the new application.
No waiting period applies. You can get married the same day the license is issued if you choose. The license is good for 60 days from the issue date.
Search Miami County Marriage Records Online
Indiana maintains a free statewide database for marriage license records. The Marriage License Public Lookup at public.courts.in.gov/MLPL covers all Indiana counties including Miami from 1993 to the present. You search by name and get back basic license information: county, date, and the names of both parties. The tool is free and open to anyone. No account is needed and there is no search fee.
For marriages before 1993, the best resource is the Indiana State Library's genealogy holdings. The library maintains microfilm, scanned documents, and typed indexes for many Indiana counties, including Miami. Some older records have been digitized and are searchable through the Indiana Legacy Database. Others may require contacting the library directly. Miami County records from the 1800s and early 1900s are often part of the library's broader north-central Indiana collections.
The Marriage License Public Lookup is the starting point for any Miami County marriage search from 1993 onward.
The state tool covers Miami County alongside every other Indiana county, giving free public access to marriage license data going back to 1993.
Certified Copies of Miami County Marriage Records
Miami County's fee structure already includes a certified copy in the base license cost. When you apply and pay the $29 (or $69 for out-of-state), you get the license plus one certified copy. That copy is available to take with you or pick up at the office. If you need additional certified copies later, contact the Miami County Clerk at 765-472-3901 ext. 1226 to ask about the process and any additional fee per copy.
You can also get certified copies from the Indiana State Department of Health. Under IC 16-37-1-10, the state maintains a separate vital records file. The state charges $8 per certified copy and handles mail-in requests through the ISDH vital records office. State requests typically take several weeks. If you need a copy quickly, the county is usually the faster route, especially since Miami County already builds the certified copy cost into the license fee.
Historical Miami County Marriage Records
Miami County was organized in 1832, and marriage records date back to the county's earliest years. Older records are held at the courthouse in Peru and may also be accessible through the Indiana State Archives. The Indiana Archives vital records collection covers some county-level documents useful for genealogy. Researchers should check what Miami County materials are held at the archives before assuming all old records remain at the courthouse.
The Indiana State Library has genealogy collections covering Miami County as part of its broader north-central Indiana holdings. The library at in.gov/library/genealogy.htm holds microfilm and indexes covering marriages across many decades. Some 19th-century Miami County records are included in the Works Progress Administration indexes from the 1930s, which created typed name indexes of early courthouse records. Those are often the quickest path to a pre-1900 marriage in the county.
The Indiana Legacy Database is the best free starting point for older Miami County genealogy research.
The Legacy Database gives free access to pre-1993 Miami County marriage records, covering historical documents from north-central Indiana.
Public Records Access in Miami County
Indiana's Access to Public Records Act at IC 5-14-3 treats marriage records as public documents. The Miami County Clerk must respond to inspection and copy requests. You do not need to show a connection to the people in the record or explain your purpose. Standard adult marriage records are open to anyone who asks.
Sealed records or those involving minors may not be released, but those situations are uncommon for routine marriage records. If you believe a records request was wrongly denied at the Miami County Clerk's office, you can contact the Indiana Public Access Counselor's office, which handles disputes about public records access statewide. Most requests at the county level go through smoothly, especially for records that are a few years old or older.
Cities in Miami County
Miami County's largest city is Peru, the county seat. No cities in Miami County currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated records page. Peru, Bunker Hill, and other communities in the county all use the Miami County Clerk in Peru for marriage license services.