Find Montgomery County Marriage Records
Montgomery County marriage records are kept at the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Crawfordsville, Indiana. The clerk issues marriage licenses, records completed certificates after weddings, and provides certified copies to anyone who requests them. This page covers where to apply in Crawfordsville, what documents to bring, how the fee structure works, where to search existing marriage records online, and what Indiana law says about public access to these records.
Montgomery County Marriage Records Quick Facts
Montgomery County Clerk of the Circuit Court
Clerk Sondra Sixberry runs the Montgomery County Clerk's Office at 100 E Main St., Crawfordsville, IN 47933. The phone number is 765-364-6434 and fax is 765-364-6430. Hours are 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday. Both applicants must come to the office together. You cannot apply by mail or have one party go alone. The office follows a standard weekday schedule with no weekend hours.
If you want to start the paperwork before your visit, the Indiana online marriage license application lets you complete much of the form in advance. That can cut down on the time you spend at the clerk's window. Both parties still need to appear in person and sign the application in front of the clerk to finish the process. Call 765-364-6434 to ask about accepted payment types before your visit.
| Office | Montgomery County Clerk of the Circuit Court |
|---|---|
| Clerk | Sondra Sixberry |
| Address | 100 E Main St., Crawfordsville, IN 47933 |
| Phone | 765-364-6434 |
| Fax | 765-364-6430 |
| Hours | 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday |
| Resident Fee | $29 ($25 + $4) |
| Out-of-State Fee | $69 ($65 + $4) |
| License Valid | 60 days |
How to Apply for a Marriage License in Montgomery County
Indiana law under IC 31-11 sets the rules that Montgomery County follows. Both applicants must be 18 or older. There is no waiting period after the license is issued. The license is valid for 60 days. If the ceremony does not happen within that window, the license expires and you must start over and pay the fees again. Plan your wedding date to fall within those 60 days from the date you pick up the license.
Bring a valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID. Driver's licenses, state IDs, and passports all qualify. If either person was previously married, bring documentation showing how that marriage ended. A final divorce decree, annulment order, or death certificate are the accepted forms. The clerk's staff will check those documents before issuing the new license. Do not assume the prior marriage ending is on record locally. Bring the actual document.
The fee for Indiana residents is $29. Out-of-state applicants pay $69. The breakdown typically includes the base license fee plus smaller additional charges. Confirm accepted payment forms when you call ahead.
After the ceremony, the officiant returns the signed license to the Montgomery County Clerk for recording. That becomes the official marriage record.
Search Montgomery County Marriage Records Online
The Indiana Office of Judicial Administration operates a free public database for marriage license records. The Marriage License Public Lookup at public.courts.in.gov/MLPL covers all Indiana counties including Montgomery from 1993 to the present. Enter a name and the system returns matching license records with the county, date, and names of both parties. No login is needed and there is no charge to search. The tool is open to anyone at no cost.
For older records, the Indiana Legacy Database is the best free resource. This database, maintained by the Indiana State Library, holds pre-1993 marriage records for many Indiana counties including Montgomery. Genealogy researchers working on families in west-central Indiana often find Montgomery County records included in the library's collections. Some older indexes were created through 1930s federal projects that captured courthouse records across Indiana.
The Marriage License Public Lookup is the fastest tool for finding a recent Montgomery County marriage record.
Indiana's free statewide marriage lookup covers Montgomery County alongside all Indiana counties, with records from 1993 to the present available by name search at no cost.
Certified Copies of Montgomery County Marriage Records
Certified copies of Montgomery County marriage records carry legal weight. They are accepted as official proof of marriage for name changes, passport applications, and estate or insurance matters. To get a certified copy, contact the Montgomery County Clerk at 765-364-6434. The clerk can tell you the current copy fee and how to submit your request. In-person requests at the Crawfordsville office are usually the fastest option.
The Indiana State Department of Health also issues certified copies of marriage records statewide. Under IC 16-37-1-10, the state maintains its own vital records file separate from county records. The state charges $8 per certified copy and takes mail-in requests through the ISDH vital records office. State processing typically runs several weeks. If you need a copy quickly, the county clerk in Crawfordsville is usually the faster route, especially for records from the past decade or two.
Historical Montgomery County Marriage Records
Montgomery County was organized in 1823, and marriage records span nearly two centuries. Early records are held at the courthouse and some may be stored at the Indiana State Archives. The Indiana Archives vital records section lists what county materials are held there. Genealogy researchers looking for 19th-century Montgomery County marriages should check both the archives and the courthouse to see where the original records are located.
The Indiana State Library is another key source. The library's genealogy division at in.gov/library/genealogy.htm holds microfilm and digitized records for many Indiana counties. Montgomery County's older marriage records, including indexes from the 1800s, are part of the library's west-central Indiana collection. Some of those records were indexed during 1930s Works Progress Administration projects, which created typed name indexes of courthouse records across the state. Those indexes remain useful today for locating pre-1900 marriages that are not in any digital system.
The Indiana Legacy Database gathers many of those older records into one searchable place.
The Legacy Database provides free online access to pre-1993 Montgomery County marriage records, covering historical documents from west-central Indiana.
Public Access to Montgomery County Marriage Records
Indiana's Access to Public Records Act at IC 5-14-3 makes marriage records public documents. The Montgomery County Clerk must respond to inspection and copy requests from the public. You do not need to show a connection to either party or explain why you want the record. Standard adult marriage records in Montgomery County are open to anyone who asks, and the clerk cannot withhold them without legal cause.
Some narrow exceptions apply, including records sealed by court order or those involving minors. But for routine adult marriage records, public access is clear and consistent under Indiana law. If a records request is denied without legal basis, the Indiana Public Access Counselor's office handles those disputes and can provide guidance on how to pursue your request. Most requests at the county clerk level in Crawfordsville go through without complications.
Additional Resources for Montgomery County Marriage Records
The Indiana State Archives provide long-term storage for county government records including some marriage documents. The archives are accessible through the Indiana Archives vital records page. If you are researching a Montgomery County marriage from before the courthouse's current active files, the archives may have what you need. Staff can help identify which records are held there and how to request copies.
The Indiana Judicial Branch public records page is also worth checking for court-related records that touch on marriage, such as dissolution proceedings or name change orders filed through the circuit court. These types of records are different from the marriage license itself but can be relevant when researching someone's full family record. The judicial branch site explains how to access those types of court filings through the appropriate channels.
Cities in Montgomery County
The largest city in Montgomery County is Crawfordsville, the county seat. No cities in Montgomery County currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated records page. Crawfordsville, Waveland, and other communities in the county all use the Montgomery County Clerk's office for marriage license services.