Search Pulaski County Marriage Records
Pulaski County marriage records are handled by the County Clerk's office in Winamac, a small courthouse town in north-central Indiana that serves one of the state's less densely populated counties. Clerk JoLynn Behny and her staff process marriage license applications under Indiana Code 31-11, and at least one applicant must be an Indiana resident to obtain a license here. This page explains the full application process, fees, what you need to bring, and how to find older Pulaski County marriage records through the state's online databases and archives.
Pulaski County Marriage Records Quick Facts
Pulaski County Clerk's Office
The Pulaski County Clerk's Office is located in the Pulaski County Courthouse in Winamac, which is the county seat. Clerk JoLynn Behny oversees marriage license applications along with other court records functions. The office follows a Monday through Friday schedule. Both applicants must be present together to finalize a license. Indiana law under IC 31-11 does not allow just one person to come in alone and complete the application on behalf of a couple.
Pulaski County is a small rural county. The clerk's office is not a high-volume operation, and that can work in your favor. Waits are usually short. Still, it is worth calling before you drive to Winamac to confirm current hours and any temporary closures. The courthouse is your first stop. Ask for the Clerk's Office when you arrive, and bring everything you need to avoid a second trip.
| Office | Pulaski County Clerk's Office |
|---|---|
| Location | Pulaski County Courthouse, Winamac, IN |
| Clerk | JoLynn Behny |
| Hours | Monday-Friday |
| Fee (Resident) | $25 |
| Fee (Out-of-State) | $65 |
How to Get a Marriage License in Pulaski County
Indiana's online marriage license portal at in.gov/courts/services/marriage-license is a good place to start before heading to Winamac. Filling out the form online in advance means less time at the counter when you arrive. You still have to appear in person with your partner to pay, sign, and receive the license. There is no way to complete the full process remotely.
Bring a valid government-issued photo ID. A driver's license, state-issued ID, or passport all work. If either applicant was previously married, bring documentation that shows how the prior marriage ended. A certified copy of the divorce decree or a death certificate is what the clerk will want to see. Do not assume that the clerk can look it up in a database. Bring a physical copy to be safe.
No blood test is needed. No waiting period exists. The license is good for 60 days. Both parties must be 18 or older to marry without parental consent.
Marriage License Fees in Pulaski County
Pulaski County charges $25 for resident couples and $65 for out-of-state applicants. The lower rate applies when at least one applicant is an Indiana resident. If both people live out of state, the $65 fee applies regardless of where the wedding will take place. Indiana Code 31-11 governs these fee distinctions statewide, and most counties follow the same basic structure, though a few charge more.
Pay the fee at the clerk's office when you come in to finalize the application. Call ahead to confirm which forms of payment are accepted. Some smaller county clerks' offices prefer cash or money orders. Once the license is paid for and issued, you can use it any time within the 60-day window. After the ceremony, the officiant signs the completed license and it must be returned to the clerk's office to be recorded. That step finalizes the legal record of your marriage in Pulaski County.
Find Pulaski County Marriage Records Online
The screenshot below shows Indiana's Marriage License Public Lookup tool, which covers records from Pulaski County and all Indiana counties.
The public lookup at public.courts.in.gov/MLPL is maintained by the Indiana Supreme Court. It is free and requires no account. Search by name and filter to Pulaski County to find records that have been entered into the state system.
Older Pulaski County marriage records are available through the Indiana Legacy Database at digital.statelib.lib.in.us/legacy. The Indiana State Library has worked for years to digitize and index historical county records, including marriage registers from the 1800s and early 1900s. Pulaski County was organized in 1839, and some records from that early period survive in digitized form. Genealogical societies, including those focused on northern Indiana, may also hold indexes that cover Pulaski County marriages.
Pulaski County Marriage Records and Indiana Public Records Law
Indiana's Access to Public Records Act, IC 5-14-3, makes marriage records open to the public. Anyone can request a copy of a Pulaski County marriage record from the clerk's office. You do not need to be a party to the marriage or provide a reason for the request. Certified copies, which carry an official seal and are used for legal purposes like name changes and insurance forms, require a fee. Call the clerk's office to ask about the current copy fee before sending a request by mail.
The screenshot below is from the Indiana State Library's genealogy resources page, which includes finding aids and databases relevant to Pulaski County historical marriage records research.
The State Library also maintains access to microfilmed county records, including some Pulaski County materials, which can be accessed either in person in Indianapolis or through interlibrary loan programs.
Under IC 16-37-1-10, the Indiana State Department of Health also holds vital records. The ISDH at in.gov/health/vital-records/marriages can provide certified copies for records within their holdings. For Pulaski County marriages, the primary source remains the county clerk. The ISDH is more relevant for birth and death records, though they do hold some marriage records as well. The Indiana Archives at in.gov/iara is another option for older materials.
Additional Research Resources
If the online lookup does not show the record you need, contact the Pulaski County Clerk directly. In-person visits during business hours are the most direct route. For genealogy research on older records, the Indiana State Library in Indianapolis is worth a visit. Their genealogy collection is one of the best in the Midwest for tracing Indiana family history, and staff can help you identify which specific collections or microfilm reels cover Pulaski County marriages from a given time period.
FamilySearch also indexes many Indiana county marriage records, including some from Pulaski County, and that site is free to use. Index entries can point you to where the original record is held, even if the image itself is not online. Ancestry.com holds additional Indiana marriage collections, some of which cover smaller counties like Pulaski.
Cities in Pulaski County
Pulaski County is a rural county with Winamac as the county seat. No cities in Pulaski County meet the population threshold for dedicated pages on this site. All marriage license applications for county residents are processed at the Pulaski County Courthouse in Winamac.