Rush County Marriage Records
Rush County marriage records are handled by the County Clerk's office in Rushville, where all marriage license applications are processed under Indiana Code 31-11. Located in east-central Indiana, Rush County is a rural county where the clerk's office provides personal service without a lot of wait. One thing to know before you go: Rush County does not accept emailed filings, so all document submission must happen in person. This page covers how to apply for a Rush County marriage license, what documents you need, the fees involved, and how to search both recent and historical Rush County marriage records.
Rush County Marriage Records Quick Facts
Rush County Clerk's Office
The Rush County Clerk's Office is in the courthouse in Rushville, Indiana, which is the county seat. The clerk's office handles marriage licenses as part of its broader function as custodian of court and county records. The office is open Monday through Friday during standard business hours. Both applicants must appear in person to finalize the marriage license. No emailed filings are accepted, and the process cannot be completed remotely.
Rush County is one of the smaller Indiana counties, and the courthouse in Rushville is not a large complex. Finding the clerk's office should be straightforward once you are inside. Call ahead to confirm current hours. Rush County's fees are lower than the Indiana average, which is one advantage of applying in this county if you qualify as a resident.
| Office | Rush County Clerk's Office |
|---|---|
| Location | Rush County Courthouse, Rushville, IN |
| Hours | Monday-Friday |
| Fee (Resident) | $18 |
| Fee (Out-of-State) | $60 |
| Emailed Filings | Not accepted |
How to Apply for a Rush County Marriage License
Indiana's online marriage license portal at in.gov/courts/services/marriage-license is where couples can start the process before going to the courthouse in Rushville. Completing the initial form online saves time at the counter, though you must still appear in person with your partner to finalize the license. The portal does not issue the license remotely. You need to show up together and pay the fee.
Bring a valid government-issued photo ID. A driver's license, state ID, or passport all work. If either person has been married before, bring documentation of how that marriage ended. A certified divorce decree or death certificate is what the clerk needs. Do not rely on the clerk being able to look it up in a database. Physical documents are the safest approach.
No blood test is required. There is no waiting period. The license is valid for 60 days from the date it is issued. Both applicants must be 18 or older to marry without parental consent in Indiana.
Rush County Marriage License Fees
Rush County charges $18 for Indiana resident couples, which is one of the lower resident fees in the state. Out-of-state applicants pay $60. The resident rate applies when at least one of the two applicants lives in Indiana. Under Indiana Code 31-11, counties have some latitude in setting their fee schedules, and Rush County's rates fall on the lower end of what Indiana counties charge.
The fee is paid at the clerk's office when you come in to finalize the application. As noted, emailed filings are not accepted, and the entire process must be handled in person. After the wedding, the officiant signs the completed license and returns it to the Rush County Clerk. That return step is how the marriage gets recorded in the county's official records. Once recorded, you can request certified copies for name changes, insurance, and similar legal needs. Ask the clerk about current copy fees when you are in for the application.
Look Up Rush County Marriage Records Online
The screenshot below shows the Indiana Marriage License Public Lookup portal, the main state tool for finding Rush County marriage records by name.
The public lookup at public.courts.in.gov/MLPL is free and does not require an account. It is maintained by the Indiana Supreme Court and pulls from records submitted by county clerks. Search by name and filter to Rush County to see records in the state system. Very recent licenses may not appear immediately after they are issued.
For older Rush County marriage records, the Indiana Legacy Database at digital.statelib.lib.in.us/legacy holds digitized historical materials collected by the Indiana State Library. Rush County was organized in 1822, so there are nearly two centuries of marriage records in various forms. Some early records have been indexed and are searchable through free genealogy databases. Others exist only in microfilm or in the county's own files. FamilySearch has indexed some Indiana county marriage records from the 1800s, including some Rush County entries, and that site is free to use.
Access to Rush County Marriage Records Under Indiana Law
Indiana's Access to Public Records Act, IC 5-14-3, generally makes marriage records available to anyone. You do not need to be listed on a marriage record to request a copy. Plain copies are typically lower cost. Certified copies, which carry an official seal and are legally valid for agency submissions, cost more. Contact the Rush County Clerk to get the current fee schedule for copies before sending a mail request.
The screenshot below is from the Indiana State Library's genealogy page, which provides guides and database access for researching Rush County historical marriage records.
The State Library holds microfilm of many Indiana county records, and their genealogy staff can help you identify which collections cover Rush County marriages from a given era.
Under IC 16-37-1-10, the Indiana State Department of Health maintains some vital records at the state level. The ISDH vital records page at in.gov/health/vital-records/marriages explains what they hold. For Rush County, the county clerk is the primary custodian. The Indiana Archives at in.gov/iara may hold older materials as well.
Other Ways to Get Rush County Marriage Records
If the online lookup does not return what you need, contact the Rush County Clerk directly. In-person visits are the most reliable approach. Mail requests are also an option. Send the names of both parties, the approximate year of marriage, your contact information, and payment for any copy fees. Remember that Rush County does not process emailed requests, so do not submit documents via email. The Indiana Public Records portal at in.gov/courts/public-records has general guidance on requesting court and clerk records across the state.
Cities in Rush County
Rush County's main community is Rushville, the county seat and home to the clerk's office. No cities in Rush County meet the population threshold for dedicated pages on this site. All marriage license applications for Rush County residents are handled at the courthouse in Rushville.