Wells County Marriage Records
Wells County marriage records start in 1837 and are kept by the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Bluffton, the county seat of this northeast Indiana county. Whether you need to apply for a new license, search historical records, or get a certified copy, this page covers the address, hours, fees, and where to find Wells County marriage records online.
Wells County Marriage Records Quick Facts
Wells County Clerk of the Circuit Court
The Wells County Clerk of the Circuit Court office is located at 102 W Market Street, Suite 201, Bluffton, IN 46714. The main phone number is 260-824-6479, and the fax number is 260-824-6559. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The clerk's office handles marriage license applications, certified record requests, and other civil court filing functions for the county.
Marriage records are among the core records maintained in the clerk's office. As the office itself notes, records available there include marriage records alongside estates and wills, civil cases, and criminal case records. Wells County records start in 1837, giving this office nearly 190 years of marriage history on file. The clerk's staff can help you navigate what is available and how to request copies of specific records.
Both applicants must come in together in person. Indiana Code IC 31-11 requires this. One person cannot file on behalf of both. Both individuals need to show up at the same time with valid photo ID. If you need to call ahead to confirm hours or ask about a specific situation, reach the office at 260-824-6479.
Marriage License Fees and Requirements
Wells County charges $25 for Indiana residents and $65 for out-of-state applicants. These fees are due at the time of application. Ask the clerk about accepted payment methods when you call ahead. Like all Indiana counties, Wells County follows the statewide requirements for age, identification, and documentation. Both applicants must be at least 18 years old. Those who are 16 or 17 need a court order before the clerk can issue a license. No one under 16 can marry in Indiana.
There is no blood test requirement. There is no waiting period. Once the license is issued, you can use it the same day. It is valid for 60 days. If you do not use it within that window, it expires and you need to apply again and pay the fee a second time. If either applicant was previously married, bring the date that marriage ended and whether it ended by divorce, death, or annulment. A copy of the divorce decree or death certificate can be helpful to bring along even if the clerk does not require it in every case.
Searching Wells County Marriage Records Online
Indiana's Marriage License Public Lookup tool at public.courts.in.gov/MLPL is the free online option for searching Wells County marriage records by name. The tool covers all 92 Indiana counties and returns license dates, numbers, and basic identifying details. No fee or account is needed. If you want to verify whether a license was issued for specific individuals in Wells County or find a license date, this is the right tool to use first.
For records going back before the modern court database, the Indiana Legacy Database at digital.statelib.lib.in.us/legacy/ is the primary historical resource. Wells County records starting from 1837 are part of the broader Indiana State Library digital archive. This database is especially valuable for genealogists working on northeast Indiana family history. Some entries from the 1800s include original document images, which are more detailed than a simple index record and can confirm spellings, dates, and witness names that may matter for genealogy research.
Indiana Law and Public Record Access
Indiana Code IC 31-11 is the primary law governing marriage licenses across the state. It sets out eligibility requirements, documentation rules, and the duties of county clerks in processing applications. Wells County follows these statewide requirements. The statute covers the age requirements, identification needed, the rules for minor applicants, and what the clerk must do when a license is not used within the valid period.
Under Indiana Code IC 5-14-3, the Access to Public Records Act, marriage licenses are public records once filed. Any person can request to view or copy a Wells County marriage record. For certified copies that carry legal weight for purposes like name changes, insurance updates, or government filings, you need to request them directly from the Wells County Clerk's office or through the Indiana Department of Health. Indiana Code IC 16-37-1-10 establishes how vital records are maintained and reported at the state level. Together, these statutes ensure that Wells County marriage records are both properly maintained and accessible to the public for decades after they are created.
Online Application
Indiana's online marriage license portal at in.gov/courts/services/marriage-license/ lets couples fill out basic information before their in-person visit to the Wells County Clerk's office. This optional step can save some time when you arrive at the Bluffton courthouse. Completing the online form does not replace the in-person requirement. Both applicants still need to appear together at the clerk's office, show valid photo ID, and finalize the license with a clerk.
If you are not sure whether to use the online portal first, call 260-824-6479 to ask the clerk's staff what they prefer. A quick phone call can also confirm what documents you need to bring for your specific situation, especially if either applicant has a prior marriage or an out-of-state ID. Getting that information ahead of time is easier than discovering a missing document when you are already in Bluffton.
Certified Copies and Vital Records Requests
Certified copies of Wells County marriage records can be obtained from the Clerk of the Circuit Court at 102 W Market Street, Suite 201 in Bluffton. Call 260-824-6479 to ask about the current fee per copy and whether the office accepts mail-in requests. Certified copies carry the official seal of the clerk and are the required format for name changes, Social Security updates, passport applications, and other legal purposes. Printouts from online databases do not qualify as certified records.
If you cannot make it to Bluffton, the Indiana Department of Health processes mail requests for certified marriage records. Their search fee is $8. Forms and instructions are at in.gov/health/vital-records/marriages/. For records going back into the 1800s, the Indiana State Archives holds historical materials that may not be fully available through the modern court database. Their archival holdings can be explored at in.gov/iara/services-for-public/search-archives-holdings/vital-records/. The Indiana State Library genealogy resources at in.gov/library/genealogy.htm are also a strong option for historical Wells County research.
Historical Wells County Marriage Records
Wells County records date to 1837, making this one of Indiana's longer-running county record sets. The county was organized in 1837, so marriage records started almost immediately. Nearly two centuries of marriage records are on file in the Bluffton courthouse or in state archives. For genealogists researching northeast Indiana families, Wells County records are a key part of any thorough search. The Bluffton area has been a center of commerce and community in this part of Indiana since the mid-1800s, and the marriage records reflect the county's growth and population changes over time.
When searching for very old records, the Indiana Legacy Database is the best online starting point. For records that may not have been digitized, contact the clerk's office directly or reach out to the Indiana State Archives. Local libraries in Bluffton may also hold microfilm or digitized local records that can supplement what is available in statewide databases.
Cities in Wells County
Wells County does not have any cities with a population over 100,000. Bluffton is the county seat and the largest community in the county. All Wells County residents apply for marriage licenses at the clerk's office in Bluffton.