How Marriage Licenses Are Issued Across Indiana's 92 Counties

Getting married in Indiana starts at a county courthouse. State law gives the job of issuing marriage licenses to the clerk of the circuit court in each of the state's 92 counties. There is no statewide online application that replaces the visit. The clerk's office takes your application, checks your identification, collects the fee and hands you the license. Your officiant signs it after the ceremony, and it is returned to the same clerk for recording.

The Indiana Department of Health sits above the county system. It sets statewide vital records policy, and our database lists a state-level entry, Indiana Marriage License, at the Vital Records Section, 2 North Meridian Street, Indianapolis. You can reach that office at 317-233-2700. It is a useful first call if you are unsure which county handles your situation. For the license itself, though, you will deal with a county clerk.

This page collects the courthouse offices we have on file so you can find the right counter quickly. Our database holds 90 listings, and the pattern is simple: nearly every county seat has its own entry, from Noble County Marriage License in Albion to Vanderburgh County Marriage License in Evansville.

You Do Not Have to Live in the County, or in Indiana

Indiana does not tie a license to your home county. A couple may apply in any county clerk's office, and the license is valid statewide. Out-of-state couples can also apply, which makes Indiana a practical choice for destination weddings. Pick the courthouse that is closest to your ceremony, your family or your work schedule.

One rule matters here: the license must be used in Indiana. A license from the Monroe County clerk in Bloomington will not work for a ceremony in Illinois or Ohio. If you plan to marry across a state line, apply in that state instead.

Indiana Marriage License Requirements: Age, ID and Eligibility

The basic rules are the same in every Indiana county. Clerks apply state law, not local preference. Even so, small procedural details differ from one office to the next, so a short phone call saves a wasted trip.

Indiana recognizes marriages between same-sex couples, and the application process is the same for everyone. The clerk will ask for the same information and issue the same license.

Timing: Sixty Days to Use Your License

An Indiana marriage license stays valid for 60 days from the date of issue. You can apply a few weeks before a wedding and still have time to spare. Do not apply months ahead, because an expired license means starting over and paying again. Most couples pick it up two to four weeks before the ceremony.

Once you have the license, an authorized officiant must complete it. That can be a judge, a clergy member, a mayor, a clerk or another person Indiana law authorizes. After the ceremony the signed license goes back to the county clerk, who records the marriage. Ask the clerk how and when to get certified copies, since you will need them for name changes, insurance and benefits.

Metro Indianapolis Versus Small-Town Courthouses

Indiana's counties vary a great deal in size, and so does the experience at the clerk's counter. Our database lists two marriage license entries for Indianapolis, which reflects the city's role as the state capital. Marion County is the state's most populous county. The state-level Vital Records Section is also on North Meridian Street. A busy urban office handles many applications each day, so allow extra time, especially on Fridays and ahead of popular wedding dates.

Compare that with Noble County Marriage License at 101 North Orange Street in Albion. The Noble County office is in a small county seat, where staff handle marriage licenses alongside many other court duties. Lines are rarely a problem, but office hours can be tighter and a staff member may be away from the counter at lunch. Call 260-636-2736 to confirm hours before you drive.

Mid-Sized Cities and College Towns

Indiana's mid-sized county seats sit between those two extremes. Madison County Marriage License serves Anderson from 16 East 9th Street, and you can reach it at 765-641-9443. The Madison County office is a short drive from the Indianapolis area, which makes it a handy alternative for couples who want a calmer setting.

College-town offices see seasonal surges. Monroe County Marriage License sits at 301 North College Avenue in Bloomington, phone 812-349-2614. Lines can build around graduation weekends and in the fall, when many couples plan around the Indiana University calendar. Check the Monroe County page for the details we have on file.

Northern and Southern Indiana

In the northeast, the courthouses in Angola, Auburn and Bluffton are close enough to one another that a couple can choose by convenience. Steuben County Marriage License is handled by the county clerk at 55 S. Public Sq. in Angola, phone 260-668-1000. DeKalb County Marriage License is in Auburn at 100 S. Main Street, and the DeKalb County listing names Martha Grimm as clerk with a mailing address at PO Box 230. Wells County Marriage License is at 102 West Market Street in Bluffton.

In the southwest, Warrick County Marriage License is at 1 County Square in Boonville, phone 812-897-6160. The Warrick County office is within easy reach of Evansville, where Vanderburgh County Marriage License lists a post office box in our records. If you plan to visit in person, confirm the street address of the counter by phone at 812-435-5160 before you go.

Using the Indiana Listings Before You Visit

Each entry on this page gives you the county, a street address where we have one, and a phone number. Treat the phone number as your most useful tool. Clerk offices change hours, close for holidays and sometimes move marriage license duties to a different counter or floor. One call usually answers every practical question.

Some entries carry unusual address details, and they matter. Crawford County Marriage License lists P.O. Box 214 in English, which is a mailing address, not a place to walk in. Lake County Marriage License is in the Courts Building, 1st Floor, 2293 N. Main Street, Crown Point. Greene County Marriage License is simply listed at the courthouse in Bloomfield, so ask for the clerk's office when you arrive.

Here is a simple plan that works in almost any county:

Marriage licenses in Indiana are issued by county clerks or recorders, with requirements for identification, fees, and waiting periods set by state law. Couples must obtain their license from a county within the state where the ceremony will be performed.

Marriage Licenses locations are available in 89 cities across Indiana. They are spread across 89 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration include Indianapolis, Delphi, Covington, which serve as county seats with the busiest marriage license offices in the state.

Couples in Indiana should verify current ID and documentation requirements directly with the issuing county clerk before applying, as requirements for previously divorced or widowed applicants may differ from those marrying for the first time.

Marriage Licenses by Counties

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Couples in Indiana should check whether their county clerk offers online appointment scheduling for marriage license applications, which can reduce wait times significantly compared to walk-in visits, especially during the busy spring and summer wedding season.

Browse Marriage Licenses by county across Indiana to find the nearest location.

Planning an Indiana Courthouse Visit by Region

Indiana's geography shapes how couples approach the license. In central Indiana, the Indianapolis offices draw applicants from across the state, partly because they are easy to reach by interstate. In the south, offices such as Lawrence County Marriage License at 916 15th Street in Bedford, Harrison County Marriage License at 300 North Capitol Avenue in Corydon, and Jackson County Marriage License at 111 South Main Street in Brownstown serve smaller communities where a trip to the courthouse is also a trip to the town square.

In the east, Franklin County Marriage License at 459 Main Street in Brookville and Fayette County Marriage License at 401 North Central Avenue in Connersville sit within a short drive of the Ohio border. In the west-central part of the state, Clay County Marriage License (Brazil), Fountain County Marriage License (Covington) and Montgomery County Marriage License (Crawfordsville) fill the same role. Phone numbers for each are in the listings above, and calling first is the best habit whichever region you choose.

In Indiana, the clerk of the circuit court in each county issues marriage licenses. That means a courthouse in one of the state's 92 counties, such as the Monroe County office on North College Avenue in Bloomington or the Madison County office on East 9th Street in Anderson. The Indiana Department of Health Vital Records Section in Indianapolis, reachable at 317-233-2700, is a statewide resource for general questions, but the license itself comes from a county clerk.

No. Indiana lets couples apply in any county clerk's office, and you do not need to be a resident of the county or the state. A couple from another state can apply in Crown Point, Evansville or Albion and marry anywhere in Indiana. The license is not valid for a ceremony held outside the state, so couples planning to marry elsewhere should apply in that state instead.

An Indiana marriage license is valid for 60 days from the date it is issued. The ceremony must take place within that window, or the license expires and you must apply again and pay the fee a second time. Most couples apply two to four weeks before the wedding, which leaves a comfortable margin if the date shifts. Keep the paperwork safe, because the officiant needs the original license to sign.

Bring a valid government-issued photo ID for each applicant and be ready to provide your Social Security number. If either of you has been married before, know the date and place the previous marriage ended, and carry a copy of the divorce decree if you have one. Also ask the clerk which payment methods the office accepts, since small county offices may not take every card. A quick call to the number in our listing settles these details.

Indiana allows first cousins to marry only if both of them are at least 65 years old. Closer relatives, such as siblings, parents and children, cannot marry at all. The clerk will ask about family relationships on the application, so answer accurately. If your situation is unusual, call the county clerk before you travel, because the office can explain what it needs to see before it issues the license.

Indiana law authorizes several kinds of officiants, including judges, clergy members, mayors and clerks. Many couples choose a courthouse ceremony, and some county offices can point you to someone who performs weddings. Whoever you choose, the officiant must complete and sign the license, and it must be returned to the clerk of the county that issued it. Ask the clerk's office how the returned license is recorded and how to request certified copies afterward.

Start with the county clerk where your license was issued, since that office records the marriage. If you cannot remember the county, or the clerk directs you elsewhere, call the Indiana Department of Health Vital Records Section at 317-233-2700 for guidance. Have both spouses' full names and the approximate date of the wedding ready. You will usually need to show identification and pay a copy fee, which the office can quote over the phone.