Indiana Marriage Records

Indiana marriage records are official documents that document the details of a marriage, including the couple's names, marriage date, location, and officiant's information. These records are kept by the clerk of the court in the county where the marriage occurred and are accessible under the Indiana Access to Public Records Act. However, some sensitive information may be redacted.

Indiana marriage records include marriage licenses and certificates. A marriage license is required before a couple can legally marry, while a marriage certificate proves the marriage occurred. These records are essential for legal purposes such as visa applications, name changes, and inheritance claims. They also help in tracing family histories.

In 2018, Indiana recorded 43,871 marriages, the majority of which involved white, non-Hispanic individuals. The average age of marriage was 33.6 years, and most individuals had not completed four years of college. Male-female marriages made up 97% of all marriages in the state.

To marry in Indiana, couples must meet age requirements, apply for a marriage license, and be of sound mind. The license is valid for 60 days. After the marriage ceremony, the officiant must return the signed marriage license to the office of the county clerk, where it would be recorded, allowing the couple to request a marriage certificate. Certified copies of marriage records can be obtained from the county clerk's office or the State Vital Records Office.

What are Marriage Records?

An Indiana marriage record is an official document containing the details of a marriage between two persons held in an Indiana location. It typically includes the names of the married persons, the date and location of the marriage, and the name and address of the marriage officiant. Indiana marriage records are maintained by the clerk of the court in the counties where the marriage occurred.

Indiana marriage records include marriage licenses and marriage certificates. Marriage licenses are official permits issued to people seeking to get married before they may legally solemnize their unions. A marriage certificate is proof a marriage occurred between the persons named on the document and is, therefore, issued after the conclusion of the marriage ceremony.

You may obtain an Indiana marriage record to support visa or residency applications for a spouse or name change purposes. An Indiana marriage record may be useful as legal proof in inheritance, spousal benefits, and divorce proceedings. It can also help trace family histories. Since Indiana marriage records are public, you can request the appropriate custodian of the records under the Indiana Access to Public Records Act (APRA). However, certain sensitive information in the records may be redacted and inaccessible to the public.

Marriages in Indiana

According to the 2018 Indiana Marriage Report published by the Vital Statistics Office of the State Department of Health, Indiana recorded 43,871 marriages in 2018 among 87,742 individuals, for a rate of 13.1 persons per 1,000 population. Of the individuals who were married in 2018, 82.1% were white, 9.4% were black, 5.4% were other races, and 3.2% were in the unknown race category.

Per the ethnicity categories, non-Hispanics accounted for 88.3% of the married individuals, Hispanics accounted for 7.9%, and 3.8% were in the unknown ethnicity category. For all individuals, the average age of marriage was 33.6 years, and the median age was 30.0 years. For males, the average age was 34.7 years, and the median was 31.0 years. For females, the average age was 32.6 years, and the median age was 29.0.

For all marriages by education, most individuals had less than four years of college (72.4%) compared to those with four or more years of college (27.6%). 66.1% of individuals were never married compared with being divorced (31.0%), widowed (2.6%), and having an annulment (0.2%). The majority of individuals married in 2018 reported their first marriage (66.1%) compared with a second marriage (23.1%), a third or fourth marriage (9.9%), and a fifth or more marriage (0.9%).

In 2018, male/female couples accounted for 42,561 marriages (97.0%), female/female couples accounted for 917 marriages (2.1%), and male/male couples accounted for 393 marriages (0.9%). The marriage rate by county was highest in Scott and Tipton Counties (16.4 persons per 1,000) and lowest in Newton County (10.4 persons per 1,000).

Before you may get married in Indiana, you must have a marriage license. To apply for a marriage license, you must meet the state's age requirement. Under Section 31-11-1-4 of the Indiana Code, except as provided in Section 31-11-1-5 and Section 31-11-1-7 of the state code, two individuals may not marry each other unless both are at least 18.

Per Section 31-11-1-5 of the state code, two individuals may marry each other if both individuals are at least aged 16, one of the intending spouses is 16 or 15, or each individual is younger than 18:

Has been granted an order by a juvenile court granting them approval to marry and completely emancipating the individual; and
Not earlier than 15 days after the issuance of the order, presents to the clerk of the circuit court an application for an Indiana marriage license along with:
- a certified copy of the order
- a certificate of completion of premarital counseling required under the order

Per Section 31-11-1-7 of the Indiana Code, minors aged 16 or 17 may petition the juvenile court in the county where the minor resides for an order granting the minor authorization to marry.

After verifying that you meet Indiana's requirement to be legally married in the state, you must visit the clerk's office in the county where one of you resides to complete an application for a marriage license. If you and your partner are out-of-state residents, you must apply for a license in any Indiana’s county where the marriage will be solemnized. You may pre-apply online for a marriage license. However, you must still visit the county clerk's office to complete the process. Pre-application is recommended to shorten the application period when you visit the office of the county clerk.

Per Section 31-11 of the Indiana Code, either applicant for a marriage license must not be under the influence of drugs or alcohol when applying, as you both must be judged to be of sound mind for a license to be issued. In addition, the county clerk will not issue a marriage license if you and your spouse are more closely related than second cousins (there is an exception if you are first cousins and both you and your partners are at least 65 years of age).

Before your license may be issued, you must provide an acceptable form of identification (such as a passport, current valid driver's license or state-issued ID card, and birth certificate) and Social Security number. You must pay a fee of $25 if you or your partner are Indiana residents or $65 if you are both out-of-state residents. Additionally, a nominal fee may apply in some counties. The clerk's office may also collect some genealogical information (such as the full names, last known address, and birthplace of your parents) to be reported to the Indiana State Library.

There is no waiting time to obtain an Indiana marriage license. Therefore, you can marry on the same day your marriage license is issued. Note that the license is valid for 60 days from the issuance date; hence, the marriage ceremony must take place no longer than the 60th day after the date of issuance of the license.

Per IC 31-11-6-1, the following persons can solemnize a marriage in the state:

The Bahai faith, per the rules of the Baha'i faith
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, per the rules of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
A clerk of the circuit court
A clerk or clerk-treasurer of a town or city, within a county in which the city or town is located
The Friends Church, per the rules of the Friends Church
The German Baptists, per the regulations of their society
An Imam of a masjid (mosque), per the rules of the religion of Islam
A judge
A mayor, within the mayor's county
A member of the clergy of a religious institution, such as a minister of the gospel, a bishop, a priest, a rabbi, or an archbishop

Indiana Marriage Certificate

In Indiana, a marriage certificate is an official document issued by the county clerk's office after a marriage has been legally solemnized. It includes the names of the spouses, the date of the marriage, the city or county where the marriage took place, and the information of the marriage officiant.

Once the marriage is solemnized, the officiant must sign and return the marriage license to the office of the county clerk, where it is recorded. Afterward, the couple or other eligible parties may request the marriage certificate. This document is often needed for various legal and administrative purposes, such as changing one's name, applying for spousal benefits, or updating marital status on official records.

The process of obtaining a marriage certificate in Indiana varies by county, but generally, it may be requested in person, by mail, or online. Fees for obtaining certified copies of the marriage certificate also vary by county. Only individuals who were part of the marriage, their immediate family members, or authorized representatives may request a certified copy of the marriage certificate. This ensures the privacy and security of the individuals involved.

How to Find and Access Indiana Marriage Records

Starting in 1958, the State Vital Records Office became Indiana's primary repository for all marriage records. However, copies of these records are also maintained by the clerk of courts in the county where the marriage occurred. This dual system ensures that marriage records are accessible both at the state level and within the specific county of origin, providing a reliable means of obtaining official documentation for various legal and personal purposes. You can obtain Indiana marriage records in the following specific ways.

Finding and Accessing Indiana Marriage Records Online

Indiana allows the public to look up marriage license records via the state courts' marriage license public lookup resource. The state's library also makes its database searchable for marriages through 1850 and marriages between 1958 and 2018.

Some counties also make certified copies of marriage licenses available online. For instance, St. Joseph County allows requesters to obtain certified copies of marriage licenses online, Hendricks County provides online access to marriage indexes, Wayne County permits the public search of its marriage license database, and Greene County maintains an online marriage index.

Finding and Accessing Indiana Marriage Records Offline

Certified copies of Indiana marriage licenses are available from the court clerk in the county where the marriage license was issued. Many clerks’ offices allow requesters to submit a completed application form (available on their websites) to order a copy of marriage licenses. If mail applications are not accepted or available, you may visit the location of the county clerk’s office to submit a request for a copy of an Indiana marriage license. Clerk's Offices are required by Sections 33-37-5-1 and 33-37-5-3 of the Indiana Code to collect copy fees of $1.00 per page plus an additional $3.00 per document for certification.

Also, under Section 16-37-1-10 of the Indiana Code, you may purchase a copy of a record of marriage in the state, submit a completed State Form 54764, a copy of your identification, and a check or money order of the appropriate fee made payable to the Indiana State Department of Health to:

Vital Records

Indiana State Department of Health

2 North Meridian Street

Indianapolis, IN 46204

Each record of marriage search costs $8. This fee is non-refundable and includes a certified copy of the record if found. A certified copy of the marriage record will be provided within 10-15 business days after the request is received.

Note that only the following persons may apply to receive marriage information under Section 16-37-1-10 of the Indiana Code:

The groom named on the marriage record
The bride named on the marriage record
An individual with direct interest in the record (this individual must provide documentation to confirm they meet the criteria)
An individual demonstrating the information is necessary for the determination of personal or property rights (this individual must provide documentation to confirm they meet the criteria)
An individual demonstrating the information is necessary for compliance with state or federal law (the individual must provide state or federal documentation to confirm they meet the criteria)

References

Counties in Indiana

List of Content

What are Marriage Records?
Marriages in Indiana
1. Indiana Marriage Certificate
How to Find and Access Indiana Marriage Records
1. Finding and Accessing Indiana Marriage Records Online
2. Finding and Accessing Indiana Marriage Records Offline