Indiana Marriage Records

Marriage records in Indiana are available at the County Clerk’s Office, where the marriage was recorded. These records typically list the names of the spouses in a marriage, the date and location of the marriage ceremony, and the officiant of the marriage ceremony. The birth dates of the bride and groom are often included as well. Indiana began the official recording of marriage records in 1958, overseen and maintained by the Division of Vital Records, Indiana Department of Health. Before this, churches often maintained marriage records, and these personal records can be valuable for genealogical research. These records are typically maintained as part of Indiana family court records and civil documents at the town or county level.

Marriage is the legal union of a couple as husband and wife, and it outlines the rights and responsibilities of the individuals involved as regulated by law. The bride and groom have specific roles in the marriage process and are named in the documentation, such as marriage bonds, applications, and licenses. For a marriage to be legal in Indiana, a married couple must obtain an official marriage certificate and be 18 years or older. Underage individuals intending to get married in Indiana must obtain parental consent or a juvenile court order. Marriage information is typically written in official registers; these records are created as legal evidence of the marriage.

What Types of Marriage Records Are Available in Indiana?

Public agencies maintain different marriage records in Indiana, including marriage certificates and licenses. Some historical marriage records are also available as scanned images, allowing users to view official documents and archival records online.

Access to certain marriage records may be limited to specific timeframes or require in-person visits.

Indiana Marriage Certificate

A marriage certificate is a legal document that authenticates the marital status of an individual. A marriage certificate typically contains the following information: the full names and signatures of spouses, the date a marriage took place, the marriage ceremony’s location, and the officiant’s name and signature. In Indiana, after a marriage ceremony, the spouses and the officiant fill out the marriage license and send the completed license to the County Clerk’s Office for official recording. The County Clerk’s Office issues a marriage certificate after processing the marriage license. Marriage licenses are valid for a specific period, often up to a year, depending on state regulations.

Indiana Marriage License

A marriage license is a legal document that grants couples permission to marry. In Indiana, the County Clerk’s offices issue marriage licenses. The state of Indiana does not recognize marriages conducted without a marriage license. To obtain a marriage license in Indiana, individuals must fulfill the following requirements, which help ensure the legality and validity of the marriage:

• Intending spouses must be physically present at the County Clerk’s Office.
• Couples seeking to be married must be 18 years or older. Persons below 18 years (16 or 17) must seek parental consent or get an order from a juvenile court. In addition, the age difference between an underage person and a partner must be at most four years.
• The Parties involved must consent to the marriage.
• Applicants must be of sound mental health when applying for a marriage license.
• Individuals applying for a marriage license must not be married.
• Out-of-state residents must apply for a marriage license at the County Office where the marriage will take place.

Also, the state of Indiana may not approve a license if:

• One or both parties are under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Applicants are close blood relatives (they should be no closer than second cousins, except in cases where first cousins are 65 years or over)
• Either of the couple is a lifetime sex offender or violent offender. There is an exception if such individuals present affidavits of a notice to law enforcement of their intent to marry and the names of their intended.

Are Indiana Marriage Records Public?

Indiana marriage records are public records and, therefore, accessible to the authorized public through the County Clerk’s Offices or the Indiana State Library. However, there may be limitations on accessing certain information if:

• The record owner requests confidentiality.
• There are legal restrictions on the record.
• The information is sensitive or may lead to a breach of privacy.

In cases where both spouses are deceased, additional documentation related to their deaths may be required to access the marriage record.

The Indiana Access to Public Records Act (APRA) outlines the guidelines for accessing marriage records and what information is made available to the public in the state. The following conditions apply when accessing marriage records in Indiana:

• Confidential information, including the address of the record owners, may be restricted
• There may be legal restrictions if records are subject to litigation or a court order

To access confidential information, a requester must show proof of eligibility (marriage records can only be accessed by authorized individuals). You must also pay the applicable fees to access marriage records in Indiana. The cost of accessing marriage records in Indiana varies across counties. As of January 2022, it costs between $2 and $10 per copy of a marriage record in Indiana. The applicant must also cover the cost of obtaining the marriage record.

How to Find Marriage Records in Indiana

Marriage Records are available at the County Clerk’s Office, where the marriage was recorded. You can search for marriage records using online databases or in-person resources. Visit the County Clerk’s Office in person, call their official phone line, or visit their website for information.

Note that to obtain marriage records in Indiana, you must:

• Provide necessary information that will aid in tracing the record. These include the couple’s full name, the date, and the location of the marriage.
• If searching online, enter the required information, such as names and dates, into the search form or online portal.
• Prove eligibility by providing ID and stating the need to obtain the record.
• Pay the fees required to access the record (the amount varies across Indiana counties). To get accurate cost information, contact the County Clerk’s Office where the marriage was recorded to know the cost.
• Complete and submit a request form (Indiana State form 54764) to the County Clerk’s Office. You may also mail your completed application, required documents, and payment to the County Clerk’s Office.
• Wait for processing of the record.

How to Get a Marriage License in Indiana

Unlike a marriage certificate issued after the marriage ceremony, individuals seeking to get married in Indiana must first obtain a marriage license.

To get a marriage license in Indiana, follow the guidelines below:

• Visit the County Clerk’s Office—Marriage licenses are available at various County Clerk’s Offices across the state. Couples must be physically present at the County Clerk’s Office to obtain a marriage license in Indiana.
• Provide legally valid identification—Provide valid photos of both parties in addition to acceptable ID (this may be a driver’s license, passport, military ID, or state-issued ID). In addition, couples must provide their Social Security numbers.
• Provide parental information that may include the full name of the parents and the mother’s maiden name.
• Fill out and submit a marriage license application form (state form 54764) provided by the County Clerk’s Office.
• Pay the required fee (between $2 and $10).

When searching for marriage license records, if you do not know the exact date of the marriage, you can use a date range to refine your search and help locate the specific record.

Note: Indiana has a waiting period between obtaining a marriage license and a marriage ceremony. Waiting periods may vary per county. Contact the County Clerk’s Office where the marriage ceremony will occur to know how long you may have to wait. Indiana-issued marriage licenses have a validity period of 60 days from the day of issuance, and the marriage ceremony must occur within this time frame.

In Indiana, marriages must be officiated by authorized officiants, including ordained ministers, mayors of cities and towns, judges within the state, and clerks of the circuit courts. Married couples must return the completed marriage licenses to the County Clerk’s Office for recording and issuing marriage certificates.

Who Can Obtain Marriage Records in Indiana?

Indiana marriage records are public and require no specific authorization to access under the Indiana Access to Public Records Act (APRA). Basic information, such as names of the registrants, date of marriage, and location, is accessible. However, detailed records and confidential information may be subject to restrictions and require proof of eligibility to obtain. To demonstrate eligibility to access confidential and detailed information, you need to show:

• Legal representation as an attorney to one of the parties to the marriage
• A court order authorizing access to such records
• Legitimate purpose for accessing such data.

Note that to access non-confidential information in a marriage record, you only need to provide the couple's names and the location of the marriage. Requestors must pay the required fees for processing.

Can You Lookup Online Marriage Records For Free in Indiana?

Yes, you may look up online marriage records for free in Indiana. However, these records may contain only basic information. A certified copy of the marriage record involves a fee payment. Online Marriage Records may be available through government websites such as the Indiana State Department of Health Vital Records and the various County Clerk's Offices websites. Also, you can access marriage online for free on third-party websites and data banks. Accessing marriage records through third-party online platforms has the following advantages:

• Ease of access - Some third-party platforms have user-friendly interfaces that make it easy to access records
• Centralized information - Third-party platforms offer convincing by gathering multiple records from several sources and centralizing them in one place
• Additional services - Some third-party platforms assist in making it easier to locate marriage records.

Is Indiana a Common Law Marriage State?

Indiana does not have common laws for marriage. However, it recognizes common-law marriages entered into in other states. Common-law marriage is a legal framework where couples marry without obtaining a marriage license or participating in a marriage ceremony. In Indiana, for a marriage to be considered legal, couples must obtain a marriage license and participate in a marriage ceremony.