How To Get Legally Married In Indiana

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How do you get married in Indiana?  That's a great question.  I've been marrying couples in Indy as a professional Wedding Officiant for over 9 years and have married thousands of couples.  I've asked a lot of questions along the way and am happy to share my knowledge and experience with you.  

Marriage is regulated on the state level.  Indiana, like every state, has their own, unique marriage laws.  How marriages are regulated and performed in other states has nothing to do with Indiana.  Indiana is actually a very easy state in which to get married.  We have no waiting period, so you can pick up your marriage license and get married all in the same day.  We also don't require witnesses.  Indiana is a great place to get married in secret.  So if you are looking for a real secret elopement, Indy is great for that.  Every state has their own marriage laws but a legal marriage is legal in every state in the US. 

While marriage laws are regulated on the state level, it is the County Clerk's offices that issue marriage licenses and each county clerk can interpret marriage laws in their own way.  If you have specific questions, ask your county clerk. 

The biggest differences I have seen between counties are how you proceed if you forgot to file your completed marriage license within 30 day.  You are still legally married, you might have to complete additional paperwork to make sure it's properly filed.  The other difference is obtaining a marriage license if one person is incapacitated - meaning can't physically get to the clerk's office to pick up the marriage license because they are incarcerated or simply immobile.  

Disclaimer:  I'm putting for this information to be helpful.  If I find  out something changes, I will update this page. Please just don't take my word for it.  

• Here is a link to the Indiana State Website :  https://www.in.gov/judiciary/2605.htm  It goes over the laws and contains the link to the online marriage application.  
• Contact YOUR county clerk with any questions. 

How to get married in Indiana Checklist

• First, you need someone to marry.  Congratulations! You're engaged!
• Then, you need a marriage license.  This page has everything you need to know!
• Then you need someone to perform your wedding.  I can do that!  I'm a wedding officiant.  I can legally marry you today, Schedule an elopement, or any type of wedding, big or small.  
• Return your marriage license to the county clerk that issued it within 30 days of it being  signed.  
• Click here for a list of my wedding officiant services and prices and to schedule an appointment. 

In order to be legally married you need a marriage license.

A marriage license is a legal document  issued by the County Clerk. ​

• You need to pick your marriage license up from your County Clerk during regular business hours. 
• Only the clerk can issue you a marriage license. 
• A wedding officiant helps you complete the marriage license.  A wedding officiant cannot issue you a marriage license or obtain a marriage license for you. 
• Most county Clerk's are open Monday-Friday from 8-4.  They are a government office so they are closed on holidays.  Always contact your county clerk for their specific hours.  

What County Clerk to I go to?

​If you, or the person you are marrying, live in Indiana 

• You go to the county clerk in the county in which you live. 
• If you and the person you are marrying live in two different counties, you can go to either county clerk.  

If you don't live in Indiana
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• Pick up your marriage license in the county in which you are being married.  

You need to apply for your marriage license online.  
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• If you apply for your marriage license online, you still have to go to the clerk's office and pick it up.  ​
• You can do this either on the computers  in the county clerks office or on any computer anywhere.  
• You will be entering the information in to the computer yourself either way.  
• Once you get to the clerks office you give them your name and the last 4 digits of your social security number and they will look up your application.  
• Don't worry if you don't have your application number, it just takes your name and social security number. 
• If you are planning to use the computers in the clerk's office to apply for your marriage license giver yourself time.  Be at the Marion County clerk before 3:30 if applying online there.  No later than 4 if you already applied
• The Hamilton County Clerk stops issuing marriage licenses at 4 PM.  No exceptions. ​

Bring ID

• You need to prove who you are. A valid driver's license is all you need.  Check your wallet to make sure you have it with you.  Make sure it is not expired. Johnson County also requires a bill with the name and current Johnson County residence of at least one of the applicants.  
• You can also use a valid passport, birth certificate or state issued ID.  They must be in English or have a notarized translation. 
• If you are traveling to Indiana from out the United States you just need your passport as ID.  You will apply as an out of state resident.​  They do not check your visa status.

Bring Proof of Address - If you are an Indiana Resident.  Non-residents don't need proof of address.

• If you live in Indiana you need to bring proof of address in the county in which you are applying for your marriage license. 
• If you, or the person you are marrying has the correct address on your driver's license, that's all you need, 
• If your driver's license does not have your current address listed you will need to bring proof of address in the form of a utility bill, lease agreement of other item listed here.  ​

That's it. REALLY!  You just need to bring proof of who you are and your address.  If you have a valid driver's license with your current address  that's all you need.  The number one problem I hear about from couples I marry is they forgot proof of address.  You can actually bring up an e-statement on your phone, if you are set up to do that, in a pinch.  If one of you has your current address on your driver's license that's fine. ​​  


If you or your partner are an Indiana resident your marriage license is good anywhere in the state.  

• You have to get your marriage license in the county you live in, You can get married anywhere in Indiana. 
• You must return your completed marriage license to the same clerk that issued it within 30 days.

All of this sounds like a really long and drawn out process.  It is not.  Really not.  You can literally get married in Indiana in less than an hour.  In my years as a wedding officiant in Indiana I've literally met couples at the courthouse and, in less than an hour, they have their marriage license, we've signed it, performed a ceremony, taken a few pictures, they've turned the signed license back in and received certified copies of their marriage certificate.    It's literally that fast, easy and inexpensive.  ​


How much does it cost?

• There is one fee per couple, not per person.  The two of you receive one license.  
• Not all counties accept credit cards, if they do, they charge a fee.  Check with YOUR county clerk or bring cash.
• If you are an Indiana resident the marriage license fee is $18.  
• If you are not an Indiana resident the fee is $60.
• Some counties charge you a few dollars more.  If they do, you are paying for your certified copies and they will mail them to you directly. 
• Marion county does not automatically send you certified copies of your marriage license.  You need to request and pay for them. 
• Marion county is no longer issuing decorative marriage license forms as of April, 2019.  You will only receive the legal marriage license.  
  

LGBTQ

​Indian has been issuing marriage licenses to same gender couples in Indiana since October of 2014 with no issues.  As a wedding officiant in Indiana I have been performing same gender ceremonies since before it was a legal contract.  If you are looking for an LGBTQ friendly wedding officiant in Indy I am happy to marry you! 
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What are the criteria to marry in Indiana?

• You need to be at least 18 years of age.  If you are younger than 18, your parents will need to give their permission in person when you obtain your marriage license at the clerk's office. 
• If you have been divorced less than 6 months you will need a certified copy of your divorce decree.  That's issued with a stamp and a raised seal.  Check with your county clerk to find out exactly what you need.  
• If you are already legally married, your divorce needed to be final before you can remarry.  For polyamorous couples, you can only be legally married to one person. 
• You must be of sound mind.  This means that you have never been declared legally insane by a court of law. If you have been deemed legally insane you are not allowed to enter into a legal contract.  This may also apply to other individuals who have been deemed incompetent by the court for various reasons. This is a questions you have to answer under oath.
• You cannot be under the influence of any drugs.  You can't go to the county clerk high or drunk and be issued a marriage license.  The will ask you under oath to declare yourself not under the influence .
• You have to be marrying of your own free will.  You cannot be forced into marriage.  You are entering into a legal contract and it is expected that you are making the decision on your own to marry.  
• You cannot be any more then second cousins.  This means you can marry your second cousin but not your first cousin.  If you would like to marry your first cousin you need to be over the age of 65.
• You will need to verify all the information you gave on the marriage license application is correct.   The clerk will bring up your application on the computer screen for you to verify the information.  Check that your names are spelled correctly.  If they are not, you will need to either wait 60 days for the license to expire and then have it re-issued with the correct spelling or you will have to have a judge sign off on the error and have it corrected.  There is a fee for this process.

 Check the spelling of your names!! Check everything on the application, if you misspelled something or left something out, you can't just put it back on or correct it after the marriage license is printed and issued. It requires a court order and $$$$   


You have your marriage license.  Now what?  

Between you and the state, you are entering into a legal contract.  That is it is.  Whatever you believe marriage to be is up to you.  If you choose to be acknowledged by the state as a married couple you need to enter into the legal contract of marriage.  That is what your marriage license is.  If you deem marriage to be a spiritual or religious union that is up to you.  Technically, you just need to have your marriage license signed.

The easiest and most cost effective way to get married in Indy is to hire a wedding officiant.  A wedding officiant is a person who is authorized by the state to solemnize marriages.  A judge, Justice of the Peace, a lawyer, a mayor or an ordained minister are just a few people authorized to marry couples.  I'm an ordained minister and my job title is Wedding Officiant.  ​I perform everything from simple, civil, justice of the peace style weddings, elopements and full, formal wedding ceremonies.  I can be as business-like or as romantic as you like. 


RETURN YOUR MARRIAGE LICENSE  

Once you are married and your marriage license is signed you need to RETURN your marriage license to the same county clerk.  In order for your marriage to be recognized by the government the license MUST BE RETURNED!  You can mail it in or you can return it in person. You both don't have to go together to return it.  When you return the license you also need to request certified copies.  There is a fee for the copies.  It's usually $2 each.  Some counties are $1.  Some counties require you to pay ahead of time and will automatically send them to you.  ASK the clerks office.   You will need a certified copy in order to change your name or legally prove to anyone you are legally married.  Your decorative copy is not a legal copy.  
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HOW DO I CHANGE MY NAME?

You need to change your name with your social security number first.  You can do that in person or through the mail.  All of the information is included in the packet you receive when you pick up your marriage license.  
 
Click here for Social Security Office Locations.

Click here for more information from the state.

After you have changed your name with social security you then need to go to the BMV to change your name on your driver's license.  

​Click here for more information from the BMV

Related Questions

We forgot to file our completed marriage license.  Are we still married?

Yes, and no.  You are legally married as of the day you signed the marriage license. Your marriage isn't legally recognized by the state until you file the completed marriage license.  If you don't want to be legally married by the state and you didn't file the completed license there is nothing to legally undo.  

If it has been more than 30 days since your marriage license was signed, contact your county clerk to ask what you need to do.  They will explain their procedure. 

We lost our completed marriage license.  Are we still married?

Yes!  Go to the county clerk the issued your license.  They will print you out another copy and then you have your Wedding Officiant sign it for you again effective the day you were actually married.  Then, take it back and file it in person to make sure you don't lose it again!