How to Get a Marriage License in Marion County

What it costs, how far ahead you have to apply, what to bring, and the parts that catch couples out.

Before you book an appointment

The Clerk's Office is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.

Both of you need to be there. As the state puts it: "To apply for a marriage license in Indiana, both you and your future spouse must appear in person at the Clerk's Office in an Indiana county where one of you resides." There is no way to send one person with paperwork for two.

What it costs

The fee is $25.00 if one or both of you are Indiana residents, and $65.00 if you are both out-of-state residents. This fee is set statewide, not county by county. Some clerk's offices add a $4.00 document fee.

Certified copies of the marriage license cost $4.00 each. You will need one for a name change at the BMV or Social Security, so think about how many you want while you are there.

We could not verify which payment methods Marion County accepts. The Indiana Judicial Branch says only that most county clerks require these fees to be paid in cash. Confirm with the Clerk's Office before you go.

How far ahead to apply

There is no waiting period in Indiana. Per the Indiana Judicial Branch: "A marriage license is valid for 60 days from the date it is issued, and couples may be married as early as the same day."

That 60 days is the part to plan around. "Couples who do not marry within the 60 days must apply for a new license before marrying." So count back from your ceremony date and apply inside that window.

What to bring

Each of you must bring one form of identification that proves your date of birth. The state page instructs applicants to "bring ONE of the following forms of identification to prove your date of birth."

If you live outside the county, or outside Indiana

If you both live in Indiana, you apply in the Indiana county where one of you resides. So an Indiana couple living outside Marion County generally applies in their home county, not here — even if the wedding itself is in Indianapolis.

If you are out-of-state residents, you apply "in the Indiana county where the marriage will be solemnized." That means Marion County if you are marrying in Indianapolis. You do not have to be an Indiana resident to marry in Indiana. Note the fee difference: $25.00 if one or both of you are Indiana residents, $65.00 if neither of you is.

Filling out the application in advance

You can complete the application online before you go: https://mycourts.in.gov/mlpublic/