Process for Obtaining an Indiana Marriage License

Getting married is not as simple as most people tend to think. The fact is, before you get married in the State of Indiana, you have to apply for and receive a marriage license. For this, you need to submit an application. In fact, before even applying and filling out the Indiana marriage license form, you need to know about the marriage laws in Indiana.

The marriage license in Indiana is the document through which the state authorities allow you to get married legally in the state. You should also know that the marriage license regulations are not the same in all the states of the country, and so you must find out what exactly the laws are in Indiana beforehand. You can learn about the current regulations from the marriage bureau of the city. You need to approach the County Clerk's office at the courthouse.

Applying for Your Marriage License in Indiana? Be Prepared to Provide These Documents:

First, you must act quickly because you need to apply one month before the day of your wedding to receive the license. Do however remember that you must not send in the application too early – the fact is marriage licenses do expire in some states.

When you are submitting your application, you must also send over your birth certificate (you are required to do this in some counties, particularly when you are under 30 years of age). If you are less than 18 years of age, the copy of the birth certificate needs to be certified.

If you are at least 17, you must have identification from both of your parents or someone who is acting as your legal custodian. Parents or the legal custodian must sign a consent portion in the application.

You can get married in Indiana even if you are 16 or 15 years of age. You just need to send a petition to the Circuit Court by using the "Permission to Marry" form. The judge may not allow you to get married, but you will still need to pay the price of this petition, which is $120.00. You will also need to provide your tax documents and any other official document that you may have.

Other Important Things You Will Need to Remember When Applying for an Indiana Marriage License

•    Remember to submit a document that identifies your age.
•    Keep in mind that both of you will have to apply at the same time.
•    Have you been married before? If so, you need to provide information about previous marriages.
•    Get a witness ready because this is necessary when both of you are signing the application. The bride must know what her married name will become after the ceremony, and must write that name on the application.
•    Also remember to pay the fee which is usually quite nominal.

If you are planning on marrying in Indiana, there is something you should know about the marriage license. Even after receiving the marriage license, which you will receive through mail, you may not be proclaimed legally married. You can only be legally married once a religious clergyman signs his or her name to the license.

On the day of the wedding ceremony, provide the chaplain your marriage license and they will sign it and send it to the correct government agency so that it can be validated.

Indiana Marriage License Application Regulations

•    If you are a resident of Indiana, you must send your application to the county where either you or your would-be spouse resides.
•    At the time of submitting your application, it is necessary for both the bride and the groom to be present.
•    There is no waiting period in the state.
•    Cousin marriages are allowed. For this, both people need to be 65 years of age or more.
•    Same-sex marriages are not allowed in Indiana.
•    Common law marriages that are legal in another state are not recognized in Indiana.
•    If either partner has married before, the other must know how it ended--whether it be through annulment, divorce or death. The partner must also know the year and the month when the marriage ended. If it was a divorce and it happened within the last 2 years, then a copy of the divorce decree must also be submitted in a some counties.
•    Ladies who are less than the age of 50 must bring a completed State of Indiana Premarital Examination Certificate to the courthouse. Any family doctor can provide this. Premarital blood tests for men are not needed.
•    A license in Indiana is valid for a period of 60 days.
•    This license can be used in the State of Indiana only.
•    If you are a resident of Indiana, the license fee is $18. If you are a resident of another state, you will need to pay $60.

Who Can Conduct a Marriage in Indiana?

You have a lot of options to choose from when deciding who will marry you. The wedding can be performed by a priest, bishop, imam, minister or a rabbi – all members of clergy. The marriage can also be performed by a clerk of the circuit court, magistrate, judge or the clerk-treasurer of the town or city in order to be considered legal.