How to Get a Marriage License in Indianapolis (Marion County, IN)

If you searched for an Indianapolis marriage license, the first thing to know is that licenses in Indiana are issued by counties, not cities. Indianapolis is the county seat of Marion County, so the office you want is the Marion County clerk of the circuit court.

Who issues the license

The clerk of the circuit court issues marriage licenses. There is no separate city office for this, and no state-level office you need to visit first. When you look for the right office, search for the Marion County clerk of the circuit court.

Where you are allowed to apply

Which county you apply in depends on where you live:

•If you are Indiana residents, you apply in a county where one of you lives. If either of you lives in Marion County, you can apply there.

•If you are out-of-state residents, you apply in the Indiana county where the wedding will take place. If you are getting married in Indianapolis, that means Marion County.

In both cases, you both have to appear in person. One partner cannot go alone and handle it for the two of you, so plan a time when you can be there together.

What it costs and how to pay

The fee is $25 for Indiana residents and $65 for out-of-state residents. Some counties add a small document fee on top of that, so the total at the counter may be slightly higher than the base figure.

Many clerks accept cash only. We do not know which payment methods the Marion County office takes or its exact fee, so ask before you go. Showing up with the wrong form of payment is the most avoidable way to lose a trip.

Timing: no wait, but a deadline

Indiana has no waiting period. If the clerk issues your license, you can legally marry the same day. That makes a courthouse-style ceremony possible on the day you apply, if you have everything else lined up.

The license is valid for 60 days from the date it is issued. Count that from the issue date, not from the day you plan to marry. If the ceremony is far off, applying too early could leave you with an expired license, and you would have to apply again. If you apply the same week as the wedding, you have plenty of margin.

What to confirm before you go

We cannot tell you this office's street address, phone number, hours, appointment policy, accepted payment methods or exact fee. Do not rely on a guess from a search result or a forum post. Contact the Marion County clerk of the circuit court directly and ask:

•Where to go, and what days and hours the marriage license counter is open.

•Whether you need an appointment or can walk in.

•The exact total you will owe, including any document fee.

•Which payment methods are accepted, and whether it is cash only.

•What identification and paperwork each of you should bring.

Write the answers down and bring them with you. A short call or a check of the clerk's own official page will tell you what you need.

A simple plan

1.Work out which category you fall into: Indiana residents, or out-of-state.

2.Confirm that Marion County is the right county for you. If one of you lives there, or if you are out-of-state and marrying in Indianapolis, it is.

3.Contact the clerk of the circuit court and get the details listed above.

4.Go together, in person, with the right payment.

5.Hold the license in a safe place and keep the 60-day window in mind.

Once you have the license in hand, there is nothing left to wait for. The rest is up to you.

Marion County marriage licenses, by the numbers

444 marriage licenses were filed in Marion County in the last 30 days and 4,504 in the last 12 months; the newest filing we hold is dated 2026-09-30. Month-by-month counts and the public record are on the Marion County marriage license page.

State rules checked against [Indiana Judicial Branch — Apply for a Marriage License](https://www.in.gov/courts/services/marriage-license). Fees and procedures change — the clerk of the circuit court has the final word. General information, not legal advice.