How Much Is a Marriage License in Indiana: Fees & Resident Rate

A marriage license in Indiana costs $25 if at least one of you is an Indiana resident, and $65 if you’re both from out of state.¹ That’s the base fee. Depending on the county, you may also pay a small document fee and a card processing surcharge, and you’ll want to budget a few dollars for certified copies after the wedding.

What the Fee Includes and What It Doesn’t

The $25 or $65 covers the license itself: the document the clerk issues that allows you to legally marry within Indiana. Some clerk’s offices add a $4 document fee on top of that.¹

After the ceremony, you’ll almost certainly want at least one certified copy of your marriage certificate to handle name changes and other legal updates. Certified copy pricing varies by county but generally runs a few dollars per copy, with $4 per copy common.

How You Can Pay

Most Indiana county clerks require payment in cash.¹ Some offices accept credit or debit cards, but expect a processing surcharge of roughly $1.75 when you pay that way. Call your county clerk ahead of your visit to confirm what they’ll take.

Who Qualifies for the Resident Rate

The $25 rate applies as long as one person in the couple lives in Indiana. Both from out of state? Then it’s $65, and you’ll apply in the county where the ceremony will take place. If at least one of you is an Indiana resident, you apply in the county where that resident lives.¹

Both applicants must be at least 18. Indiana allows 16- and 17-year-olds to marry only with a juvenile court order that approves the marriage and fully emancipates the minor, and the other person can’t be more than four years older. Neither person can already be married to someone else, and Indiana won’t issue a license to people more closely related than second cousins. First cousins may marry only if both are at least 65.¹

What to Bring to the Clerk’s Office

Both of you need to appear in person. Each person should bring one form of identification that shows date of birth. Acceptable documents include:

A driver’s license or state-issued ID showing your date of birth and current address
A current, valid U.S. or foreign passport
A certified birth certificate or a birth record issued by a state health department
Military or immigration records showing your date of birth

You’ll also need to provide your Social Security number, though you don’t necessarily need the physical card.¹ If either of you was married before, bring the date that marriage ended. Some counties also want a certified copy of the divorce decree, so it’s worth carrying one just in case.

How to Apply and How Long the License Lasts

Many counties let you start the application online through the Indiana courts’ portal, which cuts down your time at the counter. You’ll still need to show up together at the clerk’s office to finish the process and pick up the license.¹

Indiana has no waiting period. The clerk can hand you the license the same day you apply, and you can legally marry that same day. Once issued, the license is valid for 60 days. Miss that window and the license expires, which means starting over and paying the fee again.¹

Adding It All Up

For most Indiana couples, the realistic out-the-door cost looks like this: $25 for the license, possibly a $4 document fee, roughly $1.75 if you pay by card, and a few dollars for each certified copy you order after the wedding. Out-of-state couples marrying in Indiana should plan on $65 for the license itself, plus the same extras. Confirm the specific numbers with the clerk in the county where you’ll apply, because the add-ons vary from one county to the next.

1
Indiana Judicial Branch. Apply for a Marriage License