Marriage Records

The first law regulating marriages in Indiana became effective in 1788, and marriage licenses became mandatory in 1800.

The statutes of the Northwest Territory required that:

the banns be read fifteen days before the marriage
the male be seventeenyears of age
the female be fourteen years of age.

Marriage licenses and certificates have been issued by and kept at the county clerk's office, beginning with the formation of each respective county to the present. Both marriage applications, beginning in 1906 (with additional family information) or marriage transcripts (1882) may have been used in various counties.

Prior to 1940 it was necessary for a couple to obtain a license from the county in which the female resided.

If an Indiana ancestor's marriage record cannot be located in that state, check the Cincinnati marriage records; this area was a "Gretna Green" (no-questions-asked marriage locale) for Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana.

The WPA began to index vital records, county-by-county, for the entire state, but the agency was abolished before the project was completed. Only 68 of the 92 counties had their marriages (generally 1850-1920) collected. The completed county indexes are available in print at the Indiana State Library and Allen County Public Library among others.

Marriage records can be very informative; if the one you're looking for had a marriage application to go with it. In the early years of applications, the marriage was recorded in one record book and the application in another.

Marriages before 1880 didn't require any type of personal info to be given.

Marriage applications began in about 1881, but those are spotty. This happened because, evidently, there was more than one type of marriage record book in use at the same time and it was left up to the individual deputy as to which ones he/she wanted to use on a particular day.

One type had only a marriage license which didn't require any personal information other than the names of the bride and groom. Another book, however, required the names of the parents, birthplaces of the couple, etc. If you find the marriage you're looking for recorded in a volume that is lettered, (like Book K) there is no application in that book, but you'll still need to check the application books starting with Book L.

Once the marriage applications were implemented in very late 1881, any of the marriages recorded in Lettered volumes, after L, could have an application in a separate book, though not every marriage will have an application. It just depends on what the deputy felt like doing that day. After 1881, you HAVE to search through the marriage application books separately to make sure you don't miss an entry.

Applications are recorded in LA and QA which is the actual records of those couples whose applications are recorded in books L and Q. It's the companion of the later lettered marriage record books, covering the years late November, 1881 to the end of December, 1893.

Since about 1906 or so, much more personal info was required.

Numbered volumes occuring possibly some during 1920 and in 1921 fully; Book 23 forwared to present time have applications with much personal information in them and the actual return of the marriage recorded at the bottom of the page.

There is an online database for early Indiana Marriages. This database contains marriages through 1850 for the entire State. There is also a database for Indiana marriages 1993 through 2002 Indiana Marriage Index 1958-1997, compiled by the Indiana State Board of

There are some state wide Marriage indexes since 1958, for some counties. Certified copies are not available from State Health Department or State Library but must be obtained from county where event occurred.

Statewide collection of marriages from the counties did not begin until 1958. The Indiana Marriage Index, compiled by the State Board of Health, Division of Vital Records, begins in 1958. Marriages are indexed by bride and groom, indicating county of license, marriage and date. Annual indexes for 1958-1965 are in book form; 1966-1981 are on microfilm, available at the Indiana State Archives, Indiana Commission on Public Records. Indiana Marriage Index 1958-1997, compiled by the Indiana State Board of Health: Microfilmed, with separate bride and groom indexes; gives names of both parties, county of marriage and marriage date. In the Microforms Area, second floor of the Indiana State Library.

Center>Inventory of County Archives

1821-1928, 1933-? 43 vols (1, 1-21, C-H, J-S, 5, 6, and 3 vols not numbered. Title varies: Record of Application for Marriage Licenses. Record of marriage applications, licenses and return; names, ages, birthplaces, occupations, residences, and personal and family histories of bride and groom; and names of parents and party officiating. Indexed alphabetically by names of brides and grooms
Applications for Marriage Applications] 1833-? file boxes Orginial applications for marriage licenses, showing date of application; names, ages, brithplaces, occupations, residences, and personal and family histories of applicants; and names of parents. Arrange by date of applications.
[Marriage Returns] 1859-? 39 file boxes Marriage certificate returned to clerk by officiating party of ceremont, showing date of return, names, ages, and residence of bride and groom; date and place of marriage; and nae of person officiating. Arranged by dates of returns.
Marriage Affidavit 1882-1907 2 vols. (2 and 1 vol not numbered) After 1907 affidavit included with application. Record of affidavits of witnesses testifying to ages of persons applying for marriage licenses, showing date of affidavit, names of pplicants and affiant, and statement of testimony. Arranged by names of applicants.

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