How to Get a Marriage License in Indianapolis: Step by Step

If you want your nikah to be a legal marriage in Indiana as well, you need a marriage license first. Here is how it works in Indianapolis, from applying to collecting the license, in plain steps.

At a glance

Where

Marion County Clerk's Office, Marriage License Division, City-County Building, 200 E. Washington St., Suite W122, Indianapolis, IN 46204

Booking

No appointment needed; the office accepts couples on a walk-in basis only. Hours: Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Fee

$25 if Indiana resident; $65 for out-of-state residents Page read October 2026; confirm with the clerk. Certified copy by mail is $4 each (money order; personal checks not accepted).

Payment

Cash or credit/debit card; cards carry a processing charge.

Who attends

The Marion County page says both applicants present physical ID at the in-person review. The state Judicial Branch page also says both people must appear in person.

Valid for

60 days from the date the license is granted; after that you must reapply and pay again.

Same day?

The Marion County page does not state a waiting period. The state Judicial Branch page (in.gov/courts) says there is no waiting period in Indiana.

Step by step

1. Apply. Step 1: complete the online application before you arrive. Step 2: go to the Clerk's Office, where a deputy clerk reviews the application, asks a few questions and collects the fee.
2. Book or plan your visit. No appointment needed; the office accepts couples on a walk-in basis only. Hours: Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
3. Gather your ID and documents. See the list below. Bring originals.
4. Attend and pay. The Marion County page says both applicants present physical ID at the in-person review. The state Judicial Branch page also says both people must appear in person. Cash or credit/debit card; cards carry a processing charge.
5. Give the license to your officiant. Your imam needs it at the ceremony, and must be authorized to solemnize marriages in Indiana. 60 days from the date the license is granted; after that you must reapply and pay again.

What to bring

• Physical, unexpired ID: valid driver's license, current state ID card, original certified birth certificate, or passport
• Proof of residency: rental lease, valid driver's license, state ID card, or current utility bill
• Both people must be 18 or older
• The Clerk cannot issue a license if either person is under the influence when applying, the two are more closely related than second cousins (first cousins who are both 65 or older are an exception), either has been judged of unsound mind (unless removed), or a lifetime sex or violent offender has not filed the required affidavit
• Indiana residents from another county apply in their home county; out-of-state visitors who plan to marry in Marion County apply here
• Social Security number: the state Judicial Branch page says it must be provided; the Marion County page does not mention it

Good to know

• IC 31-11-6-1, as listed on the county page, names authorized officiants and includes an imam of a masjid (mosque) acting in accordance with the rules of Islam, as well as clergy, judges and certain officials
• The signed license must be filed with the Clerk's Office within 30 days of the ceremony (IC 31-11-4-17); the marriage is not recognized by Indiana until the Clerk records it
• The officiant normally mails or hand-delivers the signed license to the Clerk's marriage division; you can confirm receipt at marriage@indy.gov or through the online marriage record search
• The Clerk must give applicants written information about sexually transmitted diseases (the 'Before You Marry' sheet)

Your nikah and the license

The license is what makes your marriage legal. Your nikah is the religious ceremony. If your imam is authorized to solemnize marriages in Indiana, one ceremony can be both. See imams serving Indianapolis and our Indiana nikah guide for who may officiate and how the marriage is recorded.

A few common questions

Details come from the Marion County Clerk's Office, Marriage License Division website, checked in October 2026. Fees, hours and booking rules change, so confirm before you go. Marion County Clerk's Office, Marriage License Division: marriage license page. Contact: marriage@indy.gov; ClerkPublic@indy.gov. This guide is general information, not legal advice.