Who can marry

In Indiana, only a man and a woman can marry each other. Same-sex marriages are not allowed or recognized in Indiana (even if the same-sex marriage was allowed in another state). Relatives cannot marry each other if the persons are more closely related than second cousins. (However, first cousins can marry each other if they are both at least 65 years old). Two people cannot marry each other if either of them has a living husband or wife. (In other words, you can’t get married if you are already married!). Generally, people cannot get married unless they are both 18 years old. (There are some exceptions to this rule, however).

Age Requirements

Generally, the two people must be at least 18 years old to get married. There are some exceptions, however:

1. People who are 17 can get married if the person who is 17 gets consent from the parent or guardian the person who has legal custody/control over a minor>.
2. People who are 15 or 16 can get married if the court approves the marriage. The court can approve the marriage if the female is pregnant (or is a mother), the person she wants to marry is the father of the child, and the persons who are 15 or 16 have received the consent of their parents or guardians.
3. People who are 15-17 but cannot get consent from their parents or guardians can ask the court to approve the marriage. The court can approve a marriage without consent of the parents if the court finds there is good reason to do so.

Marriage License

Before two people can get married, they first must get a marriage license. You should get the marriage license from the clerk of the circuit court in the county where one of the persons lives (or from the county where the marriage will take place if neither person lives in Indiana). To get a marriage license, you need to fill out a written application, and you will need to swear that everything in the application is true. The application will include the following information about each applicant:

• full name
• where you were born
• where you live
• age
• names of dependent children
• names, residence, and birthplace of applicants’ parents
• information to determine whether there is any reason the persons could not marry and
• AIDS testing information (shows that you received information about AIDS testing; you do NOT have to get an AIDS test).

You can apply for and get a marriage license at your local county clerk’s office. You can get married right after getting your marriage license, you do not have to wait any certain amount of time. The license is good for 60 days. It costs $18 to get an Indiana marriage license if one of the applicants is an Indiana resident, and $60 if neither person is an Indiana resident. Personal checks are not usually accepted.

What you should take with you when you apply for a marriage license

You should call the clerk’s office before you go to ask about their specific requirements. The same marriage laws apply throughout Indiana, but some county clerks may have minor differences in their requirements. Things you may need to bring include:

• Driver’s license or other identification showing your current address and date of birth.
• Certified copy of your birth certificate.
• Certified copy of your divorce decree if you were married and divorced before.
• Proof of residency in county (driver’s license, utility bill, etc.).
• Money for the license fee.

  Who can perform a marriage

  A member of the clergy or a religious organization, a judge, a mayor or clerk of the courts can perform a marriage.

  To get information about the location of your county clerk, go to:Find Your County Clerk

  LSC Code 1390099
  Last revised 08-03