Rules of Engagement: Getting Your Marriage License

The marriage license is an oh-so-important, but seemingly small detail when planning your wedding. I mean, if you don't have a marriage license, your marriage is so not official. . .and who wants to deal with that?

So be sure to stay on the right side of the law and be certain you have a legal marriage license before you actually tie the knot. If you reside Indiana, here are the important details:

The cost for marriage license is $18 for residents and $60 for non-residents and payable in cash only. There is no waiting period and the license expires 60 days after issuance. This means, if your celebration is set for December 4th, please don't go to the courthouse in August to get your marriage license. If you have a wedding planner, he or she will definitely include this formality in your planning guideline.

To get married in Indiana without parental consent, the minimum age is 18. Applicants age 15-16 need a court order to obtain license (although I wouldn't recommend this course of action. Actually, I would recommend NOT getting married at this age, but I digress. . .). A state-issued ID, birth certificate or passport may be required for proof of age/identity. A rental lease or current utility bill can be used to prove residence. Contrary to popular belief, a blood test is not needed for prospective brides. And a final note to divorcees and widows--you need to bring proof by the way of a death certificate or divorce decree if the date of occurrence is less than 2 years.

By way of officiants, these are the people who can legally marry you in Indiana--a member of the clergy (including a minister, priest, bishop, rabbi, and imam), a judge, a magistrate, a clerk of the circuit court or a clerk or clerk-treasurer of a city or town. Please keep this in mind before you decide you want your favorite uncle from childhood to marry you.

If you are in Marion County, Indiana, below is the contact information for the Clerk's office: Marion County Clerk’s Office
200 E. Washington Street, 46204
Suite W-122
317-327-4740
317-327-3893 fax
Hours: M-F, 8-4pm

And here are the contact numbers for other Central Indiana County Clerk offices:
Boone County 765-482-3510
Hamilton County 317-776-9629
Hancock County 317-477-1109
Hendricks County 317-745-9351
Johnson County 317-736-3708
Madison County 765-641-9443
Morgan County 765-342-1025
Shelby County 317-392-6320

For information regarding your marriage license in other states, please visit Marriage License Laws on About.com. Have you, or anyone that you know, had any mishaps regarding your marriage license? Please share your story with us in the comments section.