Marriage records in Dearborn County, Indiana, can be accessed through several channels. DearbornCourt.us can help you find publicly available marriage record information for the county. You can also contact the Dearborn County Clerk's Office directly, visit in person at the courthouse in Lawrenceburg, or submit a request by mail. The Clerk's Office issues marriage licenses and maintains filed marriage records, making it the primary local source for both current and historical documents.
Dearborn County Marriage Records Search
The Dearborn County Clerk's Office is the issuing authority for marriage licenses and the custodian of marriage records in the county. Under Indiana law (IC 31-11-4), the clerk of the circuit court issues marriage licenses and retains the returned marriage certificates after solemnization. The collection includes marriage license applications, issued licenses, and filed marriage certificates. Some historical marriage records date back to the county's earliest years, though a courthouse fire in 1826 destroyed most early records — a limited number of marriage and will records survived. For genealogical research into older records, the Indiana State Archives may hold additional materials.
Dearborn County Clerk's Office
Court-related case information, including some marriage-related filings, may also be searchable through MyCase, Indiana's online court case search portal.
Certified Marriage Record Copies and Fees in Dearborn County
Indiana county clerks charge fees for marriage record copies as set by state statute and local fee schedules. The following table reflects standard fees for Dearborn County. Contact the Clerk's Office at (812) 537-1040 to confirm current amounts before submitting a request.
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Certified copy of marriage license/certificate | $4.00 |
| Each additional copy (same order) | $1.00 |
| Marriage license application fee | $18.00 |
Fee authority: Indiana Code 33-37-5-1 and the Dearborn County Clerk's fee schedule. Fees are subject to change — verify with the Clerk's Office before submitting payment.
- Payment methods accepted in person typically include cash, check, or money order. Ask the office about credit/debit card acceptance.
- Mail requests should include payment by check or money order made payable to the Dearborn County Clerk.
- Processing times for in-person requests are usually same-day. Mail requests may take one to two weeks depending on volume.
Order Marriage Certificates Online or In Person in Dearborn County
There are several ways to obtain a copy of a marriage record from Dearborn County:
In Person
Visit the Dearborn County Clerk's Office at the courthouse during regular business hours:
- Bring a valid government-issued photo ID.
- Provide the full names of both spouses and the approximate date of marriage.
- Pay the applicable fee at the time of your request.
- Walk-ins are generally accepted — no appointment is required for routine record requests.
By Mail
Send your request to the Clerk's Office at the address above. Include:
- A written request with the full names of both spouses, the date (or approximate date) of marriage, and your reason for requesting the record.
- A copy of your government-issued photo ID.
- A check or money order for the appropriate fee, payable to the Dearborn County Clerk.
- A self-addressed stamped envelope for return of the certified copy.
Online
Indiana's statewide vital records office — the Indiana State Department of Health — offers online ordering for some vital records through approved vendors such as VitalChek. However, for county-level marriage records, the Dearborn County Clerk's Office is the direct source. Check the official Dearborn County website or call (812) 537-1040 to ask whether online ordering is currently available for marriage record copies. You can also use DearbornCourt.us to locate publicly available marriage record information and identify next steps for obtaining certified copies.
State-Level Alternative
The Indiana State Department of Health maintains marriage records for events occurring statewide. If you are unable to obtain a record directly from the county, you may request a copy from the state vital records office. Visit Indiana Vital Records for details on state-level requests, which may involve different fees and processing times.
For questions about the Dearborn County court system or related filings, the Indiana Judicial Branch directory provides contact details and links to local rules. Older or hard-to-find records may also be available through the Indiana State Library's Dearborn County research guide, which is especially useful for genealogical searches.