Getting a Marriage License in Adams County
Marriage licensing in Adams County is handled by the Adams County Clerk of Courts. The Clerk page tells applicants to begin the application online through the Clerk's link to mycourts.in.gov, complete the application section, and then call 260-724-5309 to schedule an appointment. Appointments are required and are available Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.
At least one applicant must live in Adams County to receive the resident license fee. Applicants age 18 and older need a valid driver's license or certified birth certificate. Applicants age 17 and under must contact the Clerk for additional information before relying on the normal adult workflow. The Clerk does not perform marriage ceremonies, so the ceremony must be arranged with the Superior Court Judge or another officiant. The Superior Court Judge does not perform ceremonies for out-of-state applicants.
The Adams County marriage forms screenshot below comes from the Adams County Marriage page.
That county page is the documented local starting point for marriage-license information and marriage-license record requests.
How to Apply for a Marriage License
The application process has two parts: an online application step and a Clerk appointment. Applicants should complete the online portion first, then use the Clerk phone number to schedule the in-office appointment. Bring identity and age documentation, confirm residency if using the Adams County resident fee, and plan ceremony arrangements separately because licensing and ceremony performance are not the same service.
- Start the marriage license application online through the Clerk's mycourts.in.gov link.
- Complete the application section before calling the Clerk.
- Call 260-724-5309 to schedule the required appointment.
- Bring a valid driver's license or certified birth certificate if age 18 or older.
- Pay the license and first certified-copy amount that applies to the applicants' residency situation.
- Arrange the ceremony with the Superior Court Judge or another officiant, remembering the out-of-state ceremony limitation noted by the Clerk.
Marriage License Application Fields
The available county materials do not expose every field inside Indiana's online marriage application, so only verified local requirements should be treated as certain. The known Adams County workflow requires the online application section, appointment scheduling, identity or age documentation, and a residency determination for the fee category.
| Field | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Applicant online section | Yes | Begin through the mycourts.in.gov link provided by the Clerk. |
| Appointment scheduling | Yes | Call 260-724-5309 after completing the online section. |
| Proof of age or identity | Yes | Applicants age 18 and older need a valid driver's license or certified birth certificate. |
| Residency | Yes for resident fee | At least one applicant must reside in Adams County for the resident license fee. |
| Certified copy request | Optional / fee item | The first certified copy is listed as part of the total quoted by the Clerk. |
Adams County Marriage and Divorce Fees
The Clerk page gives specific marriage-license fees and first certified-copy amounts. The available county materials do not list a separate Adams County divorce filing fee or certified divorce decree copy amount, so those items should be confirmed with the Clerk before filing or ordering copies.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Adams County resident marriage license | $25.00 |
| First certified marriage copy | $4.00 |
| Resident marriage total with first certified copy | $29.00 |
| Out-of-state marriage license | $65.00 |
| Out-of-state marriage total with first certified copy | $69.00 |
| Divorce filing or certified decree copy | Confirm current amount with the Clerk of Courts |
How to Look Up Adams County Marriage Records
The Clerk's public-records section includes a Request for Marriage License Record. That is the documented local route for a marriage license record or certified marriage copy. A requester should use the exact names, approximate marriage date, and any prior license details available, then contact the Clerk if the form or record request needs clarification.
Marriage records differ from divorce cases. A marriage-license record proves the license and certification trail held by the Clerk. A divorce decree or dissolution case file is a court record in the trial court system. Use the Clerk's marriage-license record request for marriage copies, and use MyCase or the Clerk's court-record request process for dissolution case documents.
If the purpose is genealogy, name-change proof, insurance, benefits, or a legal filing, ask for the record type required by the receiving agency before ordering. A plain search result may be enough to identify the date and parties, but a certified copy is usually the record needed when the document must be accepted outside the courthouse.
How to Find Adams County Divorce Records
Adams County labels divorce as Dissolution of Marriage. The county dissolution page lists a Generic Motion for Action, a Child Support Information Form, and pro se dissolution instructions. Divorce case files are court records, so search MyCase first by party name or cause number, then request official copies from the Clerk when a decree, order, or certified record is needed.
The Adams County dissolution forms screenshot below comes from the Adams County Dissolution of Marriage page.
Those forms show the county's preferred terminology and provide the official local path for self-represented dissolution materials.
A divorce file may include the petition, appearances, motions, service documents, child-support information, temporary orders, final decree, and later modification or enforcement entries. Public access can be limited for confidential personal identifiers, protected child information, sealed material, and records excluded by Indiana court access rules.
Divorce records also intersect with child-support records, but the access channel changes by document. A public dissolution docket may identify hearings and orders, while a child-support payment history is handled through the Clerk's child-support process and has the parent-only pickup rule documented by Adams County.
Getting Certified Copies
Certified copies should be requested from the office that maintains the record. For marriage-license records, use the Clerk's Request for Marriage License Record. For dissolution decrees and divorce orders, use the Clerk's Request for Court Record or contact the Clerk counter. MyCase can identify a cause number and public docket entries, but it does not replace an official certified copy from the maintaining court.
Child-support payment histories have a special access limitation in Adams County. The child-support page says payment histories may be picked up only by the custodial or non-custodial parent. The listed fee is $1.00 per page, with an additional $3.00 certification fee if certification is needed.
The Adams County child-support screenshot below comes from the Adams County Child Support page.
That access rule matters in divorce-related record requests because a payment history is not treated like a general public case lookup.
Families in Transition
Adams County local rules add a county-specific requirement for divorce and family cases involving children. Parties to every petition for dissolution or legal separation involving minor or unemancipated children, and parties to paternity proceedings, must attend and pay for the Families in Transition program unless the court grants an exception. Certificates of attendance for each party must be filed before final hearing.
This requirement is separate from searching the public case record. A MyCase entry can help identify hearings and filings, but compliance with Families in Transition is a court-process issue that must be handled in the dissolution or paternity case. Parties should check local orders and Clerk or court instructions if they need to document attendance before a final hearing.
The rule is especially important for self-represented parties because a public case search may not explain why a final hearing cannot proceed. When minor or unemancipated children are involved, the attendance certificate is part of preparing the case for final action unless the court excuses the requirement by order.
Adams County Clerk of Courts
112 S. 2nd Street, Room A
Decatur, IN 46733
260-724-5309