Getting a Marriage License in Lake County
A marriage license in Lake County goes through the clerk, who issues miscellaneous licenses and keeps court and probate records. Indiana also offers an online marriage license application linked from the state judiciary's website, so part of the process can start online before you finish at the clerk. The clerk's main office is in the Courts Building in Crown Point, with branches in Hammond and East Chicago.
The county navigation also includes a "Get a Copy of Marriage License" option, which points to the clerk for copies of a license already issued. Because the exact license fee, ID rules, and any waiting period are set by the state application and the clerk, confirm those details directly before you go.
The clerk's reach across the county helps here. Beyond the Crown Point main office, the clerk staffs counters at 232 Russell Street in Hammond and 3711 Main Street in East Chicago. That gives applicants and people seeking copies more than one place to handle a marriage-related request, though the courts and the bulk of filings still center on the Crown Point complex.
How to Apply for a Marriage License
The process blends an online step with an in-person finish. A little preparation, mainly valid identification for both applicants, keeps it quick.
- Start the application through the state court online service linked at the Indiana courts site.
- Provide the required information for both applicants.
- Bring valid identification to the Clerk of the Lake Circuit/Superior Court.
- Pay the license fee set by the clerk.
- Observe any applicable waiting period before the license is used.
The statewide application and other court services are linked on the Indiana Judicial Branch site. Confirm Lake County specifics with the clerk, since the state portal handles the application itself.
Marriage License Application Information
The state application asks for identifying details about both applicants. Lake County does not publish its own field list, so the table shows the information generally needed; the official application sets the exact requirements.
| Field | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Full legal name | Yes | For both applicants. |
| Date of birth | Yes | Used to confirm eligibility. |
| Valid identification | Yes | Confirm accepted ID with the clerk. |
| Prior marriage information | Yes | Details of any prior marriage and how it ended. |
Lake County Divorce and Filing Fees
The clerk publishes its court filing fees by case-type code. Divorce is filed under DN without children or DC with children, and the cost is the same for both. The table shows the fees the clerk lists. The marriage license fee is set separately and should be confirmed with the clerk.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Divorce filing (DN or DC) | $177 |
| Optional sheriff service of process | $28 |
| Each additional party served | $10 |
| Credit card convenience fee | 3% |
Counter cases are paid by cash or money order, while e-filed cases can use electronic payment. Major credit cards are accepted at the counter for in-person transactions only, with matching identification.
Marriage Records vs Divorce Records
The two records live in different places, and mixing them up sends people to the wrong office. The comparison sorts out who holds what and how to reach it.
| Marriage Records | Divorce Records | |
|---|---|---|
| Held by | Clerk, as license issuer | Circuit and Superior Court |
| How to search | Clerk copy request | Indiana MyCase by name or case number |
| Case code | Marriage license | DN without children or DC with children |
| Certified copy | From the clerk | From the clerk |
In both cases the clerk is where certified copies come from, even though only divorce shows as a searchable court case.
How to Look Up Lake County Marriage Records
Marriage records connect to the clerk, who issues licenses and provides copies. For a copy of a marriage license issued in the county, the clerk is the office to contact, using the county's "Get a Copy of Marriage License" route. Court matters tied to a marriage, such as a later divorce, show up in the statewide case portal instead.
To find a record, have the full names of both spouses and an approximate date if you can. That speeds any clerk search and helps tell apart common names in a county this large. If the marriage led to a court case later, such as a divorce or a name change, that matter is searchable in MyCase even though the original license copy still comes from the clerk.
How to Find Lake County Divorce Records
Divorce is a domestic relations civil matter in the Lake Circuit and Superior Court. The Circuit Court lists divorce and child support among the cases it hears. To find a divorce case, search Indiana MyCase by party name or case number, then read the docket. The divorce filing walkthrough below shows the usual path for an active case.
- Decide whether the divorce is without children (DN) or with children (DC).
- Use Indiana Legal Help or state court forms for self-help paperwork when unrepresented.
- File through e-filing where eligible, or with the clerk, and pay the $177 filing cost.
- Serve the other party if required; optional sheriff service adds $28.
- Track hearings and orders in MyCase, and get certified copies from the clerk.
A divorce file can include petitions, financial declarations, parenting plans, support orders, and the decree. Sensitive financial details, child information, and protected data may be redacted or sealed.
The case code tells you a lot at a glance. A DN case has no children, while a DC case does, which usually means added filings for custody, parenting time, and child support. The Circuit Court also oversees a Domestic Relations Counseling Bureau tied to family cases. For the documents behind the docket, the clerk holds the certified versions, and MyCase only mirrors the public entries.
Getting Certified Copies
For anything official, you need a certified copy, not a printout from the portal. MyCase states plainly that its records are not the official court file, so a certified divorce decree or marriage record must come from the clerk. Certified copies are the version courts, agencies, and other institutions accept.
Order certified copies from the Clerk of the Lake Circuit/Superior Court, in person at a counter or as the office directs. Bring identification and, for a divorce, the case number if you have it, since that speeds the request. Plan for a copy and certification charge, and ask the clerk about the current fee and how long processing takes so you can time a request that has a court or agency deadline.
Where to Get Lake County Marriage Records
In Indiana, marriage and divorce records are anchored at the county. The clerk issues marriage licenses and provides copies, and the court holds the divorce file. That makes the clerk's office the practical starting point for both a marriage copy and a certified divorce decree in Lake County.
Clerk of the Lake Circuit/Superior Court
2293 N. Main Street, 1st Floor
Crown Point, IN 46307
(219) 755-3460
Legal Help for Family Cases
Family cases are often handled without a lawyer, and a few resources help. Indiana Legal Help offers statewide self-help forms and guidance, which the county's court pages link for people filing on their own.
For criminal matters rather than family ones, the Lake County Public Defender represents people who cannot afford a lawyer on felony charges.
The office lists its attorneys by courtroom, along with appellate and conflicts counsel.
For domestic safety, the prosecutor's office runs a Victim/Witness Division that supports people in protective-order and related matters.
These offices handle different needs, but together they cover much of the legal help a family-law matter can involve.