Failure to file marriage certificates and marriage licenses; declaratory order upon proof of marriage; legal effect; recording requirements
Ind. Code § 31-11-4-17
in effectSec. 17. (a) If the individual who solemnizes a marriage fails to:
(1) appropriately complete the certificate of marriage; or
(2) timely file the duplicate marriage certificate and marriage license with the clerk of the circuit court;
as required by section 16 of this chapter, either party to the marriage may file for a declaratory judgment in the circuit court with jurisdiction in the county in which the marriage occurred.
(b) Upon proof by oral testimony or affidavits, the court may issue a declaratory order that:
(1) the marriage of the individuals listed was solemnized before the date the original marriage license expired;
(2) any error by the party who solemnized the marriage does not affect the validity of the marriage; and
(3) the clerk of the circuit court shall:
(A) accept the order for filing; and
(B) issue a duplicate marriage license with the date the marriage occurred to the party who sought declaratory relief.
(c) A court order issued under this section has the same legal effect as a properly attested and filed marriage certificate.
(d) The clerk of the circuit court shall record the duplicate license and court order and forward a copy of the marriage records to the Indiana department of health on at least a monthly basis.
[Pre-1997 Recodification Citations: 31-7-3-15.5; 31-7-3-16 part.]
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.3. Amended by P.L.56-2023, SEC.257.
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://iga.in.gov/laws/2026/ic/titles/31Fetched: 10/17/2026