Guide to Minnesota Marriage Records

A marriage record in Minnesota is a document or entry in an official county government database that legally recognizes the union of two individuals. Marriage records are decentralized in Minnesota, meaning that no single state office maintains them. The county where the couple applied for the marriage license is responsible for the official record.

Marriage records typically contain the full pre-marriage legal names of both spouses, their post-marriage names (if declared), the date of the marriage, the specific municipality or county where the event occurred, and the identities of the officiant and legal witnesses.

When describing marriage documents, people often use the terms “marriage record,” “marriage certificate,” and “marriage license.” A marriage license is the authorization obtained before the wedding ceremony, permitting the couple to marry anywhere within the state. A marriage certificate is completed after the ceremony and filed with the county that issued the marriage license. However, a marriage record refers to the county record documenting the marriage and may include the application, license, recorded certificate, and related filings.

Minnesota residents search marriage records for various purposes. For instance, a certificate may be required to document marital status for government or administrative purposes, to establish a name change, or to support estate and other legal matters. Older Minnesota marriage records may be used for genealogy to establish family relationships, dates, residences, and the names used by earlier generations.

Types of Marriage Records in Minnesota

The following are common marriage record types in Minnesota:

Marriage Certificates

The Minnesota marriage certificate is the document completed and signed after completion of the marriage ceremony and filed with the local registrar in the county where the marriage license was issued.

According to Minnesota Statutes § 517.10, a marriage certificate contains the full names of the parties before the marriage and after the marriage ceremony, their dates of birth, and the county and state of residence. It also contains the date and place of the marriage, their signatures after the marriage ceremony, and the signatures of at least two witnesses who are at least 16 years old.

A certified copy is usually required when official proof of marriage is needed to change the name on a driver’s license or ID, change the name on Social Security records, or claim specific benefits.

Marriage Licenses

A marriage license is the authorization that allows a couple to marry in Minnesota. It is issued before marriage, not after the conclusion of the marriage, as is the case with a marriage certificate.

A marriage license is issued by the local registrar of any Minnesota county and may be used for a ceremony anywhere in the state. Upon issuance, it is valid for 6 months.

Are Marriage Records Public in Minnesota?

Marriage records are considered public records under the Minnesota Data Practices Act. Hence, any member of the general public can inspect, search, and order copies of marriage records with no statement of purpose required.

Note that certain details in Minnesota marriage records are restricted. For instance, information such as Social Security numbers collected during the licensing process is redacted from public view.

The age of a Minnesota marriage record can affect where it may be found. Older records may not appear in online county indexes and may require a county or archival search.

What Information Is Included in a Marriage Record?

A Minnesota marriage record may include:

• Full names of both spouses
• Names used before and after marriage
• Marriage date
• Marriage location
• The county where the marriage was recorded
• Marriage license or certificate number
• Dates of birth
• County and state of residence
• Officiant information
• Witness names or signatures

How to Find Marriage Records in Minnesota

Step 1: Identify the Marriage Details

The first step involves obtaining the correct names of the couple, the approximate date of marriage, and the city or county where the marriage took place.

Step 2: Find the Record Custodian

In Minnesota, marriage records are maintained at the county level by the county recorder, local registrar, licensing office, or vital records office. Older records are archived with county offices and the Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS).

Step 3: Choose How to Search

Records may be searched or requested through the following means:

• Online: The Minnesota Official Marriage System (MOMS) provides a searchable database for finding Minnesota marriage records maintained by the Minnesota Department of Health.
• By Mail: Most counties accept a completed request form with payment by mail.
• In person: Requesters can visit the relevant county office in person for same-day requests.
• Third-party databases: Requesters can use genealogy sites, and paid record-lookup services may host historical indexes.

Step 4: Submit a Record Request

Requests for marriage records generally involve providing a government-issued photo identification, a completed application form, and payment of the applicable fee. Mail requests take about 1-2 weeks, while in-person requests are usually processed the same day.

How to Get a Certified Marriage Certificate in Minnesota

Since Minnesota marriage records are generally public, a person requesting such records need not be one of the people represented in the records or prove a blood relationship with those spouses.

The application for the marriage record must be filed in the county where the marriage was registered. The requester must provide the following:

• Names of both spouses, preferably as they appeared before marriage
• Marriage date or approximate date
• County that issued the license
• Contact and mailing information

Counties may require identification for a particular in-person transaction or for a specific payment method. A valid, government-issued photo ID is the standard requested identification document across Minnesota counties.

Certified copies are generally issued at a cost of $9 per copy. However, this fee may be higher if they include expedited fees and shipping charges. Each county provides specific order options for requesters. These typically include mail, online, and in-person service options.

Minnesota law requires the local registrar to prepare a certified copy for the marriage parties within 10 days of receipt and recording of the marriage certificate. Processing time for extra copies requested later depends on the county where the request is submitted.

Marriage certificates, as certified copies, can serve as legal proof of marriage, be used to change one’s name if necessary, and be used for other administrative and legal procedures.

How to Get a Marriage License in Minnesota

Individuals who want to obtain a marriage license in Minnesota can apply through any of the local registrars of Minnesota counties. While it is not mandatory for both partners to be residents of Minnesota, the marriage license must be obtained within the state.

Both applicants (couples) for a Minnesota marriage license must be 18 years of age or older to legally marry. To obtain the license, they must provide details such as their full names, social security numbers if available, addresses, ages and dates of birth, and information on previous marriages (if any exist), information on their kinship, and their intended names after the marriage.

Minnesota law requires proof of age. An original or certified birth certificate, driver's license, or other legal form showing date of birth will suffice.

The current licensing fees are the following:

• $125 if premarital counseling is not undertaken.
• $50 if couples complete at least 12 hours of qualifying premarital education. Couples must provide the required, signed, dated, and notarized or church-sealed statement from the educator to qualify for the discounted fee.

Minnesota law does not provide for a mandatory waiting period after submitting an application. If the local registrar is satisfied that there are no legal obstacles to marriage, the application can be approved. However, after issuance, the marriage license is valid for 6 months.

For the marriage ceremony, couples must make their declarations in the presence of an authorized officiant and 2 attending witnesses. The officiant must be older than 21 and be registered as a civil marriage officiant at the county level. The officiant must complete the marriage certificate and file it with the county that issued the license within 5 days of the marriage.

Who Can Request Marriage Records?

Since Minnesota marriage records are public data, requests may generally be made by:

• Either spouse named on the record
• Immediate family members
• Authorized representatives
• Attorneys
• Government agencies
• Genealogists and historical researchers
• Other members of the public

Be aware that public access does not extend to protected data in the underlying marriage-license application, such as Social Security numbers.

Free and Online Marriage Record Searches

The Minnesota Official Marriage System, also known as MOMS, allows users to search the marriage indexes of participating Minnesota counties by last name, county, and date of marriage.

The basic index can be searched without purchasing a certificate. It allows users to access enough information to identify the relevant record by providing the applicant's name, county of registration, date of marriage, and certificate number.

However, the MOMS system is not a replacement for an official certified certificate. If proof of marriage is required, the official record must be ordered from the relevant county authority, usually costing $9 per copy plus any optional service fees.

Historical marriage record researchers may refer to the database available at the Minnesota Historical Society. This platform holds marriage records from 21 Minnesota counties for selected years.

If the details of the marriage are not known, it is advisable to conduct the search using the last names of both spouses and apply the MOMS county search broadly. Removing an uncertain date may also improve search results and help achieve them. MOMS recommends searching with less information when the first search is unsuccessful.

In case no results can be found, check the MOMS coverage dates for the county in question. The record may not be covered by the county's dates listed in the database.

Common Law Marriage in Minnesota

In Minnesota, living together, sharing property, or claiming to be married does not qualify couples for a common law marriage.

According to Minnesota Statutes § 517.01, a marriage in Minnesota must be validated by a marriage license, two witnesses, and an officiant with the authority to marry. Any marriages made in Minnesota after April 26, 1941, are invalid if they do not satisfy these prerequisites.

Minnesota recognizes marriages that were legally created under the laws of other states. Section 517.20 provides that a marriage valid in the state where it was performed is valid in Minnesota, although Minnesota law provides for exceptions. Such marriages may include those formed as common-law marriages in states that recognize them.

A common-law marriage from another jurisdiction may not have a marriage license or certificate issued in Minnesota because it may not have been created under Minnesota law. Therefore, a couple may have to provide evidence (if required) from the state where the marriage took place rather than seeking proof through a search of Minnesota marriage records.

How to Correct an Error on a Marriage Record

Common mistakes in Minnesota marriage records include name errors, missing information, or incorrect marriage dates or locations. Either spouse listed on the record or the officiating person can initiate an amendment request.

Under Minnesota Statutes § 517.103, an individual initiating an amendment request must provide the local registrar with:

• An affidavit describing why the marriage record should be amended
• Documents supporting the requested correction.

Correction will only be approved if the affidavit and supporting documents establish the error in the existing marriage record.

The request must be submitted to the county that maintains the record, not to the Minnesota Department of Health. Note that some counties may require more documentary proof. For instance, Dakota County requests original or certified copies for some amendments and states that the correction review will take up to two weeks.

Fees may vary slightly from county to county. Hennepin County, for instance, currently charges $40 for the first correction, and Dakota County charges $42.

Marriage Records and Name Changes

A certified copy of a filed marriage certificate serves as the primary legal document confirming a name change. It permits a spouse to adopt a new surname without undergoing a separate court-ordered name change.

Government agencies that require a certified copy of a marriage record to update their records include the following:

• Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS): Requires the certificate to print an updated Minnesota driver's license or Real ID.
• Social Security Administration (SSA): Must be updated to reflect changes to the tax and benefit registry.
• U.S. Department of State: Requires a certified proof of marriage certificate to update a name record to modify or reissue a passport.

While using a marriage certificate to change your name with government agencies updates your identity credentials, it does not alter the original marriage record. If there is an error in the marriage record itself, a separate application process is required to correct it. Without this, the original marriage record remains a permanent snapshot of the subject's legal names at the time the marriage license was issued.

Marriage Records for Genealogy and Family History

Marriage records help researchers understand family trees and trace genealogies. This is because older marriage records can establish names, marriage dates, residences, and other information that helps distinguish people with similar names.

The Minnesota Official Marriage System (MOMS) is usually the first place to find historical marriage information in Minnesota, with some county indexes dating back to the 19th century.

Also, the Minnesota Historical Society maintains a significant amount of historical information on marriages in Minnesota. The MNHS maintains records for several counties during selected periods and provides research services for its records. However, these records are not certified. A person who needs a certified record of marriage must contact the county that issued the original license.

Spouses’ names, marriage date, the county of marriage, or a combination of these fields can be used to perform a historical Minnesota marriage record search. Researchers often need to broaden the search beyond the exact date of the marriage when it is not known.

Note that historical records have certain drawbacks. For example, different counties had different beginning dates for marriage registration, online indexing is incomplete in some counties, names may have been spelled differently, and some historical material may only be available through county archives or MNHS.

Frequently Asked Questions