Search Free Minnesota Marriage Records & Licenses

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Free Minnesota Marriage Record Search

Access anyone's marital information in Minnesota, free of charge.

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Track down free Minnesota marriage records on anyone without tedious stress or searching.

The state’s statutes allow citizens to access government resources for various purposes; marriage records are made available through this law, ensuring that citizens can find out who’s married in Minnesota.

Whether they’re seeking this information for personal reasons or to conduct a genealogical search, citizens can tap into free public records to learn about unions in the state. Read on to find out how to access public marriage records in Minnesota through official search tools and custodians.

Accessing Marriage Records in Minnesota

Individuals might want to request marriage records for many reasons. Newly married couples should obtain a copy of their marriage license to have on hand for various transactions during their union. For example, they might have to show proof of marriage when they’re getting a loan, paying taxes, applying for adoption, or securing health insurance.

Often, a search for marital records can support someone’s genealogical search, adding key information to their family tree. In other cases, people simply want to find out if someone is married in Minnesota, and securing a copy of the license is a quick and seamless way to confirm any union.

Perhaps someone wants to conduct a marriage background check to find out if their partner has been previously married, which may help them decide whether they want a prenup.

There’s good news for record seekers in Minnesota. Section 13.03 of the Minnesota Statutes states that all government data, including marriage certificates, are a part of the public record. That means that individuals can request to inspect this data or receive a copy of a certificate from the state records custodian.

In Minnesota, the county that issued the marriage certificate is in charge of distributing these public records. A complete listing of Minnesota counties is available, helping citizens find the right agency to contact for a marriage license.¹

Third-party providers can also assist with a marriage records search. However, it’s important for citizens to keep in mind that unless these third-party providers are endorsed by the state, the records can’t be used for official purposes, such as financial transactions.

Additionally, citizens may choose to search marriage indexes maintained by the state of Minnesota to learn more about historical unions that date back decades or even centuries. Choosing the right resources to aid in a marriage license search is the first step in securing necessary information.

Additional information is available to learn more about Minnesota marriages. To supplement any information obtained through public records custodians, individuals can check out the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.²

This survey reports details on who’s married and who isn’t in Minnesota. Among individuals ages 15 and older in the state, about half, or 51.6%, are currently married. Just under 10% of adults are divorced.

Another 4.9% are widowed, and less than 1% are separated. A third of all Minnesota adults have never been married. While this survey can’t provide details on a specific union, it offers some interesting insight into marriage trends throughout the state.

How To View Minnesota Marriage Records for Free

State marriage records are available through a variety of entities, including some at the state level. In many states, the vital records office is the state-level agency in charge of housing marriage licenses. However, Minnesota’s Office of Vital Records doesn’t track marriages and divorces.

Instead, this information is housed in the Minnesota Official Marriage System, or MOMS, a searchable online database of unions in the state managed by county governments.³

MOMS documents marriage records from all counties except for Scott and Washington counties. However, the marriage license dates available vary by county, so check out the index dates by county to see what’s available.

Search free marriage records in MOMS by county or throughout the state, listing one or both applicant’s full names and the date range. Results will list any marriage certificates that match the search terms. After identifying the right record, individuals can click “request copy” to order a marriage license.

Copies are $9 each or $20 for a certified copy. Individuals can mail a check or money order to the county issuing the certificate or pay online by credit card.

Note that fees and the availability of non-certified and certified copies of a marriage license vary by county, and the certificate request page will detail specifics for each location.

It’s important to note that MOMS is the only marriage record resource at the state level. While there aren’t any options to request a marriage certificate in person or over the phone, MOMS is an accessible resource that allows citizens to confirm unions or request certificates from the comfort of their home.

Citizens searching for older marriage records can obtain them from state and county custodians. More details on searching archived marriage records are provided below.

Checking Counties for Marriage Records in Minnesota

As noted above, Minnesota counties are the primary public records custodians for marriage certificates in the state. The Minnesota Official Marriage System (MOMS) offers a complete list of contact information for county agencies responsible for these records. Here, this article will focus on how to search marriage records in the state’s three largest counties.

Hennepin County: Hennepin County is Minnesota’s largest county and includes 45 cities, including Minneapolis. Citizens can obtain a copy of a Hennepin County marriage license by making a request by mail or fax or visiting the office in person.⁵ Start by printing the Request for Marriage Record form and completing each section.⁶

In Section C, select the marriage certificate box. Each certificate copy is $9, payable by check or money order to the Hennepin County Treasurer. Individuals can mail their completed form and payment to the Vital Records office address listed below or fax it, along with a fax cover sheet, to the number listed below.

Hennepin County also accepts in-person marriage records requests. Individuals should schedule an appointment with the office and arrive with the completed marriage record request form. Individuals can pay the $9 fee by cash, check, money order, or credit card (with a small transaction fee).

Because Hennepin County is so large, it has multiple service centers, in addition to the Government Center address listed below, where you can make an appointment for a marriage record. These service centers are open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Hennepin County also partners with VitalChek, a third-party provider, for faxed marriage records requests. Record requests through this provider cost $9, plus a $7 VitalChek service fee. Expedited service costs an additional $20.

After making their request through VitalChek, citizens should print the vital records authorization form provided through the website and fax it to the number listed below:

Vital Records Office
Hennepin County Government Center
300 South 6th St., MC-026
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55487-0026

Phone: (612)-348-8919
Fax: (612)-348-2010
Email: [email protected]

Ramsey County: Home to Saint Paul and surrounding cities, the Ramsey County Vital Records Office records all marriages in the area. The county accepts marriage records requests by mail and in person. Citizens can complete the Marriage Record Request Application, providing details on the bride and groom names, wedding date, and shipping information⁷.

Marriage certificate copies are $9 each, payable by check or money order. Individuals should mail their completed form and payment to the address below.

In-person marriage record requests are also welcome in Ramsey County. This convenient option works well for record seekers who live in the area. Citizens can print and complete the application linked above in advance or pick one up upon arrival at the office.

They can turn in their completed form and pay the $9 record fee using check, money order, or credit or debit card to process their request. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but citizens should arrive no later than 4 p.m. to make their marital records request. Individuals can also contact Ramsey County online for more information.⁸

Ramsey County Vital Records
Marriage Records
90 Plato Boulevard West
St. Paul, MN 55107

Phone: (651)-266-1333

Dakota County: Minnesota’s Dakota County issues copies of marriage certificates for all unions performed there.⁹ Individuals can request a copy of a Dakota County marriage certificate in person or by mail. Start the request by printing and completing the Marriage Certificate Request Form, which collects information about both applicants’ names and the wedding date.¹⁰

Citizens can mail the completed form and a $9 check or money order made payable to Dakota County to the Vital Statistics address below:

Dakota County Administration Center (Hastings Service Center)
Vital Statistics Office
1590 Highway 55, Ste. 2300
Hastings, Minnesota 55033

Phone: (651)-437-3191
Email: [email protected]

Alternatively, record seekers can drop off their application at one of three service centers located throughout the county. They should include their payment with the application at any drop-box location. Citizens can also schedule an appointment or walk into these three service centers to process their request in person.

An appointment is preferred and can be scheduled online in advance. In addition to the Hastings service center address listed above, citizens can also visit the following two service centers:

Hastings County Northern Service Center
1 Mendota Rd. West
West St. Paul, MN 55118

Phone: (651)-554-6531
Email: [email protected]

Western Service Center
14955 Galaxie Ave.
Apple Valley, MN 55124

Phone: (651)-437-3191
Email: [email protected]

It’s important to note that counties serve as the primary records custodian for marriage certificates in the state. So, if you search by city, you’ll be routed to the county agency that holds this information. More information on accessing historical marriage records for genealogy purposes is covered below.

How To Track Down Family Marriage Records via Archived Indexes in Minnesota

Learning about family history is convenient with the help of marriage records. Individuals can look at historical records through the Minnesota State Archives, which are housed at the History Center in St. Paul.¹¹ Historical matrimony records are organized by county, with many of these archives dating back to the mid-1800s.

Citizens can peruse this complete listing of marriage records available through the Minnesota State Archives, many of which are available on microfilm.¹² Citizens can also conduct an online search of the archives, using search phrases such as “marriage records” and “justice of the peace” to pull up any indexes.¹³

Individuals can contact the State Archives to learn how to look up a marriage license in Minnesota. Access the Marriage Record Request Form, where citizens can enter the individual’s name and a two-year date range, and the staff will search for the record and deliver it via email. The fee for this service is $10, and the record is typically delivered within 60 days of the request.

Individuals can also visit the Minnesota State Archives for research assistance. The library is open for in-person research on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. While individuals can walk in during these hours, they may also choose to make an appointment.

Schedule an appointment online to guarantee access to a research table and request that staff pull up to three items in advance.

Minnesota State Archives
345 West Kellogg Boulevard
St. Paul, MN 55102

Phone: (651)-259-3000

Citizens can explore historical marriage records beyond state archives. Consider researching these resources to learn more about a Minnesota nuptial:

• Newspaper archives that may feature marriage announcements
• Church archives that may have recorded unions that took place at the institution
• State genealogical societies that may house marriage records
• Local libraries that may catalog marriage indexes

How To Apply for a Marriage License in Minnesota

Couples who want to say “I do” in Minnesota need to apply for a marriage license before their big day. Counties issue marriage licenses, so their guidelines may vary, but here’s a general overview of how to apply for one in the state. Couples should expect to appear together in person at their local county office.

Many counties have an online pre-application that couples need to complete before they appear in person. For example, Hennepin County’s online application should be submitted prior to making the appointment.¹⁴

After completing the application, couples should visit their county office to obtain the marriage license. Some counties accept appointments, so check online before a visit. Couples will need to show a photo ID for proof of age because citizens must be 18 years old to marry in the state.

They’ll need to provide additional data, such as Social Security numbers and contact information.

Marriage licenses cost $115 in Minnesota, payable at the time of application. However, couples can reduce this cost by enrolling in a premarital education course and submitting an educator’s statement confirming that the couple took at least 12 hours of counseling.¹⁵ Doing so reduces the marriage license fee to $40.

Minnesota marriage licenses are valid for 6 months after they’re issued. Couples will receive their license the day they apply, and they don’t have to be Minnesota residents to marry in the state.

With the guidance in this resource, citizens are ready to request Minnesota marriage records and learn more about nuptials in the state.