Minnesota Marriage Records

In Minnesota, a marriage is a civil contract between two mentally competent and consenting individuals that subsequently grants them certain legally recognized rights, responsibilities, and privileges. The process for getting married in Minnesota is governed by Chapter 517 of the Minnesota Statutes, which outlines the eligibility criteria and requirements for these activities. Generally, for a marriage to be legally valid, the couple must obtain a marriage license from a county registrar and have their wedding ceremony performed by an authorized officiant in the presence of at least two witnesses. The legal age for marriage in Minnesota is 18. Intended couples also cannot have a current legally recognized spouse and cannot be closely related to each other.

Minnesota's county registrars issue thousands of marriage licenses each year - over 29,500 marriages were recorded across the state in 2023 alone. Minnesota marriage licenses are valid for six months (from the date they are issued), and the marriage must be solemnized within this period - couples who fail to get married within the six-month validity period of their marriage licenses must apply for a new license. Minnesota does not require residency for marriage; as such, out-of-state couples can marry within the state. Marriage licenses can also be obtained in any county and used in any location within the state.

Records of marriages that occur in Minnesota are maintained locally by county registrars. Per the Minnesota Data Practices Act, these records are considered public information and can be readily accessed and inspected by interested parties.

What are Marriage Records

Minnesota marriage records are official documents that record the details of a marriage that occurred in the state. These records typically include the following key pieces of information:

The full names of the couple
The exact date the marriage took place
The location where the marriage ceremony was held
The names of the marriage officiant and witnesses
The names of the witness
The marriage license number

Minnesota marriage records are maintained by the county that initially issued the marriage license. They are accessible to the public and can be used for legal, genealogical, and historical purposes, such as:

Providing legal proof of marriage for name changes, spousal benefits, and insurance or inheritance claims
Verifying an individual’s marital status for loan or insurance applications, and other similar matters
Tracing family histories and constructing family trees
Performing statistical analysis and research to study historical demographics and social patterns and compile statistics on marriage trends that can be used to inform public policy and social services

It should be pointed out that even though marriage licenses and marriage certificates are both marriage records (issued by county registrars) and sometimes used interchangeably, they are two different documents. Marriage licenses are documents issued before the wedding and grant the couple legal permission to get married. On the other hand, marriage certificates are documents issued after the wedding has occurred and been recorded, and they serve as official proof that the marriage took place.

Marriages in Minnesota

Marriage rates in Minnesota have steadily decreased over the past decade, dropping to an all-time low of 4.4 per 1,000 residents in 2020 (most likely due to the pandemic) before rebounding to 5.2 per 1,000 in 2022. As of 2022, 33% of adult Minnesotans (aged 15 and older) have never been married, representing a lower percentage than the national average of 34.3%. Interestingly, more men than women have never been married. Divorce rates were also higher among women, with 11.3% of women having been divorced at least once, compared to 9.1% of men.

Marital status in Minnesota also varies across different racial groups. Marriage rates are the highest among the Asian population, with 61.2% married, 29.8% never married, 6.1% divorced, and 2.9% widowed. This indicates a strong tendency towards marriage within this demographic. Similarly, 52.1% of White residents are married, 28.5% have never been married, 11.1% are divorced, and 8.3% are widowed. On the other hand, the African American population has a lower marriage rate, with 28.4% married, 54.1% never married, 12.3% divorced, and 5.2% widowed. The Hispanics had a more balanced distribution between married and never-married individuals, with 45.3% married, 41.2% never been married, 9.8% divorced, and 3.7% widowed.

Minnesota offers a straightforward and detailed process for intended couples. Under state law, both parties must be at least 18 years old and cannot be currently married to someone else (individuals previously married will be required to provide a valid divorce decree or annulment). Marriages between close relatives, such as parents, siblings, half-siblings, uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews, and first cousins, are also prohibited. Additionally, developmentally disabled persons under the guardianship or conservatorship of the commissioner of human services may marry only with the commissioner's written consent (which is usually granted unless the marriage is deemed not in the best interest of the individual or the public).

Couples who meet these criteria must apply for a marriage license at any county registrar’s office in the state. There, they will be required to present a valid government-issued ID and provide information like their full names, addresses, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, and details about any previous marriages. While many counties offer online options for initiating marriage license applications, both parties must typically appear in person to complete the application process. Nevertheless, some counties may allow only one party to appear as long as they can provide a supplemental marriage license application along with the completed (original) marriage license application, which must also be notarized.

Minnesota marriage licenses cost a standard fee of $115; however, this fee may be reduced to $40 for couples who complete at least 12 hours of premarital education. The state does not require couples to undergo blood tests or physical exams before obtaining their marriage licenses, nor does it impose a mandatory waiting period before licenses are issued. As such, couples typically receive their license immediately after submitting a completed application (provided they meet all requirements). Note that the wedding ceremony must occur within six months from the date a marriage license is issued; otherwise, a new one must be obtained.

Marriages in Minnesota must be performed in the presence of at least two witnesses who are at least 16 years old and must be solemnized by an officiant authorized to perform marriages in the state. This includes judges, retired judges, court administrators, licensed or ordained ministers, and individuals registered as civil marriage officiants with a local registrar. Officiants can question the couple under oath to ensure their marriage is legal and verify that there are no legal obstacles before solemnizing it. After the ceremony, the officiant must complete and sign a marriage certificate; the couple and witnesses must also sign this certificate. Be aware that marriage officiants must file the completed and signed certificate with the local registrar of the county where the license was issued within five days or face a $100 fine.

Minnesota Marriage Certificate

Minnesota marriage certificates are official documents that confirm a legally recognized marriage has taken place. They are issued after the marriage ceremony and provided by the local registrar in the county where the marriage license was originally obtained. In many cases, the registrar’s office sends couples a certified copy of their marriage certificate after it has been filed by the officiant and duly recorded.

The registrar’s office is also responsible for maintaining copies of these marriage certificates and ensuring they are accessible to interested members of the public. Individuals looking to access copies of these records typically need to provide details, such as the names of the couple as they appear on the certificate and the date of the marriage, and pay a stipulated fee.

How To Find and Access Minnesota Marriage Records

Minnesota marriage records are managed locally by county registrars, who are also charged with ensuring that copies of these records can be viewed and inspected by interested members of the public according to the state's Data Practices Act. To this end, most counties offer several options for accessing marriage records in their custody.

Accessing Minnesota Marriage Records Online

The Minnesota Association of County Officers provides and maintains the Minnesota Official Marriage System (MOMS), an online platform designed to facilitate online searches for official marriage information in the state. Interested parties can perform name- and date-based searches for marriage certificates, request copies of these records (for a fee), and get contact information for record custodians through this platform.

In addition, the Minnesota Historical Society Library maintains an online archive of marriage records; however, this catalog is not available for all counties and is limited to select years where available.

Accessing Minnesota Marriage Records Offline

Minnesota marriage records can also be accessed offline by contacting the county registrar's office where the marriage license was issued. Requesters are typically required to submit a written application and provide information like the couple's name and marriage date. Certified copies of Minnesota marriage records cost $9 per copy. The county registrar's office may charge requesters who do not have the correct names or marriage dates for the required records a separate fee to search for these records. Many counties also provide mail-in and fax options for requesters who cannot visit the registrar's office in person; however, additional processing and shipping fees may apply.

References

Counties in Minnesota

List of Content

What are Marriage Records
Marriages in Minnesota
1. Minnesota Marriage Certificate
How To Find and Access Minnesota Marriage Records