Minnesota Marriage License Requirements

If you're getting married in the state of Minnesota you must first apply for a wedding license at any in-state county clerk office. These offices, some of which are referred to as the "marriage license bureau," are usually located in the county probate court or circuit court. This document outlines the requirements you must adhere to in order to get a valid marriage license that can be used statewide. Let's begin…

Cost of Your License

How much does a marriage license cost?

The marriage license fee is $100.00 dollars. Accepted forms of payment are cash.

Residency Requirement

Are there any special residency conditions for in-state or out-of-state residents?

There are none. You do not have to be a previous or current resident of Minnesota to obtain a marriage license that will be valid statewide.

Waiting Period

After I submit my application how long do I have to wait before I receive my marriage license?

There is a mandatory 5 day waiting period before your license is issued to you. In most states, the waiting period does not include Saturdays, Sundays or federal holidays. In some instances, the day the application is filed is not included within the waiting period timeline.

Is there a waiting period from the moment the license is given to me to the date I'm allowed to actually marry?

No, you can get married immediately after your marriage license is issued.

License Expiration

How long will my marriage license remain valid once it's been issued?

Your license will expire 6 months from the date it is issued. Once it expires, it can no longer be used to get married.

What happens if my marriage license expires before I get a chance to use it?

Unfortunately, you'll just have to get a brand new one as your expired one will no longer be recognized as valid by the state nor by the person who will be responsible for officiating your marriage.

Age Requirement

How old must I be to get married?

You must be at least 18 years of age or older to marry without parental consent. A birth certificate may be necessary to show proof of age.

What if one or both of us is younger than 18?

If either partner is under 18, parental consent forms must be signed. You will need a certified copy of your birth certificate. If you are under 16 you can not marry without a court order.

Blood Test

Are blood tests and physical exams required?

No blood test or physical exam is required.

Divorced or Widowed Applicants

What if one or both partners have been divorced or have had a spouse die?

If previously married, the date of divorce or date of spouse's death must be provided.

Marriage Name Change

How do I legally change my name before or after I get married?

When you are married, you will receive a marriage certificate, which is a piece of paper proving that you are legally married. This document will serve as evidence of your marriage, which you'll need to complete the process of notifying several government agencies about your name change, as well as any non-government institutions that you do business with (ie, banks, employers, credit cards, memberships, etc).

There is an online marriage name change kit that you can use and complete before or after your marriage takes place. It's applicable for Minnesota or any other state in the union. Completing all the necessary name change documentation prior to your wedding is recommended in order to expedite the name change process.

Proxy Marriage

What is a proxy marriage?

A proxy marriage, also known as a "proxy wedding," is when one or both partners to be married are unable to physically attend the ceremony. The missing person, or persons, will have someone "stand in" for them and serve as their "proxy."

Can I get married by proxy if I'm unable to to be present for the ceremony?

No, getting married by proxy is not allowed in Minnesota. There are actually only five states left that do allow marriage by proxy.

Common Law Marriage

What is a common law marriage?

The term "common law marriage" refers to an informal marriage, based upon cohabitation and a mutual understanding by both partners, rather than getting married through a civil or religious ceremony. The latter, more common approach, would require an actual Minnesota marriage license.

Is a common law marriage a legal option for me instead of undergoing a conventional marriage?

No, common-law marriages are not allowed in Minnesota. This is unsurprising as only one-fifth of the country currently recognizes common law marriage.

Cousin Marriage

Can I get married to my cousin?

No, cousin marriages are not allowed.

Same Sex Marriage

Are same sex marriages legal?

Yes, same-sex marriages are allowed and legally recognized in Minnesota.

Where to Go

Where do I physically need to go to get my marriage license?

Minnesota has 87 offices where a marriage license can be acquired. Simply choose a location below to visit. Phone numbers as well as map and accompanying driving direction links are provided for every address.

Aitkin Court Administration
209 2nd St NW
Aitkin, MN 56431
218-927-7350
Anoka County Vital Statistics
2100 Third Ave
Anoka, MN 55303
612-422-7399
Becker County Vital Statistics
917 Lake Ave
Detroit Lakes, MN 56502
218-846-7304
Beltrami County Recorder
619 Beltrami Ave Nw
Bemidji, MN 56601
218-759-4170
Benton County Benton County Recorder
531 Dewey St
Foley, MN 56329
320-968-6254
Big Stone County Recorder
20 2nd St SE
Ortonville, MN 56278
320-839-2308
Blue Earth County License Department
P.O. Box 8608
Mankato, MN 56001
507-389-8222
Brown County Recorder
14 S State St
New Ulm, MN 56073
507-233-6653
Carlton County Courthouse County Recorders Office
301 Walnut Ave
Carlton, MN 55718
218-384-4281
Carver County Recorder
600 E 4th St
Chaska, MN 55318
612-361-1930
Cass County Recorder
P.O. Box 3000
Walker, MN 56484
218-547-3300
Chippewa County Recorder
Highway 7 And 11th St
Montevideo, MN 56265
320-269-9431
Chisago County Recorder
313 N Main St
Senter City, MN 55012
651-257-0438
Clay County Recorder
807 N 11th St
Moorhead, MN 56560
218-299-5031
Clearwater County Recorder
P.O. Box 307
Bagley, MN 56621
218-694-6129
Cook County Recorder
411 W 2nd St
Grand Marais, MN 55604
218-387-3000
Cottonwood County Recorder
P.O. Box 326
Windom, MN 56101
507-831-1458
Crow Wing County Recorder
326 Laurel St
Brainerd, MN 56401
218-824-1045
Dakota County Recorder Government Center
1590 West Hwy 55
Hastings, MN 55033
651-438-4355
Dodge County Recorder
P.O. Box 128
Mantorville, MN 55955
507-635-6250
Douglas County Recorder
305 8th Ave West
Alexandria, MN 56308
320-762-3877
Faribault County Recorder
P.O. Box 130
Blue Earth, MN 56013
507-526-6252
Fillmore County Recorder
1 Courthouse Sq
Preston, MN 55965
507-765-4701
Freeborn County Recorder
411 S. Broadway
Albert Lea, MN 56007
507-377-5130
Goodhue County Recorder-Vital Statistics
P.O. Box 408
Redwing, MN 55066
651-385-3149
Grant County Recorder
10 2nd St NE, Courthouse
Elbow Lake, MN 56531
218-685-4133
Hennepin County Recorder
300 South Sixth St
Minneapolis, MN 55487
612-348-3051
Houston County Recorder
304 S. Marshall St
Caledonia, MN 55921
507-724-5813
Hubbard County Recorder
Highway 6 & C R 58
Park Rapids, MN 56470
218-732-3552
Isanti County Recorder
237 S W 2nd
Cambridge, MN 55008
612-689-1191
Itasca County Recorder
123 N.E. 4th St
Grand Rapids, MN 55744
218-327-2856
Jackson County Recorder
405 4th St
Jackson, MN 56143
507-847-2580
Kanabec County Recorder
18 North Vine St
Mora, MN 55051
320-679-6466
Kandiyohi County Recorder
P.O. Box 736
Willmar, MN 56201
320-231-6223
Kittson County Recorder
P.O. Box 639
Hallock, MN 56728
218-843-2842
Koochiching County Recorder
715 4th St
Falls, MN 56649
218-283-6290
Lac Qui Parle County Recorder
600 6th St
Madison, MN 56256
320-598-3724
Lake County Recorder
601 3rd Ave
Two Harbors, MN 55616
218-834-8347
Lake Of The Woods County Recorder
P.O. Box 808
Baudette, MN 56623
218-634-1902
Le Sueur County Recorder
88 South Park Ave
Le Center, MN 56057
507-357-2251
Lincoln County Recorder
319 N Rebecca St
Ivanhoe, MN 56142
507-694-1360
Lyon County Recorder
607 West Main
Marshall, MN 56258
507-537-6722
Mahnomen County Court Administration
County Courthouse
Mahnomen, MN 56557
218-935-2251
Marshall County Recorder
208 E Colvin St
Warren, MN 56762
218-745-4921
Martin County Recorder
P.O. Box 785
Fairmont, MN 56031
507-238-3213
McLeod County Recorder
830 11th St East
Glencoe, MN 55336
320-864-1327
Meeker County Recorder
325 North Sibley
Litchfield, MN 55355
320-693-5440
Mille Lacs County Recorder
635 2nd St S.E.
Milaca, MN 56353
320-983-8308
Morrison County Recorder
213 1st Ave, SE # 24
Little Falls, MN 56345
320-632-0146
Mower County Recorder
201 First St N.E.
Austinn, MN 55912
507-437-9446
Murray County License
2848 Broadway Ave
Slayton, MN 56172
507-836-6148
Nicollet County Courthouse
501 South Minnesota Ave
St Peter, MN 56082
507-931-6800
Nobles County Recorder
315 10th St
Worthington, MN 56187
507-372-8236
Norman County Recorder
16 3rd Ave E
Ada, MN 56510
218-784-4422
Olmsted County Recorder
151 4 St S.E.
Rochester, MN 55904
507-285-8191
Otter Tail County County Recorder
1 Junius Ave
Fergus Falls, MN 56538
218-739-2271
Pennington County Recorder
101 Main Ave N
Thief River Fall, MN 56701
218-683-7027
Pine County Recorder
1 Main St, Courthouse
Pine City, MN 55063
612-629-6781
Pipestone County Recorder
416 S Hiawatha Ave
Pipestone, MN 56164
507-825-6755
Polk County Recorder
P.O. Box 397
Crookston, MN 56716
218-281-3464
Pope County Recorder
P.O. Box 6
Glenwood, MN 56334
320-634-5723
Ramsey County Recorder Center West #812
50 W Kellogg Blvd.
St Paul, MN 55102
651-266-2050
Red Lake County Recorder
P.O. Box 3
Red Lake Falls, MN 56750
218-253-2997
Redwood County Recorder
Courthouse Square
Redwood Falls, MN 56283
507-637-8330
Renville County Recorder
500 East De Pue
Olivia, MN 56277
320-523-3669
Rice County Recorder
218 N W 3rd St
Faribault, MN 55021
507-332-6114
Rock County Recorder
204 E Brown St
Luverne, MN 56156
507-283-5014
Roseaw County Recorder
216 Center St West
Roseau, MN 56751
218-463-2061
Scott County Recorder
Courthouse #113
Shakopee, MN 55379
952-496-8143
Sherburn County Recorder
327 King Ave
Elk River, MN 55330
612-241-2915
Sibley County Recorder
P.O. Box 44
Gaylord, MN 55334
507-237-4079
St Louis County Recorder
100 NW 5th Ave, Rm 101
Duluth, MN 55802
218-726-2677
Stearns County Recorders Administration<BR>Center-Rm 131
705 Courthouse Square
St Cloud, MN 56303
320-656-3855
Steele County Recorder
630 Florence Ave
Owatonna, MN 55060
507-444-7450
Stevens County Recorder
400 Colorado Ave
Morris, MN 56267
320-589-7414
Swift County Recorder
301 14th St N
Benson, MN 56215
320-843-3377
Todd County Recorder
215 First Ave South
Long Prairie, MN 56347
320-732-4428
Traverse County Recorder
702 2nd Ave North
Wheaton, MN 56296
320-563-4622
Wabasha County Recorder
625 Jefferson Ave
Wabasha, MN 55981
651-565-3623
Wadena County Recorder
415 Jefferson St S
Wadena, MN 56482
218-631-7622
Waseca County Recorder
307 N State St
Waseca, MN 56093
507-835-0670
Washington County Recorder
14900 61st St North
Stillwater, MN 55082
651-430-6755
Watonwan County Recorder
P.O. Box 518
St James, MN 56081
507-375-3341
Wilkin County Recorder
300 5th St South
Breckenridge, MN 56520
218-643-4012
Winona County Recorder
171 West 3rd
Winona, MN 55987
507-457-6340
Wright County Recorder
10 N W Second St
Buffalo, MN 55313
612-682-7357
Yellow Medicine County Recorder
415 9th Ave
Granite Falls, MN 56241
320-564-2529