Find Bloomington Marriage License Info

Bloomington residents who need a marriage license apply at a Hennepin County service center, not at Bloomington city hall. Minnesota assigns marriage licensing to counties, and Bloomington is part of Hennepin County. There is a Hennepin County service center in Bloomington itself at 9930 Logan Ave S, which makes it easy to apply without going all the way downtown. This page covers where to go, what you need to bring, how much it costs, and how to look up marriage records.

Bloomington Marriage License Office

The Hennepin County Service Center in Bloomington is at 9930 Logan Ave S, Bloomington, MN 55431. You can call the countywide service line at 612-348-8240. This is the most convenient location for Bloomington residents who want to avoid the trip to the Government Center in downtown Minneapolis. The same service, same fees, and same requirements apply at every Hennepin County location. For full information on the process, see the Hennepin County marriage license page.

Bloomington City Hall is at 1800 W Old Shakopee Rd, Bloomington, MN 55431. The Bloomington City Clerk's office is there and handles city records and local matters, but it does not issue marriage licenses. That function belongs to the county. The city's official site at bloomingtonmn.gov can help with city services, but you will be directed to Hennepin County for anything related to a marriage license.

Hennepin County operates several service centers across the county. If the Bloomington location is closed or has a long wait, the full list of locations is at hennepincounty.gov/locations. Other options include the Government Center in Minneapolis and service centers in Eden Prairie, Plymouth, and other communities throughout the county.

Bloomington is the fourth-largest city in Minnesota. It sits in the south part of Hennepin County, just below Minneapolis. Many Bloomington couples apply at the Logan Ave service center because it is close by and easy to park at. Staff there process marriage license applications alongside other county services. Call ahead to ask about wait times or whether an appointment is needed.

The screenshot below shows the Bloomington city government site, which handles local municipal services. The county service center on Logan Ave is the correct destination for marriage licenses.

This screenshot is from bloomingtonmn.gov. Bloomington city services and Hennepin County services run separately, though both serve the same population.

What to Bring When You Apply

Both parties must appear in person at the Hennepin County service center. This is a state law requirement, not just a county policy. You cannot mail in an application or have someone else apply on your behalf. Each person must bring a valid government-issued photo ID. A driver's license, state identification card, or passport all work. You will also need to provide your Social Security number to the clerk.

If you were previously married, you need to show that the earlier marriage ended legally. Bring a certified copy of your divorce decree or the death certificate of your former spouse. The clerk will review the document. Plain photocopies are not enough. The document needs to be a certified copy with an official seal or stamp from the issuing court or agency.

Minnesota law sets the minimum age at 18 for a marriage license without extra steps, per Minn. Stat. § 517.08. Applicants who are 16 or 17 may apply with written consent from a parent or guardian under Minn. Stat. § 517.04. No one under 16 can get a Minnesota marriage license.

There is no residency requirement. You do not need to live in Bloomington, Hennepin County, or even Minnesota to apply here. The license is valid for six months. There is no waiting period in Minnesota, so you can legally marry the same day you receive the license. The ceremony must take place within the state.

Fee Structure for Bloomington Applicants

Hennepin County charges $125 for a standard marriage license. This fee is paid at the time of application and is not refundable. Most service centers accept cash and checks. Ask when you call whether they also take credit or debit cards, since payment methods can vary by location.

The reduced fee is $50 when both applicants have completed at least 12 hours of premarital education. To get this lower rate, you bring a certificate from your educator to your appointment. The certificate must be signed, on official letterhead, and must show that you both completed 12 hours of instruction covering communication and conflict resolution. The educator needs to be a licensed marriage and family therapist or an ordained minister. Some counties also require the certificate to be notarized or to carry a church seal. Check with Hennepin County when you call to confirm the exact format they want.

Note: Fees can change based on county ordinance updates. Always confirm the current amount by calling 612-348-8240 before your visit.

Searching Bloomington Marriage Records

Hennepin County participates in MOMS, the Minnesota Official Marriage System, which is available at moms.mn.gov. The Hennepin County index in MOMS goes back to 1858. Since Bloomington marriages were licensed through Hennepin County, those records are in the MOMS database. You can search by name and see whether a record exists, along with basic details like the names of both parties and the date of the marriage.

MOMS is free to use. If you find the record you are looking for and need an official certified copy, that order goes through the Minnesota Department of Health. Certified copies cost $9 each. The MDH vital records page at health.state.mn.us/people/vitalrecords explains how to request one and what to include. You can also contact the Hennepin County office directly at 612-348-8240 to ask about records held at the county level.

For older records or records that are not fully indexed in MOMS, the Minnesota Historical Society has marriage indexes and original documents going back to Minnesota's territorial era. Their guide at libguides.mnhs.org/vital/marriage covers what is available and how to request it.

If you need a certified Minnesota marriage certificate authenticated for international use, the Secretary of State handles apostille requests at $5 per document. See sos.mn.gov/notary-apostille for more information.

Bloomington Marriage Laws and Ceremony Rules

Bloomington follows Minnesota state law on marriage, set out in Minn. Stat. § 517.03 and related sections of Chapter 517. There are no local Bloomington ordinances that change these statewide requirements. The Hennepin County service center applies the same rules for Bloomington residents that it does for every other applicant in the county.

Once you have a license, the person performing your ceremony must be authorized by Minnesota law. Authorized officiants are described in Minn. Stat. § 517.07 and include judges, court administrators, ordained ministers, and others listed in the statute. After the ceremony, the officiant must return the signed license to Hennepin County within five days, as required by Minn. Stat. § 517.13. The full county registrar directory at health.state.mn.us/people/vitalrecords/registrars.html lists contact information for Hennepin County and every other county in Minnesota.

Nearby Cities

Other major Minnesota cities also route marriage licenses through their county recorders.

Hennepin County Marriage License Office

All marriage license applications for Bloomington residents go through Hennepin County. Visit the county page for full service center locations, office hours, and additional resources.