Minneapolis Marriage License

If you live in Minneapolis and need a marriage license, you apply at the Hennepin County Government Center in downtown Minneapolis. The city itself does not issue marriage licenses. That job belongs to the county recorder's office, which handles all license applications for Minneapolis and the rest of Hennepin County. The process is straightforward, but both parties must show up in person. This page covers where to go, what to bring, and how to search marriage records once a license has been issued.

Where to Get a Marriage License in Minneapolis

Minneapolis residents get their marriage license at the Hennepin County Government Center, located at 300 S 6th St, Minneapolis, MN 55487. The main phone number is 612-348-8240. This office handles licenses for everyone in Hennepin County, which includes Minneapolis and dozens of surrounding cities. You do not need to be a resident of Minnesota or Hennepin County to apply here. The license you get in Minneapolis is valid anywhere in the state.

Hennepin County also has service centers outside of downtown Minneapolis. If the Government Center is not convenient, there may be a location closer to you. Check the full list at hennepincounty.gov/locations. All Hennepin County service centers that offer this service follow the same process and charge the same fees. For complete details on what Hennepin County requires, visit the county marriage license page.

The Minneapolis City Clerk's office at 350 S 5th St, Room 304 handles city-level functions but does not issue marriage licenses. If you find yourself there, staff can point you to the county office a few blocks away. Some city officials are authorized to perform ceremonies, but that is a separate matter from the license itself.

The Legislative Information Management System for Minneapolis is available at lims.minneapolismn.gov, and general city government info is at minneapolismn.gov/government. Neither of these is where you go for a license, but they can help you understand how city services are structured.

Requirements for a Minneapolis Marriage License

Minnesota law sets the rules for who can get a marriage license and what you must bring. Both people must appear in person at the county office. You cannot send a representative or mail in an application. Each person needs a valid photo ID, such as a driver's license or passport. You will also need to provide your Social Security number.

Under Minn. Stat. § 517.08, both parties must be at least 18 years old to apply without additional steps. Applicants who are 16 or 17 years old may still apply, but they need written consent from a parent or guardian as required by Minn. Stat. § 517.04. Anyone under 16 cannot get a marriage license in Minnesota.

If either person was previously married, you must show proof that the prior marriage ended. This means bringing a certified copy of the divorce decree or a death certificate for a deceased former spouse. The county clerk will review these documents before issuing the new license.

There is no residency requirement in Minnesota. You do not have to live in Minneapolis or even in Minnesota to get a license here. The license is good for six months from the date it is issued. There is no waiting period. As of September 1, 2016, you can get married the same day you receive the license. The marriage ceremony must take place somewhere in Minnesota.

The screenshot below shows the Hennepin County marriage license portal, which Minneapolis residents use to apply and review requirements.

The Minneapolis city government website at minneapolismn.gov has additional context about how city and county services overlap in Minneapolis.

The screenshot above is from the Minneapolis Legislative Information Management System at lims.minneapolismn.gov, which tracks city services. For the actual license application, go directly to the Hennepin County office.

This view of the Minneapolis city government portal illustrates how city services are organized. Marriage licenses fall under county jurisdiction, not city hall.

Fees for a Minneapolis Marriage License

Hennepin County charges $125 for a standard marriage license. This is paid at the time you apply and is not refundable if you change your plans. If you and your partner complete at least 12 hours of premarital education before you apply, the fee drops to $50. That is a real savings, and many couples find the course worthwhile on its own merits as well.

To get the reduced rate, you need to bring a certificate from your educator. The certificate must show that you both completed 12 hours of instruction covering communication and conflict resolution. The educator must be a licensed therapist or an ordained minister. The certificate needs to be on official letterhead. Ask your educator what format the county needs before your appointment.

Note: Fees can change without much notice, so call 612-348-8240 or check the county website before your visit to confirm current amounts.

Searching Minneapolis Marriage Records

If you want to look up a marriage record tied to Minneapolis, the main tool is the Minnesota Official Marriage System, known as MOMS. You can access it at moms.mn.gov. Hennepin County participates in MOMS, and its index goes back to 1858. That means you can search for marriages from the mid-1800s all the way through records added in recent months.

The MOMS index is free to search. You can look up records by name, date, or county. The index shows whether a record exists and may give you basic details like the names of the parties and the date of the marriage. To get a full certified copy of a marriage certificate, you need to make a separate request. Certified copies cost $9 each and are issued by the Minnesota Department of Health. You can request them through the MDH vital records office or by contacting the MDH vital records page.

Hennepin County also keeps its own records. The county where the license was issued holds the original on file. If you know the license was issued in Hennepin County, you can contact the county recorder's office directly at 612-348-8240 to ask about their copy request process.

The full county directory with contact info for all Minnesota county registrars is at health.state.mn.us/people/vitalrecords/registrars.html. This is useful if the marriage you are researching might have taken place in a different county.

Historical Marriage Records for Minneapolis

For older records that may not appear in MOMS, the Minnesota Historical Society is the best place to look. MNHS holds marriage indexes and original documents going back well before statehood. Their research guide for marriage records is at libguides.mnhs.org/vital/marriage. MNHS is located in St. Paul, and many of its records can be accessed remotely through their online catalog.

MOMS pulls from the Hennepin County index starting in 1858, so most records from that era forward should be searchable there. For anything earlier, or for records where the MOMS entry is incomplete, MNHS is the right backup source. They also hold church records, territorial records, and other documents that contain marriage information even when no formal license was issued.

If you need an apostille for a Minnesota marriage certificate, that service is handled by the Minnesota Secretary of State. The fee is $5 per document. Details and forms are at sos.mn.gov/notary-apostille. This is commonly needed for marriages that will be legally recognized in another country.

Minneapolis Marriage License Laws

Minnesota marriage law is laid out in Chapter 517 of the Minnesota Statutes. Key sections that apply to Minneapolis residents include Minn. Stat. § 517.03, which describes who may marry and which marriages are prohibited, and Minn. Stat. § 517.07, which covers who is authorized to perform a marriage ceremony. Under Minn. Stat. § 517.13, the person who performs the ceremony is responsible for returning the completed license to the county within five days of the ceremony.

These statutes apply statewide. Minneapolis does not have local marriage ordinances that differ from state law. The county recorder's office in Hennepin County administers these rules on the ground. If you have legal questions about your specific situation, a family law attorney or the Hennepin County self-help center can point you in the right direction.

Nearby Cities

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

Hennepin County Marriage License Office

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