Minnetonka Marriage License

Minnetonka residents apply for a marriage license through Hennepin County, not through Minnetonka City Hall. Minnesota handles marriage licenses at the county level. Hennepin County has a service center right in Minnetonka at 15322 Highway 7, which is the most convenient option for most local residents. Both people who plan to marry must come together, show photo ID, and pay the county fee. To look up Minnetonka area marriage records, use the free state database at moms.mn.gov.

Hennepin County Service Center in Minnetonka

The Hennepin County Service Center at 15322 Highway 7, Minnetonka, MN 55345 is where Minnetonka residents apply for a marriage license. This location handles marriage licenses and other county services in the western suburbs. Both applicants must be present at the same time. Call 612-348-8240 to confirm hours and any requirements before your visit. Hennepin County has service centers in several locations across the county. Any of them can issue a marriage license.

The complete list of Hennepin County service center locations is at hennepincounty.gov/locations. You are not required to use the Minnetonka location just because you live there. The marriage license information page at hennepincounty.gov/services/licenses-certificates/marriage/marriage-license has the current requirements, fees, and what to bring. Check that page before your visit.

Minnetonka City Hall at 14600 Minnetonka Blvd and the Minnetonka City Clerk at 952-939-8208 do not issue marriage licenses. Those offices handle city permits, council records, and elections. The City of Minnetonka covers local government. For a marriage license, go to the Hennepin County Service Center on Highway 7.

Application Requirements in Minnetonka

Both people must show up together at the service center. One person cannot apply for both. Each applicant needs a valid, unexpired photo ID. A driver's license, state ID, or passport all work. You also need to know your Social Security number. Physical cards are usually not required, but you must be able to provide the number when asked.

If either person was previously married, bring proof that the prior marriage ended. A certified final divorce decree or a death certificate is the standard documentation. Both applicants are subject to this requirement. Under Minn. Stat. sec. 517.03, a prior marriage must be fully dissolved before a new license can be issued. Do not show up without this documentation if it applies to your situation.

Both people must be at least 18 to apply without restrictions. A 16 or 17 year old needs written consent from a parent or legal guardian under Minn. Stat. sec. 517.04. No one under 16 can receive a marriage license in Minnesota. There is no blood test and no residency requirement. Anyone can apply in any Minnesota county. The license is valid for six months anywhere in Minnesota.

Note: Under Minnesota law, you may marry in any county in the state after getting your license, not just in Hennepin County.

Hennepin County License Fees

Hennepin County charges $125 for a standard marriage license. If both applicants complete 12 or more hours of premarital education from an approved program, the fee goes down to $50. You need to show proof of the course at the time of application. The discount is not available after you have already paid. Confirm the current fee at hennepincounty.gov before you visit.

There is no waiting period in Minnesota. The state dropped the old wait requirement in 2016. You apply, pay, and take your license home the same day. The license is good for six months. Plan your application so the license does not expire before your wedding. If it does expire, you start the whole process over and pay the fee again.

Search Minnetonka Marriage Records

Hennepin County is a MOMS participant. The Minnesota Official Marriage System at moms.mn.gov is a free public tool for searching marriage records. Enter a last name to search. Adding a first name narrows the results. The index shows both spouses, the county, and the date of issuance. No account is required. There is no fee. Hennepin County records in MOMS go back to 1858.

MOMS is an index. It does not provide the full text of a certificate. To get a certified copy of a Minnetonka area marriage certificate, order through the Minnesota Department of Health. MDH charges $9 per certified copy. Order forms and mailing addresses are at health.state.mn.us. The MDH county registrar directory at health.state.mn.us/people/vitalrecords/registrars.html also shows how to contact Hennepin County for records issued there.

Historical Minnetonka and Hennepin County Records

The Minnesota Historical Society holds older marriage records for Minnetonka and Hennepin County that may not be fully covered in MOMS. The MNHS marriage records guide at libguides.mnhs.org/vital/marriage explains what years are covered by different archives and how to access records that are not online. Hennepin County records go back into the 1870s. MOMS covers most of that range. For very old records or those not yet digitized, the MNHS State Archives in St. Paul is the next step.

The MNHS also holds territorial marriage records from 1843 through 1858, before Minnesota was a state. Researchers doing deep genealogy work in the Minnetonka area can contact the MNHS or visit the MNHS library in St. Paul. Staff there can assist with finding specific records and navigating the collections.

The MDH marriage reporting page explains how Minnesota's local registration system works. If you are not finding what you need in MOMS, that page can point you toward the right county or state office.

The Minnesota Historical Society marriage records guide is the best starting point for researching older marriage records from Minnetonka and Hennepin County.

The MNHS holds Hennepin County marriage records that predate the MOMS digital index, making it an essential resource for genealogy research involving Minnetonka-area ancestors.

The Minnesota statute governing marriage license issuance sets the six-month validity period and other statewide rules that apply to Minnetonka residents applying through Hennepin County.

State law at Minn. Stat. sec. 517.08 sets the rules for how and where marriage licenses are issued across all Minnesota counties, including Hennepin County for Minnetonka residents.

Nearby Cities

These Minnesota cities also route marriage license applications through their county offices.

County Marriage License Office

Marriage license applications for Minnetonka are handled by Hennepin County. The Hennepin County Service Center at 15322 Highway 7, Minnetonka, MN 55345 is the closest Hennepin County location for most Minnetonka residents.