Brown County Marriage License Records

Brown County marriage license records are maintained by the County Recorder in New Ulm, with records going back to 1856. The office handles all new license applications and vital records requests for the county. If you want to apply for a marriage license in Brown County or search historical records, this page covers what the office needs from you, what the fee is, and how to use the state's online tools to search records from the past 160-plus years.

Brown County Recorder Office

The Brown County Recorder is at 14 S State St in New Ulm. The phone number is 507-233-6614. The office issues marriage licenses and handles vital records requests for the county. The Brown County Recorder page has current hours and general contact details. The county's dedicated marriage license page goes into more detail about what to bring, what the fee is, and what to expect at the counter.

Brown County has a long documented history of marriage records going back to 1856. That makes it one of the longer-running county archives in southern Minnesota. If you are looking for historical records for genealogy or legal purposes, the county's archive and the MOMS online database are both worth exploring. Staff at the New Ulm office can also help with older records requests that are not available online.

Brown County Recorder and Marriage License Pages

The screenshot below shows the Brown County marriage license information page. You can use it to review requirements and confirm the latest details before your visit to the New Ulm office.

The page covers what both applicants need to bring, payment information, and what happens after the license is issued.

The main Recorder page, shown below, is the hub for all of the office's services, including vital records requests and document recording.

The Recorder's office in New Ulm handles all recorded documents for Brown County, including marriage licenses, deeds, and other vital records.

How to Get a Marriage License in Brown County

Both people planning to marry must appear at the Brown County Recorder's office in New Ulm together. Each person needs a valid government-issued photo ID. A driver's license, state ID, or passport all work. You also need to provide Social Security numbers for both applicants. If either person was married before, bring a certified copy of the divorce decree or death certificate that shows the prior marriage ended. The clerk will not issue the license without it.

The process at the counter is straightforward. The clerk fills out the application with you, reviews your documents, and collects the fee. Once everything is in order, the license is issued the same day. Minnesota has had no waiting period since September 1, 2016, so you can use the license right away. Under Minn. Stat. § 517.08, you do not need to live in Brown County or anywhere in Minnesota to apply here. Any eligible couple can use any county office in the state.

The license is valid for six months. If you do not marry within that window, you must apply again. No blood test is required. Both applicants must be at least 18. Minn. Stat. § 517.04 allows applicants who are 16 or 17 to marry with written parental consent. Marriages between close relatives are not allowed under Minn. Stat. § 517.03.

Note: After the ceremony, the officiant must sign the license and return it to the county within five days. The county records it and forwards a copy to the Minnesota Department of Health for the statewide archive.

Brown County Marriage License Fee

The standard fee in Brown County is $115. You pay at the Recorder's office in New Ulm when you apply. Call 507-233-6614 to confirm what forms of payment the office accepts. Most county offices in Minnesota take cash or check. Some may accept credit cards, but it is best to ask in advance.

A reduced fee of around $40 to $50 applies for couples who complete a qualifying 12-hour premarital education course. You must bring proof of completion on the day you apply. The discount is applied at that time. You cannot go back afterward and claim the reduced rate. Ask the office what documentation they require. The course must meet state standards. This is a real savings for couples who are already planning to take a class.

Search Brown County Marriage License Records

Brown County marriage records are indexed in the Minnesota Official Marriage System (MOMS) from 1856 to the present. The MOMS database is free and does not require you to create an account. Search by name and select Brown County to narrow your results. The system returns index data: names, date of marriage, and county. It does not show the full license document, but it is enough to verify a record exists or to get a date before ordering a copy.

Records going back to 1856 mean that MOMS covers most of Brown County's entire documented history of marriage licenses. That is an unusually complete index for an online tool. Researchers looking into Brown County family history in the mid-1800s will find this database valuable.

To get a certified copy of a Brown County marriage record, contact the Recorder at 507-233-6614 or visit 14 S State St in New Ulm. Certified copies are also available from the Minnesota Department of Health for $9 each. The MDH county registrar directory at health.state.mn.us/people/vitalrecords/registrars.html lists Brown County's contact details. Submit mail requests to MDH using instructions at health.state.mn.us.

Historical Records and Certified Copies

For historical research beyond what MOMS provides, the Minnesota Historical Society at libguides.mnhs.org/vital/marriage holds microfilm and other archival materials. The MNHS library in St. Paul is open to the public. Church records are also valuable for Brown County, where many early German-heritage communities kept detailed parish records that predate or supplement the civil record. MNHS staff can help you find those sources.

Certified copies are legal documents that you may need for name changes, insurance, benefits, or other purposes. Both the Brown County Recorder and MDH can provide them. If you need a copy authenticated for use in another country, the Minnesota Secretary of State handles apostille services at sos.mn.gov/notary-apostille for $5 per document. You need a certified copy from the county or MDH before you can apply for an apostille. The MDH marriage reporting page at health.state.mn.us/people/vitalrecords/localreg/marriage.html explains how county records are transferred to the state archive after they are recorded locally.

Cities in Brown County

Brown County has no cities over the 100,000-population threshold for a dedicated page on this site. All communities in the county, including New Ulm, Sleepy Eye, and Comfrey, file marriage licenses through the Brown County Recorder at the courthouse in New Ulm.

Nearby Counties

Brown County is in south-central Minnesota. These neighboring counties can also issue marriage licenses to any applicant in the state, regardless of where they live.