Carlton County Marriage License Search

The Carlton County Recorder handles all marriage license applications and maintains records for the county. You can search Carlton County marriage records through the Minnesota Official Marriage System going back to 1870, or visit the recorder's office in person to apply. Both parties must appear together when you go to get your license.

Carlton County Recorder Office

The Carlton County Recorder is where you go to apply for a marriage license. The office is at 301 Walnut Ave, Carlton, MN 55718. You can reach them by phone at 218-384-9123. Both people who plan to marry must be there in person. Bring a valid photo ID for each person. If either of you was married before, bring your divorce decree or a death certificate for the prior spouse.

Once the recorder issues your license, you have six months to use it. There is no waiting period in Minnesota, so you can marry the same day you get the license if you want. The license is good anywhere in the state, not just Carlton County. The reduced fee of $40 to $50 applies only when you show proof of completing at least 12 hours of premarital education from a qualified provider.

More details about the application process are on the Carlton County Marriage License page. That page lists what you need to bring and how the process works.

Search Carlton County Marriage Records

The Minnesota Official Marriage System (MOMS) holds Carlton County marriage records from 1870 to the present. You can search by name, date, or county at no cost. MOMS is a statewide index maintained by the Minnesota Department of Health. It covers 85 of Minnesota's 87 counties and is the fastest way to look up past marriage records.

MOMS shows basic index data: names of both parties, date of the license, and county of record. It does not show the full document. If you need a certified copy of a marriage certificate, you have two options. You can order from Minnesota Department of Health Vital Records for $9 per copy, or you can contact the Carlton County Recorder directly. MDH certified copies are useful for legal and official purposes such as name changes or insurance records.

Note: MOMS records for Carlton County go back to 1870, which makes this a strong resource for genealogy research in the region.

Minnesota Marriage License Requirements

Minnesota law under Minn. Stat. § 517.08 sets the rules for getting a marriage license. Both people must be at least 18 years old. Those who are 16 or 17 can apply with parent or guardian consent under Minn. Stat. § 517.04. There is no blood test requirement and no residency requirement. Anyone can get a license in Carlton County regardless of where they live.

The county recorder collects the application and fee, then files the completed license after the ceremony. The officiant must return the signed license to the recorder within five days of the wedding. After that, the record enters the state system. You can then request a certified copy from MDH or the county.

The Minnesota Legislature's page on Chapter 517 marriage statutes covers the full legal framework if you want to read the law directly.

Historical Records and Genealogy

Carlton County marriage records stretch back to 1870 in the MOMS index. For records older than what MOMS holds, or for more detail on historical documents, the Minnesota Historical Society marriage records guide is a useful starting point. MNHS holds many early county records and can help researchers find documents from the late 1800s and early 1900s.

The MDH county directory at health.state.mn.us lists contact info for every county recorder in the state, including Carlton. If you need to contact the office about older records or have questions about what is on file, that directory is a good reference.

The Minnesota Office of the Secretary of State also processes apostille requests at $5 per document through sos.mn.gov if you need your marriage certificate certified for use in another country.

Carlton County Marriage License Screenshot

The Minnesota Department of Health's vital records page covers how to get certified copies of Minnesota marriage certificates, including those from Carlton County.

MDH is the central state office for certified marriage record copies and can fulfill requests by mail or online order.

The MDH marriage reporting page explains how county recorders like Carlton report marriage data to the state after a ceremony takes place.

After the officiant returns the signed license, the data flows from Carlton County to MDH within a few weeks.

Cities in Carlton County

Carlton County includes communities such as Cloquet, Moose Lake, and the city of Carlton. None of these cities surpass the population threshold for a dedicated city page, so residents in all Carlton County communities apply for their marriage license through the Carlton County Recorder at 301 Walnut Ave in Carlton.

Nearby Counties

Minnesota law lets you apply for a marriage license in any county. If the Carlton County office is not convenient, the offices below serve nearby areas.