Fillmore County Marriage License Records

Fillmore County marriage licenses are issued by the County Recorder in Preston. Both applicants must appear together at the office to apply. The Recorder keeps all county marriage records and acts as the local registrar for the state. MOMS includes Fillmore County marriage records dating back to 1853, one of the earliest start dates in southeast Minnesota. This page walks through how to apply for a license, what to bring, how to search records, and how to request a certified copy.

Fillmore County Recorder Office

The Fillmore County Recorder sits at 101 Fillmore St in Preston. This is the office that issues marriage licenses and handles all vital records for the county. Staff process applications, issue licenses, and keep records on file. They also report marriages to the Minnesota Department of Health as required by state law. The Recorder is both the county's local registrar and the main point of contact for marriage certificate requests.

The Recorder's main page is at co.fillmore.mn.us/295/Recorder. The marriage license page at co.fillmore.mn.us/296/Marriage-License has details specific to applying in Fillmore County. Review that page before your visit to confirm current requirements and hours. The office can also be reached at 507-765-4708 for quick questions.

The MDH registrar directory also confirms Fillmore County contact information. That page is worth checking if you want a second source before calling.

What You Need to Apply

Fillmore County follows Minnesota state law on all marriage license requirements. Both people who plan to marry must go to the Recorder's office in Preston at the same time. You cannot appoint someone else to apply for you, and there is no mail or online application option. This is set by Minn. Stat. § 517.08.

Each applicant needs valid photo ID. A driver's license, state ID card, or passport all work. Both parties also need to provide their Social Security numbers. If either person was previously married, bring the certified divorce decree or a certified death certificate for the prior spouse. A photocopy is not enough; it has to be the certified original.

Both applicants must be at least 18. If one is 16 or 17, a parent or legal guardian must accompany them and give written consent in person. This comes from Minn. Stat. § 517.04. No one under 16 may apply regardless of consent. There is no state residency requirement, so you do not need to live in Fillmore County or anywhere in Minnesota to apply here. The license is good for six months from issue, and there is no waiting period. You can use it the same day it's issued.

Note: Marriages between close relatives are prohibited by Minn. Stat. § 517.03. Call the Recorder if you have any questions about eligibility before making the trip to Preston.

Fees for a Fillmore County Marriage License

The standard fee in Fillmore County ranges from $115 to $125. That is the amount most applicants pay. A reduced fee of $40 to $50 may apply if both parties complete a 12-hour premarital education program from an approved provider before applying. Check with the Recorder to confirm whether they offer this reduction and what programs qualify.

Payment is due when you apply. The Recorder won't issue a license until the fee is paid. Call ahead at 507-765-4708 to ask about the current amount and how the office prefers to be paid. Some county offices prefer cash or check. Others take debit or credit cards. Knowing before you go is easier than finding out at the counter.

Search Fillmore County Marriage Records

Fillmore County is included in the MOMS statewide marriage index, which goes back to 1853 for this county. That's a long historical record covering the early settlement period of southeastern Minnesota. MOMS is free to search at moms.mn.gov. Enter a last name to find records, see marriage dates, and confirm which county issued the license.

Genealogy researchers working on Fillmore County families have access to more than 170 years of records through MOMS. The county sits in the bluff country of southeastern Minnesota and has been settled since the mid-1800s. Many marriages from that era are indexed. For family history projects, MOMS is the fastest first step to take before reaching out to the county office or the Minnesota Historical Society.

If you need a record that isn't in MOMS, or if you want to see the actual document rather than just the index entry, contact the Fillmore County Recorder directly. Staff can search physical records and help trace marriages that may not be digitized. Call 507-765-4708 to start that conversation. Response times vary, but in many cases a phone call can tell you quickly whether the record you want is on file.

Certified Copies of Fillmore County Marriage Records

Once a ceremony takes place in Fillmore County, the officiant signs and returns the license to the Recorder. The Recorder processes it and submits the record to MDH. You can get a certified copy from either the county or MDH after that point.

The Fillmore County Recorder can provide certified copies. Call 507-765-4708 to ask about the process and fee. In-person requests are often the fastest. The Recorder has direct access to county records and can usually process a copy request while you wait or within a short time frame.

MDH certified copies cost $9 each. You can order by mail or through the MDH vital records page. MDH processes requests for any Minnesota marriage. This is a good option if the county route isn't convenient or if you need copies sent directly to a third party.

For documents that will be used outside the United States, an apostille may be required. The Minnesota Secretary of State provides apostilles for $5 per document. See sos.mn.gov/notary-apostille for the full process. You need a certified copy before you can get the apostille, so request that first.

Historical Records and State Resources

MOMS covers Fillmore County marriages from 1853 forward. For anything earlier, or for records in formats that haven't been digitized, the Minnesota Historical Society is the main resource. Their research guide at libguides.mnhs.org/vital/marriage explains what they hold and how to access it. For genealogy work going back to the earliest years of the county, using both MOMS and the Historical Society gives you the broadest coverage.

The MDH marriage reporting page at health.state.mn.us describes how local registrars like the Fillmore County Recorder submit data to the state. This context is useful if you are trying to understand why a record might appear in one place but not another. Most records flow from the county to the state, but timing and data entry can sometimes create gaps.

The state vital records page at health.state.mn.us/people/vitalrecords is the main hub for accessing MDH services. It covers MOMS access, certified copy ordering, and the county registrar directory. The screenshot below shows the page as it appeared during research for this site.

The MDH vital records system connects to every county in the state, including Fillmore. Records registered with the county become part of the statewide system. That is why MDH can issue certified copies of marriages that originally happened in Fillmore County.

The Minnesota Historical Society's guide at libguides.mnhs.org/vital/marriage covers sources beyond MOMS. For older or unusual records, their collections can fill in gaps that the digital index doesn't cover.

Cities in Fillmore County

Fillmore County includes Preston and a number of small communities throughout the bluff country region. All marriage licenses for the county are handled through the Recorder's office in Preston.

Communities in Fillmore County include Preston, Spring Valley, Lanesboro, Rushford, Chatfield, and others. None of these cities meet the population threshold for individual pages on this site. All county residents apply at the Fillmore County Recorder in Preston.

Nearby Counties