Mower County Marriage License Records

The Mower County Auditor-Treasurer in Austin is the office that handles marriage license applications in Mower County, Minnesota. Unlike most Minnesota counties where the recorder issues licenses, Mower County routes this service through its Auditor-Treasurer office. You can search Mower County marriage records through the state's online system back to 1856, one of the longest indexes available in Minnesota. Both applicants must appear in person to get a license.

Mower County Auditor-Treasurer Office

The Mower County Auditor-Treasurer handles marriage license applications for the county. The office is at 201 1st St NE, Austin, MN 55912. Call 507-437-9535 before your visit to confirm current hours and make sure you have what you need. This is not a recorder's office function in Mower County, so if you've applied for a marriage license elsewhere in Minnesota, note that the process here goes through a different department.

Both people who are getting married must appear at the office together on the day of application. You cannot send one person to complete the application alone. Each applicant needs a valid, government-issued photo ID such as a driver's license or passport. If either person has been married before, you need to bring the final divorce decree or a death certificate for the former spouse. The office will review all documents and issue the license on the spot once everything is in order.

The Mower County Marriage Licenses page has the most current details about what documents to bring and how the application process works at this office.

The Auditor-Treasurer main page also lists office hours and any updates to services. Check it before you go.

The Auditor-Treasurer is the correct office to contact for all marriage license questions in Mower County, not the recorder's department.

Marriage License Page and Vital Records

Mower County posts marriage license details directly on its Marriage Licenses page. That page covers what to bring, how much the license costs, and what happens after your ceremony. It's the best place to start if you have questions about the local process before visiting the office in Austin.

The marriage licenses page is kept up to date by the county and reflects the current fee schedule and document requirements for Mower County applicants.

The county's Vital Records page covers certified copy requests, historical records, and other vital statistics services available through the Auditor-Treasurer office.

If you need a certified copy of a Mower County marriage certificate, you can request it through the vital records section of the Auditor-Treasurer office or directly from the Minnesota Department of Health.

Fees for a Mower County Marriage License

The standard marriage license fee in Mower County runs between $115 and $125. That cost is due at the time of application. A reduced fee of $40 to $50 applies if both applicants complete at least 12 hours of premarital education through a qualified provider before they apply. You must bring written proof of the course at the time you apply. The discount cannot be applied after the license is issued.

There is no residency requirement for a Minnesota marriage license. You don't have to live in Mower County, or even in Minnesota, to apply here. The license is valid across the entire state once issued. Call 507-437-9535 to confirm accepted payment methods before your visit, since some offices do not take all forms of payment.

Search Mower County Marriage Records

The Minnesota Official Marriage System (MOMS) is the best way to search Mower County marriage records online. MOMS holds entries going back to 1856, which is among the oldest available indexes in the state. The system is free, run by the Minnesota Department of Health, and covers 85 of Minnesota's 87 counties. You can search by name, date range, or county to look up whether a marriage took place in Mower County and when.

MOMS shows the names of both parties and basic license information. It does not display the full document. To get a certified copy of a Mower County marriage certificate, contact the Minnesota Department of Health Vital Records office. Certified copies cost $9 each and can be ordered by mail or online through MDH. You can also request copies in person at the Mower County Auditor-Treasurer office.

Note: Certified copies are accepted for legal purposes including name changes, insurance claims, passport applications, and other situations that need official proof of marriage.

Minnesota Marriage License Requirements

Minnesota law governs who can apply for a marriage license and how the process works. Under Minn. Stat. § 517.08, both applicants must be at least 18 years old. Applicants who are 16 or 17 can apply only with written consent from a parent or guardian, which is set out in Minn. Stat. § 517.04. Minnesota does not require a blood test and has no waiting period. The state did away with the waiting period on September 1, 2016.

After the ceremony, the officiant must return the signed license to the Mower County Auditor-Treasurer within five days. The office files the document and sends the data to the Minnesota Department of Health. MDH processes it and adds the record to MOMS within a few weeks. After that point, the record is searchable online and certified copies can be ordered through MDH. The full text of Minnesota marriage law is at Chapter 517 of the Minnesota Statutes.

Historical Records in Mower County

Mower County marriage records in MOMS run back to 1856, making this one of the deeper indexes among Minnesota counties. That reach into the mid-1800s makes MOMS a strong tool for genealogy and family history research tied to the Austin area. For records that fall outside the MOMS index or for more detail on specific historical documents, the Minnesota Historical Society marriage records guide is a useful next step. MNHS holds early county-level records and can point researchers toward original documents from the 1800s.

If you need a Mower County marriage certificate authenticated for use in another country, the Minnesota Secretary of State handles apostille services at $5 per document. The process is outlined at sos.mn.gov. Apostilles are needed when a foreign government requires formal authentication of a U.S. document before recognizing it officially. The MDH county directory lists up-to-date contact information for every county office in Minnesota if you need to reach the Mower County Auditor-Treasurer or any other county.

Cities in Mower County

Mower County includes Austin, Adams, Brownsdale, and other smaller communities. None of these cities meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. All residents throughout Mower County apply for their marriage license at the Mower County Auditor-Treasurer office at 201 1st St NE in Austin.

Nearby Counties

Minnesota lets you apply for a marriage license at any county recorder's office in the state, not only the county where you live. These nearby offices are worth considering if one is more convenient for you.