Access Renville County Marriage License Records

Renville County marriage licenses are handled by the County Recorder in Olivia, a small city in south-central Minnesota. This page covers how to get a marriage license in Renville County, what you need to bring, how much it costs, and how to search for past marriage records in the county. MOMS has Renville County records dating back to 1867, which makes it one of the oldest-running county indexes in the state database.

Renville County Recorder Office

The Renville County Recorder is the office responsible for issuing marriage licenses in the county. The office is located at 500 E DePue Ave, Olivia, MN 56277. You can reach them at 320-523-3669. Both people who are planning to marry must go to the office together. One person cannot apply on behalf of the couple. Both must appear at the same time, in person, in front of the recorder's staff. This is a requirement under Minnesota state law.

The recorder's office serves Renville County residents from across the county, including those coming from Hector, Bird Island, Olivia, and surrounding areas. If you are making the drive from outside Olivia, call 320-523-3669 first to confirm office hours. Hours can shift around holidays or when staff is short, and a quick call prevents a wasted trip.

The Renville County marriage license page on the county website is the place to check for current fees and any local procedures that apply. Take a look before you go.

Getting a Marriage License in Renville County

Both applicants must appear in person together at the Renville County Recorder office in Olivia. You do not need to be a resident of Renville County or a Minnesota resident to apply here. There is no waiting period in Minnesota. The state dropped the waiting period requirement in September 2016, so you can pick up your license and use it right away if your ceremony is scheduled for that day. The license is valid for six months from the date it is issued.

Every applicant needs to bring a current, government-issued photo ID. A driver's license, state-issued ID card, or passport all qualify. Expired IDs are not acceptable. If either person was previously married, they need to show that the marriage ended. Bring a certified copy of the divorce decree if the earlier marriage ended in divorce. If the former spouse is deceased, bring a certified copy of the death certificate. A standard photocopy of either document will not be accepted. Certified copies only.

Minnesota law under Minn. Stat. § 517.04 requires both applicants to be at least 18. Those who are 16 or 17 may apply if they have written consent from a parent or legal guardian. No one younger than 16 can receive a marriage license in Minnesota. There is no blood test requirement.

The Renville County marriage license fee falls between $115 and $125. Couples who complete a qualified 12-hour premarital education program and show proof when they apply may be eligible for a reduced fee of $40 to $50. Call the recorder's office at 320-523-3669 to find out which programs qualify for the discount.

Note: Under Minn. Stat. § 517.08, both applicants must complete the application in person before the county recorder or a deputy recorder.

Search Renville County Marriage Records

The Minnesota Official Marriage System, known as MOMS, includes Renville County records going back to 1867. This free, state-run database is maintained by the Minnesota Department of Health and is open to the public. You can search by name, date range, and county at no cost, without creating an account. MOMS works on any internet-connected device.

MOMS is an index. It gives you names, dates, and identifiers. Full document scans are not always part of the database, especially for records from more than a century ago. To get a certified copy of a Renville County marriage record, you can contact the Renville County Recorder directly at 320-523-3669 or order through the Minnesota Department of Health Vital Records office. MDH charges $9 per certified copy. County pricing may be different, so ask when you call.

The MDH county registrar directory is a useful reference if you need contact information for multiple county recorders while doing genealogy research across county lines.

MDH vital records at health.state.mn.us provides certified copies of Renville County marriage records for $9 each, and maintains the statewide vital records system for Minnesota.

Historical Records and Genealogy in Renville County

Renville County has a MOMS index going back to 1867. That puts it among the counties with the longest-running records in the state database. For records from before 1867, or for genealogy research that needs more detail than the index provides, the Minnesota Historical Society marriage records guide is the best starting point. MNHS holds older county records on microfilm and in paper form and can guide researchers to documents that are outside any online database.

Very early Renville County marriages, those from before the MOMS index begins, may be held in original paper form at the courthouse in Olivia or in local church records from the area. If MOMS does not have what you need and the county recorder cannot locate the specific record, contacting MNHS directly is the logical next step for anyone tracing older family lines in this part of Minnesota.

For marriages that need an apostille to be used in another country, the Minnesota Secretary of State's office provides that service for $5 per document. You need a certified copy of the marriage record first. MDH or the county recorder can supply that certified copy.

Minn. Stat. § 517.03 covers prohibited marriages in Minnesota and applies to all counties, including Renville County, when the recorder reviews license applications.

After the Ceremony in Renville County

Once your ceremony is complete, the person who performed the wedding must fill out the marriage license and return it to the Renville County Recorder. Under Minn. Stat. § 517.13, the officiant has five days from the date of the ceremony to return the completed license. Renville County then sends the record to the Minnesota Department of Health for statewide registration. After MDH processes it, the marriage becomes part of the state vital records system and searchable through MOMS.

If you need a certified copy of your marriage record before MDH has processed the filing, contact the Renville County Recorder at 320-523-3669. The county holds the local copy during the processing period and can provide a certified copy sooner than the state system will reflect the new record.

Cities in Renville County

Renville County communities include Olivia, Bird Island, Hector, Buffalo Lake, and Fairfax. None of these cities meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. All residents of Renville County, no matter which community they live in, must apply for their marriage license at the County Recorder office at 500 E DePue Ave in Olivia.

Nearby Counties

Minnesota marriage licenses are issued county by county. Make sure you apply at the right county recorder for your situation.