Find Marriage License Records in Roseau County
Roseau County marriage licenses are handled by the County Recorder in the city of Roseau, up near Minnesota's northern border. Both applicants must be present at the same time to apply. The Recorder manages all local marriage records and links to the statewide system that indexes Roseau County marriages back to 1895. This page explains how to get a marriage license in Roseau County, what to bring, what fees apply, and how to request certified copies of marriage records.
Roseau County Overview
Roseau County Recorder Office
The Roseau County Recorder is located at 606 5th Ave SW in Roseau. This office issues all marriage licenses for the county, keeps vital records, and handles requests for certified copies of marriage certificates. The Recorder is the local registrar and files completed marriage records with the Minnesota Department of Health after each ceremony.
The Recorder's main page is at co.roseau.mn.us/538/Recorder. Their marriage license page at co.roseau.mn.us/539/Marriage-License covers the local specifics for applying. Before you make the drive to the courthouse, it is worth reading that page to make sure you have everything you need.
| Office | Roseau County Recorder |
|---|---|
| Address | 606 5th Ave SW, Roseau, MN 56751 |
| Phone | 218-463-2061 |
| Recorder Page | co.roseau.mn.us/538/Recorder |
| Marriage License | Marriage license information |
The MDH registrar directory lists Roseau County's contact information as a backup resource. Given how remote this part of Minnesota is, calling ahead to confirm hours before a long trip is always a good idea.
Roseau County Marriage License Requirements
Minnesota sets uniform rules for marriage licenses under Minn. Stat. § 517.08. The Roseau County Recorder applies these rules to every application. Both applicants must appear at the same time. No mail-in or online applications are accepted.
When you go to 606 5th Ave SW, bring the following for each applicant:
- A government-issued photo ID
- Your Social Security number
- If previously married: a certified copy of the divorce decree or the deceased spouse's death certificate
- Payment for the license fee
Both applicants must be 18 or older. Seventeen-year-olds can apply with the written consent of a parent or guardian present at the time of application, per Minn. Stat. § 517.04. Minnesota does not allow marriage below age 16.
No residency requirement exists. You do not need to live in Roseau County or even in Minnesota. People from Canada and other states occasionally apply in border counties like this one. The license is valid for six months from the issue date. Minnesota ended its waiting period in September 2016, so you may marry on the same day you receive the license. There is no blood test requirement.
Marriages between close relatives are prohibited under Minn. Stat. § 517.03. If you have a question about your specific situation, call 218-463-2061 before driving to the courthouse.
License Fees in Roseau County
The marriage license fee in Roseau County is between $115 and $125. This is the standard range across Minnesota. A reduced fee of $40 to $50 may be available for couples who complete a 12-hour premarital education course before applying. Contact the Recorder at 218-463-2061 to find out whether this option is currently offered and which programs they will accept.
Payment is due when you apply. Call ahead to confirm the exact amount and what payment forms the office takes. Some rural Minnesota offices prefer cash or check. Others accept debit or credit cards. Roseau County is in a remote area, so planning ahead matters more here than in a larger county. You do not want to show up without the right payment method after a long drive.
Note: The license fee does not cover certified copies of your marriage certificate. That is a separate cost if you need official documentation after the marriage takes place.
Searching Roseau County Marriage Records via MOMS
Roseau County marriage records are searchable through MOMS at moms.mn.gov. The index runs from 1895 forward. The search is free. You do not need an account. Enter a last name and optionally a first name or year range, and browse the results. Each entry shows both parties' names, the county of issue, and the marriage date.
For genealogy researchers, Roseau County's MOMS records represent over a century of marriages in the far northwest corner of Minnesota. That region has a distinct settlement history, and the records from the late 1800s and early 1900s capture family names tied to Scandinavian and other immigrant communities who settled here. If you are tracing family lines in this part of the state, MOMS is the right place to start before reaching out to the county directly.
MOMS is an index only. It does not give you a copy of the actual marriage license. If you need the document itself, you must request a certified copy from the Roseau County Recorder or through MDH. MOMS is useful for confirming a marriage and identifying the date and county before you make that request.
The MDH vital records site at health.state.mn.us/people/vitalrecords explains the statewide records system and how county-level records like Roseau County's feed into the central index.
MDH provides the statewide oversight of all Minnesota marriage records, including those from Roseau County, and issues certified copies for marriages recorded anywhere in the state.
Certified Copies and Apostilles
If you need an official copy of a Roseau County marriage certificate, two routes are available. The Roseau County Recorder at 606 5th Ave SW handles local requests. Call 218-463-2061 to ask about their process, fee, and turnaround time. Since this is a smaller county office, in-person requests are often processed quickly. Mail requests are typically available too.
MDH charges $9 per certified copy. Orders go through the MDH vital records page. This is a practical option when you are far from Roseau County or need copies of records from multiple time periods. MDH processing takes longer than county requests, so order early if you have a deadline.
For international use, you may need an apostille attached to the certified copy. The Minnesota Secretary of State issues apostilles at $5 per document. The process is explained at sos.mn.gov/notary-apostille. Get the certified copy from the county or MDH first, then submit that document to the Secretary of State for apostille processing.
Minnesota Marriage License Law
Minnesota Chapter 517 covers all aspects of marriage licensing and recording. The statutes govern what the Roseau County Recorder can and cannot do, from who qualifies to how records are maintained after the ceremony. The full text is at revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/517/full. The application requirements in Section 517.08 are the most directly relevant to Roseau County applicants.
The MOMS online application system is linked through the state and is used by most Minnesota counties, including Roseau County. The system is available at moms.mn.gov. While the application itself still requires in-person appearance at the Recorder's office, MOMS handles the digital records and statewide indexing on the back end.
MOMS is the primary tool for searching Roseau County marriage records online, and it is the same system used by MDH and county offices to maintain the statewide index.
Cities in Roseau County
Roseau County includes the city of Roseau and several small communities in the far northwest corner of Minnesota. All marriage licenses for the county are issued from the Recorder's office in Roseau.
Communities in Roseau County include Roseau, Warroad, Baudette, and other small towns. None of these cities currently meets the population threshold for individual city pages on this site. All residents and visitors apply for marriage licenses at the same Recorder's office at 606 5th Ave SW in Roseau.