Scott County Marriage License Lookup
Scott County marriage licenses are issued through the Scott County License Center in Shakopee. Both applicants must come in together to apply. Scott County is one of two Minnesota counties that does not participate in the statewide MOMS system, so marriage record searches work differently here than in most other counties. This page explains how to apply for a Scott County marriage license, what documents you need, what the fees are, and how to get certified copies of marriage records through the county's own system.
Scott County Overview
Scott County License Center
Scott County handles marriage licenses through the Scott County License Center, not through a traditional County Recorder setup. The License Center is at 200 4th Ave W in Shakopee, the county seat. Staff process all marriage license applications, maintain vital records, and handle requests for certified copies of marriage certificates issued in Scott County.
The License Center is the right office for everything related to a Scott County marriage license. Their marriage license page is at scottcountymn.gov/544/Marriage-License. This page covers the application process in detail, including what to bring and how the county's online pre-application system works. The License Center's main page at scottcountymn.gov/149/License-Center covers the full range of services offered. Vital records information is available at scottcountymn.gov/545/Vital-Records.
| Office | Scott County License Center |
|---|---|
| Address | 200 4th Ave W, Shakopee, MN 55379 |
| Phone | 952-496-8141 |
| Marriage License | Marriage license information |
| License Center | License Center services |
| Vital Records | Vital records services |
The MDH county registrar directory also lists Scott County contact details. That directory is a reliable backup if you need to verify contact information from an independent source.
Scott County Does Not Use MOMS
This is the most important thing to know before you search for Scott County marriage records online. The Minnesota Official Marriage System at moms.mn.gov does not include Scott County records. Scott County is one of only two counties in Minnesota that does not participate in MOMS. The other is Washington County.
If you search moms.mn.gov for a Scott County marriage, you will not find it there. Scott County maintains its own records system, separate from the statewide MOMS index. To search Scott County marriage records, you need to contact the Scott County License Center directly at 952-496-8141 or visit the office at 200 4th Ave W in Shakopee. The county may be able to provide information over the phone or direct you to the right request process for the specific record you need.
For certified copies of Scott County marriage certificates, the License Center is the primary local source. MDH also maintains records for Scott County through the state reporting system, even though those records are not in MOMS. If you need a certified copy and are not local, ordering through the MDH vital records page at a fee of $9 per copy is an option worth considering.
Marriage License Requirements in Scott County
Scott County follows Minnesota state law under Minn. Stat. § 517.08 for all marriage license applications. Both applicants must appear at the License Center at the same time. The Scott County online system lets you start the process before your visit, but final issuance still requires in-person appearance by both parties.
When you come to 200 4th Ave W in Shakopee, bring the following:
- A valid government-issued photo ID for each applicant
- Social Security numbers for both parties
- If previously married: a certified copy of the divorce decree or a death certificate for the former spouse
- Payment for the license fee
Both applicants must be 18 or older. Sixteen- and seventeen-year-olds may apply with written parental or guardian consent and the parent or guardian present at the time, as set out in Minn. Stat. § 517.04. Minnesota does not allow marriages below age 16.
No residency requirement applies. You do not need to live in Scott County or anywhere in Minnesota. The license is valid for six months from the issue date. Minnesota removed its waiting period in September 2016, so the ceremony can happen on the same day the license is issued. No blood test is required under current state law.
Certain family relationships are barred from marriage under Minn. Stat. § 517.03. Call the License Center at 952-496-8141 if you have any questions about eligibility before your visit.
Scott County Marriage License Fees
The marriage license fee in Scott County is between $115 and $125. That is the standard range for Minnesota counties. A reduced fee of $40 to $50 may be available for couples who have completed a 12-hour premarital education program. Check with the Scott County License Center to see if they offer this reduction and which programs they accept.
Call 952-496-8141 before your visit to confirm the exact fee amount and the accepted forms of payment. Scott County is a larger county with a busy License Center, so it is also worth asking whether appointments are recommended or if walk-ins are routinely handled. Getting clarity on these details in advance will make your visit smoother.
The fee covers the license. Certified copies of the marriage certificate, if needed later, are a separate charge through the License Center or through MDH.
Getting Certified Copies of Scott County Marriage Records
Scott County marriage certificates are certified copies issued by the Scott County License Center. Contact the office at 200 4th Ave W, Shakopee, MN 55379, by phone at 952-496-8141, or through the vital records section of the county site at scottcountymn.gov/545/Vital-Records. Staff can tell you the fee, required information, and how to submit a request.
MDH charges $9 per certified copy for Minnesota marriages and maintains Scott County records in the state system even though Scott County does not use MOMS. You can request through the MDH vital records page. This is a useful route when you are not nearby or when the event happened before the county's digital systems were in place. MDH processing times are longer than county processing, so plan accordingly.
For international use, certified copies may need an apostille. The Minnesota Secretary of State handles apostilles at $5 per document. Full details are at sos.mn.gov/notary-apostille. Get the certified copy from the License Center or MDH first. Then submit that document to the Secretary of State for apostille processing. The two steps must happen in that order.
Scott County Marriage Records and State Law
Even though Scott County does not participate in MOMS, it still follows Minnesota Chapter 517 in full. The county reports completed marriages to the Minnesota Department of Health, which maintains a state-level record separate from the MOMS index. This is an important distinction: the MDH record exists, but the MOMS search tool will not show it. For records searches, the License Center is your primary contact.
The full text of Chapter 517 is at revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/517/full. That law covers licensing, officiant authorization under Minn. Stat. § 517.13, and how completed licenses are recorded and reported. Scott County's decision to use its own internal system rather than MOMS does not change how those statutes apply to the issuance and recording of marriage licenses in the county.
The statutes shown above govern all Minnesota counties, including Scott County, for how marriage licenses are issued, what is required of applicants, and how records are maintained after the ceremony.
Couples who need their Scott County marriage certificate apostilled for international use can find the full process through the Minnesota Secretary of State, as shown above.
Cities in Scott County
Scott County includes Shakopee, Prior Lake, Savage, and several other communities in the southwest Twin Cities metro area. Marriage licenses for the entire county are issued at the Scott County License Center in Shakopee, regardless of which city you live in or where your ceremony will take place.
Shakopee, Prior Lake, and Savage are the largest communities in Scott County. None of these cities currently meets the population threshold for individual city pages on this site. All residents and visitors in Scott County apply for marriage licenses at the same License Center at 200 4th Ave W in Shakopee.