Marriage

Notice - Five day waiting period has been eliminated

As of August 1, 2016 the Minnesota requirement to wait five days from the date of marriage license application before getting married has been eliminated. 

Marriage license application information 

A marriage license purchased in Minnesota only allows you to be married in Minnesota and must be applied for at least five (5) days before your wedding date. Your marriage license is valid for six months.

How to start

Use an option below to begin your application process now. Do not sign your application until you are asked at the service center.

• Start your online application, print and bring the receipt to any service center to complete the application process and receive your license.
• Download the marriage license application (PDF), print and bring it to any service center to complete the application process and receive your license.  Do not sign the application until you are asked at the service center.
• You may come in and fill out your application by hand.

How to apply

You may stop in or make an appointment at any Hennepin County service center.

What to bring

• EITHER the printed receipt from your online marriage application process, OR your license application (PDF) - unless you prefer to complete it by hand at the service center
• Both applicants should come in, but if one of you can't
  • Complete party not appearing form (PDF), signature of the person not appearing must be notarized on this form
  • Person not appearing must also have their signature notarized on the license application (PDF)
  • Both forms must be presented at the time of the marriage application
• Identification such as a driver's license or state ID
• If you are divorced, you need to supply
  • If your divorce was finalized in the last 30 days, you need to present a certified copy of the divorce decree when you apply
  • If your divorce was finalized over 30 days ago, you must provide the exact date your divorce was finalized, and the county, state and court where the divorce occurred
• If one or both of you has a felony conviction, you must provide proof of service papers (MS 259.13)

Fee

• Regular fee: $115
• Reduced fee: $40 reduced fee license form (PDF)
• Payment options

Additional information

• A packet of information will be given to you with your license
• Your license may be used for six months anywhere in Minnesota
• A marriage must be witnessed by two adults (16 or older)
• Neither of you is required to be a Minnesota resident
• Minnesota Marriage License Application Statute 517.08
• An official who marries a couple should review the filing of a marriage license procedure below
• Notary services are available at all service centers

A certified copy of a marriage record verifies that a marriage has taken place and must be applied for in the county where the original marriage license application was made.

If the original marriage license application was made in Hennepin County, a certified copy can be requested by mail, fax, or drop-off at the Maple Grove service center lobby drop box.

To get a marriage certificate you need to provide the correct marriage date and applicant names. If you don't know the date and names, we can search for $20 per hour ($10 minimum) in addition to the cost of the copy.

Mail in application

1. Complete the marriage record application (PDF).
2. Print and sign the application.
3. Mail your completed and signed application, along with check or money order to the address on the application.

Drop off application

Completed applications can be dropped off in the lobby drop-box at the Maple Grove service center. There is no waiting or processing transactions directly with staff. Applications will be processed and completed materials mailed out.

Prepare application

1. Complete a marriage record application (PDF).
2. Print and sign the application..
3. Call 612-348-8240 if you have questions.

Drop off application

Drop your completed application and payment in the lobby drop-box at our Maple Grove location. Drop-off is only to deliver your application or request. No on-site processing is available at this time.

Lobby hours

• Monday - Friday 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Saturday 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Sunday - closed

Address

Maple Grove Service Center
9325 Upland Lane North
Maple Grove, MN 55369

FAX application

1. Begin your order at VitalChek.
2. After placing your order print the Vital Records Authorization and sign it.
3. Fax your signed authorization form to 612-348-2010.

Processing times

Regular processing

Orders will be processed within 2 - 3 weeks of receipt.

Faster processing

• Orders will be processed within 3 - 5 business days
• You must include an additional $20 and write "Expedite" on the envelope

Order status

If it's been over four (4) weeks since you ordered use our Vital records order inquiry form.

Fees

• Each certified copy: $9
• VitalChek fee: $7
• (Optional) UPS express mail: $20
• (Optional) Expedite processing: $20

If you are unable to place your order through VitalChek

1. Complete the marriage record application (PDF).
2. Print and sign the application.
3. Submit the marriage record application and this fax cover sheet (PDF) by FAX to 612-348-2010.

Use the marriage record correction application to add or change information on your marriage record or marriage certificate filed in Hennepin County.

What can be corrected

Applicant information

Each applicant can request a correction for their own information only.

• Missing information
• Clerical errors or misspelling of before marriage name(s) – corrections to a before marriage name will carry over to an after-marriage name

Marriage date or place

These corrections can only be requested by the marriage officiant.

What cannot be corrected

This process is not for name changes that occur after a marriage has taken place. Legal name changes are done through district court.

Application process

Complete the marriage record correction application (PDF, 1MB). Both applicants must sign and have signatures notarized, even if the correction is to only one of the applicant's information.

Provide copies of one primary and one secondary document or three secondary documents from the supporting document list (PDF, 1MB). Documents must be in or translated to English and must:

• Be original certified copies issued by a government office, or a copy authenticated by the person issuing the document to you.
• Show the name exactly as it should appear on the marriage record.
• Be issued at, before or around the time of marriage with date clearly marked. Documents dated after the date of marriage application are not acceptable. Documents must show what your legal name was at or before time of application for marriage.

Print but do not sign the application.

Have the form notarized — e-notarization is acceptable.

Submit the completed application and check or money order:

• By mail to the address on the form, or
• Drop it off at one of our drop off locations. Walk-in services and wait time depend on staffing.

It takes up to two weeks for us to review your documentation and make a determination. If approved, we will process the information and mail you a paper record indicating what was changed and when the change happened. The original record on file will not be changed. If additional documentation is required, we will notify you.

Fee

$40. The fee is non-refundable.

Within five days after the marriage ceremony, the officiant who performed the marriage must file the marriage certificate with the county.

Instructions were included in the packet issued to the applicants when they applied for their marriage license.

What the officiant will do after the ceremony

• Print or type the names of the witnesses along with your name (the officiant) and credentials on the appropriate lines.
• The applicants, witnesses, and officiant must sign the certificate.
• Make sure the certificate is complete and return it in the pre-addressed envelope within FIVE (5) DAYS of the ceremony to the:

Director of licensing
Marriage license department
Hennepin County Government Center
300 S Sixth St, MC-026
Minneapolis, MN 55487-0026

Additional information

• Marriage officiant credentials filing