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Minnesota
Marriage
License
How to get one
Short answer:
- Apply for your Minnesota
marriage license at any county clerk's office (addresses are below)
- The county then mails you the
license
- You bring the license to your
wedding to be signed by the officiant
Long answer:
You can apply for a Minnesota marriage license at any county Registrar
in Minnesota (contact info is below) and then use it in any county in
Minnesota
o The two of you go together to the County Registrar (contact info is
below)
o Both of you show your driver's licenses
o Fill out the form
o Pay the fee, usually $100
o Then the county will mail you the license after the 5-day "waiting
period".
* Note - In
Hennepin County,
both the bride and groom must apply for their Minnesota marriage
license together, but in other counties, either person can apply alone
* Special cases. Usually, all you need
is your ID (usually your driver's license), but there are special cases.
o The most common requirement is the one applying to divorcees. If
you've been divorced, you'll need a copy of a divorce decree and be
ready to list the date, county and state of the divorce
o If you are a widow or widower, you need the date of the death of your
spouse, but no paperwork is needed
o If either applicant is under 18 you may need a parent to come with you
o If one of the applicants has a criminal felony conviction, the
waiting period is 30 days, instead of the usual 5-day waiting period
* Once you get your
marriage
license, bring it to your wedding on your wedding day to be signed by
the officiant and two witnesses
After
I apply,
how long will it take to get my Minnesota marriage license?
o You will receive your MN marriage license:
- Plus 5 days after you apply (the "waiting period")
-
Plus time for the check to clear
- Plus the time in the mail
The
exception is Hennepin County. Instead of mailing you your MN marriage
license, Hennepin County gives the license to you immediately, but it's
not valid until after 5 days (the "waiting period")
o Once you receive the Minnesota marriage license, you may have your
wedding immediately. Just make sure to bring your license to the
wedding ceremony.
If you can't wait the 5 days, you may be able to arrange a hearing with
a judge who can grant a waiver, and then receive the license the same
day. Call the Clerk of Court for hearing times.
* Note that you don't have to be a
Minnesota resident to get a Minnesota marriage license
Is a blood
test required
to get your Minnesota marriage license?
* No, a blood test is not required in
the state of Minnesota. Years ago, people were so worried about
hereditary blood diseases that the state instituted blood tests to
screen out potential problems. The practices is now obsolete, and
Minnesota, being a progressive state, has done away with the
requirement.
Hennepin County marriage license
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Each county has special rules for obtaining
your marriage license.
In Hennepin County, the special rules are: |
- Both parties must apply for the license
together
- Hennepin County prints out and gives you the license immediately
instead of mailing it to you (the 5-day waiting period still applies,
though)
- Hennepin County Service Centers tend to be very busy, so to ensure
service, I recommend that you arrive at least one hour before
closing
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| Here are the Hennepin County centers for
obtaining a Minnesota marriage license. They all have the
same phone number, which is 612-348-8240: |
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Ramsey County Marriage Licenses
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Notes on obtaining a MN marriage license in Ramsey County:
- You need the place of birth and the
Social Security number for both the Bride and Groom
- You have to fill out an application that
has a carbon copy, so it has to be filled out at their office and can't
be filled out ahead of time.
- 555 Cedar Street, downtown St Paul.
651-266-1333
This office is the only one in Ramsey County where you can apply for a
marriage license.
Open Monday - Friday (8:00 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.)
Closed on Saturday, Sunday and Holidays
 Here's the St Paul, MN building (555 Cedar Street) where you can apply for your marriage license, as seen from the 10th Street entrance.
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Dakota County Marriage Licenses
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There are three sites for obtaining a Minnesota marriage license in
Dakota County:
- Hastings Administration Center
1590 West Highway 55, Hastings
651-438-4313
Open 7:45am - 4:45pm, Monday - Friday
- Apple Valley Service Center
14955 Galaxie Avenue, Apple Valley
952-891-7570
Open 8:00 to 4:30, Monday and Friday, 8:00 to 6:00, Tuesday through
Thursday
- West St Paul Service Center
1 Mendota Road West, West St Paul
(651) 554-6600
Open 8:00am - 4:30pm weekdays, and till 6:00 pm Tuesdays
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Anoka County Marriage Licenses
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- If you have Acrobat Reader installed on
your computer, you can even fill out the Anoka County marriage license application
form ahead of time.
- You can fill out the application ahead of
time with the above link, but do not actually sign the form until asked
to do when you are at the license center.
Sites for obtaining a MN marriage license in Anoka County:
- Government Center of Anoka County
Vital Statistics
325
East Main Street, W130, Anoka
763-323-5201
Open 8:00 - 4:30. Monday - Friday
- Anoka License Center
6111
Highway 10, #500, Ramsey
763-576-5768
Open Monday - Friday 8:00 - 5:30, Saturday 8:00 - 2:00
- Blaine License Center
11000
Hwy
65 NE, Blaine
763-767-3889
Open Monday - Friday 8:00 - 5:30, Saturday 8:00 - 2:00
- Columbia Heights License Center
3982
Central Ave NE, Columbia Heights
763-789-7202
Open Monday - Friday 8:00 - 5:30, Saturday 8:00 - 2:00
- Coon Rapids License Center
3026-1/2
111th Avenue, Coon Rapids
763-712-4102
Open Monday - Friday 8:00 - 5:30, Saturday 8:00 - 2:00
- Ham Lake License Center
17565
Central Ave NE - #330, Ham Lake
763-413-9717
Open Monday - Friday 8:00 - 5:30
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Goodhue County Marriage Licenses:
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- While only one person needs to be present
to apply
for your Minnesota
marriage license, for each person, you must also know:
- -
Date and place of birth for the Bride and Groom
- -
Social security numbers (if you have
one)
- - You may have your MN marriage
license
mailed to you, or you may pick it
up in person.
- If
you apply
on Monday, Tuesday or
Wednesday, you can pick up the license thefollowing Monday.
- If
you apply
on Thursday, you can pick
it up the license the following Tuesday.
- If
you apply on Friday, you pick up the
license the following Wednesday.
There is only one location in Goodhue County for obtaining your
marriage license:
- Goodhue County Government Center
509 W. 5th Street, Red Wing
(651)385-3148
Open Monday - Friday 8:00. - 4:30
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Scott County Marriage Licenses
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- Scott County Government Services Building
First floor
200
4th Avenue W, Shakopee
952-496-8150
Open 8:00 to 4:30 Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and then Mondays and
Thursdays till 6:00
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Carver County Marriage Licenses
- While
only one
person needs to be present
to apply for the marriage license, for each person, you must also know
the following for the Bride and Groom:
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Date of birth
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State of birth
-
- Social security numbers (if you have
one)
There is only one site for obtaining a MN marriage license in Carver
County:
- Auditors Office of Carver County
600 East 4th Street, Chaska
952-361-1910
Open Monday - Friday, 8:00 - 4:00
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After
your
wedding ceremony
- Your officiant will send the license to
the county
- The county will then stamp and certify
the marriage license and then mail it back to you
- Then, you may use that stamped and
certified copy in order to
change
your documents to your new name
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Marriage license question:
Hello, Rev. Coleman. I have been on the
internet trying to figure out what I need to do for my fiance and I to
be married in June 2007. I know your website says that you are in
Minneapolis, MN. We are currently living in Colorado Springs, CO but
plan on marrying in Red Wing, MN (lots and lots of family). Your
website says that at least one of us needs to be present to obtain or
our MN marriage license. That would be fine, but there is a 5-day
waiting period before you are issued the wedding license. We only plan
on taking a week off for the wedding and that does include travel time.
Is there a way that I could do it through the mail or something?
Any help that you could provide for me would
really be appreciated.
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Answer:
Yes, while I wouldn't be able to travel down
to Red Wing on a Saturday in wedding season (May-October), I love
answering questions. Each MN county is different, but generally, if you
make an appointment to see a judge, a judge can waive the 5-day waiting
period and then you can get your Minnesota marriage license
immediately. My recommendation is to make a few phone calls and set up
that arrangement. It's a bit of a pain in the neck going to the judge
and going through that process, but I have worked with couples in your
situation and they have done exactly that with no problem at all. Good
luck! If you have any other questions, I'm always here for you.
Sincerely,
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