A marriage license in Minnesota is valid for six months and only allows you to be married in the state of Minnesota.

Application process options

In-person appointment

By appointment only.

1. Complete the online pre-application.
2. Gather your required documents, including identification such as a driver's license or state ID.
3. Review the requirements and schedule an appointment.
4. Both applicants should come to the appointment, but if one of you can't, you must bring completed:

• Party not appearing form (PDF) – Signature of the person not appearing must be notarized
• License application (PDF) – Signature of the person not appearing must be notarized

Remote

Email us at license.gc@hennepin.us. Include the following in your email:

• Wedding date
• Phone number

Fees

Payment can be made by check, money order or cashier's check.

• Regular fee: $115
• Fees are non-refundable

Additional information

• License will be issued at appointment or in 3 -5 business days for remote processing.
• Neither of you is required to be a Minnesota resident.
• A packet of information will be included with your license.
• A marriage must be witnessed by two adults (16 or older).
• An official who marries a couple should review the Filing a marriage license section.
• For more help call 612-348-8240.

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.

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.

Remote application processes

Drop off or mail in application

1. Complete the marriage record application (PDF).
2. Print and sign the application.
3. Submit completed and signed application along with check or money order:
   • Drop off at one of our drop off locations
   • Mail to the address on the application

FAX in application

1. Begin your order at VitalChek. ($20 UPS express mail is optional.)
2. After placing your order print the Vital Records Authorization and sign it. 
3. Fax your signed authorization form to 612-348-2010. 

If you are unable to place your FAX 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 coversheet (PDF) by FAX to 612-348-2010. ($20 UPS express mail is optional.)

Processing times

Regular processing

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

Faster processing

• Orders will be processed in 5 - 7 business days of receipt
• You must include an additional $20 and write "Expedite" on the envelope

If you cannot use a remote option, the in person application process is:

1. Complete the marriage record application (PDF).
2. Print and sign the application.
3. Review the requirements and schedule an appointment.

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) Expedite processing: $20

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

1. Complete the marriage record correction application 
   • Both applicants must sign and have signatures notarized, even if the correction is to only one of the applicant's information.
2. Provide copies of one primary and one secondary document or three secondary documents from the supporting document list (PDF). 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.
3. Print but do not sign the application.
4. Have the form notarized — e-notarization is acceptable
5. 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

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
A Level – Suite A-025
300 S. 6th St.
Mpls, MN 55487-0026

Additional information

• Marriage officiant credentials filing