Introduction to Minnesota Marriage Certificates

This article is designed to help you get a Minnesota Marriage certificate.  Marriage Certificates are a bit more difficult to obtain than Marriage Certificates and Death Certificates.  The main difficulty in obtaining Marriage Certificates is that states have not been registering marriages for as long as other vital records.  There are some states that still do not register marriages.  Due to this lack of centralization it is common to contact the county in which the marriage took place.

Counter to common belief, not everything is a few clicks away on the Internet.  Marriage Certificates are one of the items that you can’t just click some links and get a copy of your Marriage Certificate; this is probably a good thing.  You do not want your Marriage certificate in the public domain, where it can be seen by anyone.  However, this does not mean that you can’t easily get your Marriage certificate by following the correct procedure. 
  

Minnesota Marriage Certificate Authorized Persons

By Minnesota state law, Minnesota Marriage certificates are confidential records and can only be obtained by the following authorized individuals:

• Person Named on the Minnesota Marriage Certificate
• Mother/Father (or Legal Guardian) of Person Named on the Minnesota Marriage Certificate
• Grandparents and Great Grandparents of Person Named on the Minnesota Marriage Certificate
• Husband/Wife of Person Named on the Minnesota Marriage Certificate 
• Adult Son/Daughter of Person Named on the Minnesota Marriage Certificate
• Adult grandchildren of Person Named on the Minnesota Marriage Certificate
• Someone that has documentation that the record is necessary for the determination or protection of personal or property rights.
• Legal Representative of an Authorized Person of Person Named on the Minnesota Marriage Certificate

Minnesota Marriage Certificate for Genealogy Purpose

Non-certified copies of Minnesota Marriage certificates do not require demonstration of tangible interest. These Marriage certificates are used for genealogy purposes.

Minnesota Marriage Certificate Ordering

Options Option 1 – Order Minnesota Marriage Certificate Online

This option is the simplest and easiest way to get your Minnesota Marriage Certificate.  Order online and you will get your Minnesota Marriage Certificate usually in less than a week.  Many times you will have the option of receiving your vital record by next-day or second-day service.

Order Birth and Death Records Online!  

Option 2 – In Person

In Person in Minnesota: You may go to any county health department in the State of Minnesota to obtain a certified copy of a Minnesota Marriage certificate. Most Minnesota Marriage certificates can be issued while you wait.

Minnesota Marriage Certificate Ordering Cost

The fee to search for a Minnesota Marriage certificate is $9.00, which includes one certified copy of the Minnesota Marriage certificate or a "Certificate of Failure to Find." For each additional copy of the Minnesota Marriage certificate ordered at the same time, the fee is $9.00.  Please do not send cash. Fees are not refundable. Additional fees are required for expedited service.