How to Get Married in Minnesota (2026)
Reviewed by DocDraft Legal Team · Minnesota · Last updated 2026-05-18
Minnesota runs its marriage-license system on its own family-law code. The post-license waiting period is set by statute: 0 days. License validity in Minnesota: 6 months. The state's common-law-marriage rule: Not recognized. Common law marriage was abolished in 1941. This guide details what Minnesota requires from license application through return of the signed license to the clerk after the ceremony.
Key Considerations
Marriage formation in Minnesota turns on two rules beyond the license. The state's common-law-marriage status is the first: Not recognized. Common law marriage was abolished in 1941. The authorized-officiant list is the second: An individual who has attained the age of 21 years and who registers as a civil marriage officiant with a local registrar in a county of this state. Both are statutory; private agreement does not override either one.
Before the wedding logistics begin, two Minnesota legal points need to be settled: license cost and applicant age. $125. A person who has attained the full age of 18 years is capable in law of contracting into a civil marriage, if otherwise competent. These are statutory questions, not negotiable ones, and the issuing clerk applies them at the counter.
Two clock-driven rules sit around every Minnesota marriage license. The first is the post-issuance waiting period: 0 days. See the state agency website. The second is the license validity window: 6 months. Together they bracket the legal window during which the ceremony is enforceable.
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Relevant Documents
For a Minnesota marriage, the core documents are the marriage-license application filed with the issuing clerk and, where a premarital-course incentive applies, the certificate of completion from a state-approved provider. $50. License fees in Minnesota are due to the issuing clerk at filing, often in cash or by money order; check accepted payment methods with the specific office before the appointment.
Beneficiary Designation Forms
Documents that specify who receives assets from retirement accounts, life insurance policies, and other financial accounts upon your death.
Durable Power of Attorney
Authorizes someone to make financial and legal decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated, ensuring your affairs can be managed without court intervention.
Healthcare Power of Attorney
Designates someone to make medical decisions for you if you're unable to do so, ensuring your healthcare preferences are respected.
Prenuptial Agreement
A contract entered into before marriage that establishes rights to property and financial support in case of divorce or death. This document can protect pre-marital assets and outline financial responsibilities during marriage.
Updated Will
A legal document that specifies how your assets should be distributed after death. Marriage typically invalidates previous wills in many jurisdictions, making it important to create a new one that includes your spouse.
Relevant Laws
Marriage License Requirements
In Minnesota, couples must obtain a marriage license before getting married. Both parties must appear in person at a county registrar's office, provide identification, and pay a fee (typically $115, though it can be reduced with premarital counseling). There is a 5-day waiting period after application before the license becomes valid, and the license remains valid for 6 months.
Age Requirements for Marriage
Minnesota law requires both parties to be at least 18 years old to marry without parental consent. Individuals who are 16 or 17 years old may marry with parental consent and judicial approval. Minnesota no longer allows marriages for those under 16 years of age as of August 1, 2020.
Who Can Perform Marriages
Minnesota recognizes marriages performed by judges, retired judges, court administrators, licensed or ordained ministers, and individuals who have received a one-day marriage officiant designation. The person performing the ceremony must be registered with the state and must sign the marriage certificate.
Marriage Certificate Filing
After the ceremony, the officiant must file the completed marriage certificate with the local registrar within 5 days. This filing is required to make the marriage legally recognized by the state. Couples can request certified copies of their marriage certificate from the county where the license was issued.
Name Change After Marriage
Minnesota allows individuals to change their last name after marriage without a separate court proceeding. The marriage certificate serves as legal documentation for name changes with government agencies and private institutions. Either spouse may take the other's surname, hyphenate surnames, or keep their original name.
Marital Property Laws
Minnesota is an equitable distribution state, not a community property state. This means that property acquired during marriage is considered marital property subject to equitable (fair but not necessarily equal) division in case of divorce. Understanding these property rights is important when entering marriage.
Regional Variances
Twin Cities Metropolitan Area
As Minnesota's most populous county containing Minneapolis, Hennepin County requires marriage license applications to be submitted at least 5 days before the ceremony. The license fee is $115, but couples who complete premarital counseling can receive a reduced fee of $40. Marriage licenses are valid for 6 months from the date of issuance.
Home to St. Paul, Ramsey County has similar marriage license requirements to Hennepin County, with a 5-day waiting period. The standard fee is $115 with a reduction to $40 with proof of premarital counseling. Couples must apply in person at the Ramsey County Vital Records office.
Northern Minnesota
In St. Louis County (Duluth area), marriage licenses also have a 5-day waiting period, but the county offers multiple office locations for convenience. The fee structure matches the state standard ($115 regular, $40 with counseling), but applicants should note that some satellite offices have limited hours.
Itasca County follows the standard Minnesota marriage license procedures but may have more limited office hours than urban counties. Couples should call ahead to confirm availability, especially during winter months when weather can affect office operations.
Southern Minnesota
In Olmsted County (Rochester area), marriage licenses follow the standard Minnesota requirements. However, the county is known for efficient processing and couples can often receive same-day service if all documentation is in order, though the 5-day waiting period before the ceremony still applies.
Blue Earth County (Mankato area) follows state guidelines for marriage licenses. The county offers an online pre-application process that can save time during the in-person appointment, though both parties must still appear in person to complete the application.
Tribal Jurisdictions
The Red Lake Nation is a sovereign tribal nation in Minnesota with its own marriage regulations. Couples seeking to marry on tribal lands should consult with tribal authorities, as different requirements may apply. Marriages performed under tribal authority are recognized by the state of Minnesota.
The White Earth Reservation has specific cultural protocols for marriages that may supplement state requirements. Couples should consult with both tribal authorities and the county (marriages are typically recorded with Mahnomen, Becker, or Clearwater counties depending on location) to ensure all legal requirements are met.
Suggested Compliance Checklist
Submit the Minnesota marriage-license application in person at the issuing clerk's office
Before the ceremony days after starting$125. Identification requirements typically include a current government-issued photo ID; some clerks also ask for a birth certificate or certified copy of any divorce decree.
Have identification and prior-marriage paperwork ready when filing the application
Before the ceremony days after startingStandard documents include a current driver's license or passport for each applicant, plus a certified divorce decree, annulment order, or spouse's death certificate for anyone previously married.
Consider completing a state-approved premarital preparation course if this state offers a discount or waiting-period.
Before the ceremony days after starting$50. The certificate of completion must be presented to the clerk at the time of application, not later.
Account for the post-license waiting period when picking a ceremony date
Before applying days after starting0 days. The waiting period (where the state imposes one) runs from the license issuance date, so the application timing has to be worked backward from the planned ceremony date.
Track the license validity window
Before the ceremony days after starting6 months. The wedding has to occur inside that window; if it does not, the license lapses and a fresh license (with a new fee and another application) is required.
Solemnize the marriage with an officiant the state recognizes
At the ceremony days after startingAn individual who has attained the age of 21 years and who registers as a civil marriage officiant with a local registrar in a county of this state. Verifying the officiant's authority in advance is important because a defective solemnization is one of the few errors the marriage code does not always cure retroactively.
Make sure the officiant files the executed license back with the issuing office promptly after the ceremony
After the ceremony days after startingRecording converts the license into a recorded marriage on the state's vital-records system and is what makes a certified marriage certificate available.
| Task | Description | Document | Days after starting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Submit the Minnesota marriage-license application in person at the issuing clerk's office | $125. Identification requirements typically include a current government-issued photo ID; some clerks also ask for a birth certificate or certified copy of any divorce decree. | - | Before the ceremony |
| Have identification and prior-marriage paperwork ready when filing the application | Standard documents include a current driver's license or passport for each applicant, plus a certified divorce decree, annulment order, or spouse's death certificate for anyone previously married. | - | Before the ceremony |
| Consider completing a state-approved premarital preparation course if this state offers a discount or waiting-period. | $50. The certificate of completion must be presented to the clerk at the time of application, not later. | - | Before the ceremony |
| Account for the post-license waiting period when picking a ceremony date | 0 days. The waiting period (where the state imposes one) runs from the license issuance date, so the application timing has to be worked backward from the planned ceremony date. | - | Before applying |
| Track the license validity window | 6 months. The wedding has to occur inside that window; if it does not, the license lapses and a fresh license (with a new fee and another application) is required. | - | Before the ceremony |
| Solemnize the marriage with an officiant the state recognizes | An individual who has attained the age of 21 years and who registers as a civil marriage officiant with a local registrar in a county of this state. Verifying the officiant's authority in advance is important because a defective solemnization is one of the few errors the marriage code does not always cure retroactively. | - | At the ceremony |
| Make sure the officiant files the executed license back with the issuing office promptly after the ceremony | Recording converts the license into a recorded marriage on the state's vital-records system and is what makes a certified marriage certificate available. | - | After the ceremony |
Frequently Asked Questions
Not recognized. Common law marriage was abolished in 1941. Couples relying on a common-law theory of marriage should be cautious: the modern default in nearly every U.S. state is that without a license and a solemnized ceremony there is no marriage, and the burden of proving an informal marriage falls on the party asserting it.
0 days. The waiting period (if any) starts running from the date the license is issued, not from the date the application is filed; the date that controls is the issuance date on the license itself.
$125. Applicants should plan to confirm the current dollar amount directly with the Minnesota issuing clerk that will handle the application, since the published fee schedule can change and county add-ons (where allowed) shift the total.
Other Minnesota guides
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