Are you getting married?

License Bureau home page

This Web page is an informational guide to assist people applying for a marriage license in Anoka County or seeking the services of a judge to preside in their wedding. The following topics are covered on this page:

• Where to Apply
• Cost of the License
• Waiting Period
• Solemnization of Marriage
• Witness/Certificate

Where to Apply

Marriage licenses are available at the Government Center Vital Statistics office and at any Anoka County License Center.  See Government Center Vital Statistics office and Anoka County License Centers for locations and hours of service.

You may apply in any county of the state regardless of where you live or intend to have the marriage ceremony performed. Once the license is issued, you may use it anywhere in the state within six (6) months. It is not valid for use in states other than Minnesota.

Both parties to be married must apply for the license. Identification should be brought for both parties.

If there are prior marriages that have been dissolved through dissolution or annulment, a copy of the final decree may be presented for verification.

Other information needed to complete the application includes the following:

• Legal names of both parties
• Address and state of residence
• Date of birth
• Information regarding previous marriages
• If a minor, the names and addresses of parents and legal guardians.
• Name and date of birth of children of the parties
• Full names the parties wish to use after marriage
• Social Security Numbers

You may download the Marriage License application form (Adobe Acrobat format) and then print it.  Bringing the filled-out form will save time and effort, however you must wait to sign the form in front of a Deputy.

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Cost of the License

The Minnesota State Legislature has set the fee for a marriage license at $110.00.

The marriage license fee for parties who have completed at least 12 hours of premarital education is $40.00. In order to qualify for the reduced fee, the parties must submit a signed, notarized, and dated statement on their letterhead from the person who provided the premarital education confirming it was received. The statement must be presented at the time of application to qualify for the reduced fee. The premarital education must be provided by a licensed or ordained minister or the minister’s designee, a person authorized to solemnize marriages under section 517.18, or a person authorized to practice marriage and family therapy under section 148B.33. The education must include the use of a premarital inventory and the teaching of communication and conflict management skills.

You may download the Reduced Marriage Fee Educators Statement (Adobe Acrobat format) and then print it.  The educator must sign the statement before you bring it to the License Center.

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Waiting Period

There are no blood tests or other requirements to marry in Minnesota. However, there is a waiting period.

Five day* waiting period:

1. If applicant(s) do not have a felony conviction for a crime committed on or after August 1, 2000 under MN Law or the law of another state or federal jurisdiction or,
2. If the applicant(s) have a felony conviction for a crime committed on or after August 1, 2000 but are not requesting a name change.

The waiting period means that once you have applied for the license, five days* must pass before it can be issued.

This waiting period can only be waived by a judge in case of an emergency or extraordinary circumstances.

At the conclusion of the five days*, you can either pick up the license or leave directions where it should be mailed.

*The five day wait is five business days.  For example, if you apply on Monday, the license will be issued the following Monday.

Thirty day waiting period:

1. For any applicant who answered YES to the question “Does one or both of the parties have a felony conviction for a crime committed on or after August 1, 2000 under MN Law or the law of another state or federal jurisdiction,” and is requesting a name change. See MN Statute 259.13 Sections 3, 4, and 5 for proper procedures.

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Solemnization of Marriage

You may choose to have a marriage ceremony performed by anyone authorized by law to provide the service. Several judges in this county provide this service. For more information, see Wedding Scheduling in Anoka County

Ministers of any religious denomination may also perform the marriage ceremony if they have filed a copy of their ministerial credentials with a court administrator in the state.  That service is provided by the Government Center Vital Statistics office.  For more information, see Registration of Ordination Certificate.

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Witness/Certificate

The law requires that your marriage ceremony be witnessed by two people who are sixteen (16) years old or older.

The person solemnizing the marriage will prepare two certificates of marriage. One certificate will be given to the parties and the other filed with the Director of Licensing of the county where the license was issued. The Director of Licensing records the marriage and mails a certified copy to the married parties.  See Marriage Certificate.

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For More Information

Contact the Government Center Vital Statistics office.

page last updated - 12/31/2009

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