Search Marriage Records in Faribault County

Faribault County marriage records are on file at the County Recorder's office in Blue Earth. The Recorder has kept marriage licenses and certificates since 1865, and the statewide MOMS database makes many of these records searchable online. Whether you need a certified copy of a marriage certificate or want to look up a past license, the Faribault County Recorder handles all requests. You can visit the office in person, send a written request by mail, or use the online system to get started. This page walks you through the main options for finding and getting Faribault County marriage records.

Faribault County Recorder

The Faribault County Recorder handles all marriage licenses and vital record requests. The office is in Blue Earth, the county seat. Staff process new license applications, issue certified copies of marriage certificates, and assist with genealogy research. The Recorder has marriage records going back to 1865, which makes this one of the older collections in southern Minnesota.

Genealogy research is available at the office on weekdays from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. If you need help finding an older record or tracing family history, staff can assist. The research fee is $20 per hour, or $9 per record verification. Mail requests are also accepted for genealogy inquiries. One free certified copy of the marriage certificate comes included when you buy a license, which is a nice detail that can save you a trip later.

The Faribault County Recorder office website is at co.faribault.mn.us. You can also go directly to the marriage license page at co.faribault.mn.us/recorder/pages/marriage-license for details on fees, forms, and the application process.

The Faribault County website and its marriage license page give details on fees, forms, and what to bring to the office.

The county recorder page lists current fees, application requirements, and contact details for the Blue Earth office.

Getting a Marriage License in Faribault County

Both parties must go to the Recorder's office together. You each need a valid photo ID. The standard license fee is $115. If you have completed at least 12 hours of premarital education, the fee drops to $40. Bring your premarital education certificate to get the lower rate. You pay by cash, check, or money order.

The license is valid for six months from the date it is issued. You can use it anywhere in Minnesota. There is no waiting period in Minnesota, so you could legally marry the same day you get the license. Under Minnesota Statutes section 517.08, the county recorder issues the license and keeps a copy on file. The application asks for both parties' full legal names, birth dates, Social Security numbers, and parents' full maiden names. If either person was previously married, you need to bring a copy of the divorce decree or death certificate.

After the ceremony, the officiant files the signed marriage certificate with the Recorder within five days. The Recorder then records it and issues certified copies on request. Your first certified copy is free when you buy the license. Additional copies cost $9 each.

Note: Social Security numbers are required on the application but do not appear on the marriage license itself.

Search Faribault County Marriage Records Online

Minnesota runs a statewide marriage records database called MOMS, which stands for Minnesota Official Marriage System. Faribault County records are indexed in MOMS from 1857 forward. That covers most of the county's recorded history. The system lets you search by name and see basic details about each marriage on file.

To use MOMS, go to moms.mn.gov. You can search for free. The system shows the names of both parties, the county where the license was issued, and the marriage date. It does not give you a certified copy, but it lets you confirm a marriage happened and find the right record. If you need a certified copy after your search, contact the Faribault County Recorder directly.

For older records before the MOMS index starts, the Minnesota Historical Society may have indexes and microfilm. The Society's genealogy resources at libguides.mnhs.org/vital/marriage cover pre-statehood records and can help fill gaps in the official system. Faribault County has birth and death records from 1870 if you also need those as part of a broader search.

Marriage Laws That Apply in Faribault County

Minnesota marriage law is in Chapter 517 of the Minnesota Statutes. The rules are the same in every county. Each county recorder applies the law locally. Faribault County follows the same process as every other county in the state.

Both people must be at least 18 years old. Under Minn. Stat. section 517.01, the parties must be legally able to marry. You need a valid license before the ceremony under section 517.08. Two witnesses who are at least 16 years old must be present at the ceremony. Under section 517.10, the officiant must return the signed certificate to the county within five days of the ceremony.

The waiting period was removed in August 2016. Before that change, there was a five-day wait after you got the license. Now there is no wait at all. The license is still only good for six months. If you do not use it within that window, you have to apply again and pay the fee a second time.

Officiants must be legally authorized to perform marriages under Minn. Stat. section 517.04. That includes judges, religious officiants, and others recognized by law. Some counties have their own officiants available, but Faribault County couples typically arrange their own.

What Faribault County Marriage Records Show

A certified copy of a Faribault County marriage certificate shows the full legal names of both parties, the date and place of the marriage, the officiant's name, and the witnesses. It also shows when the Recorder filed the certificate. This document is what most people need to prove their marriage for legal or government purposes.

The license application on file at the Recorder's office contains more detail. It includes birth dates, parents' names and maiden names, Social Security numbers (kept private), and previous marriage information. That application is not part of the public copy but stays in the Recorder's files. If you are doing genealogy research and need that deeper level of detail, talk to the Recorder's staff about what is available and at what cost.

The Recorder keeps records going back to 1865 for marriages. That is a long run of local history for a county in southern Minnesota. For records from before 1865 or from before Minnesota became a state in 1858, you would need to check the Minnesota Historical Society or other archives. The MOMS system covers Faribault County back to 1857, which predates formal county organization.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near Faribault County. If you are not sure which county issued a marriage license, check the marriage date and the county where the couple lived at the time.