Search Goodhue County Marriage Records

Goodhue County marriage records date back to January 1, 1854, making this one of the oldest continuous marriage record collections in Minnesota. The Goodhue County Recorder and Vital Statistics office in Red Wing handles all license applications, certificate requests, and record searches. You can look up Goodhue County marriage records online through the MOMS statewide database or contact the office directly for certified copies. This page explains both options and what you need to get started.

Goodhue County Recorder - Vital Statistics

The Goodhue County Recorder and Vital Statistics office is on West Fifth Street in Red Wing. The office manages marriage licenses, records certificates once they are filed, and issues certified copies on request. Marriage records here go back to January 1, 1854, which is before Minnesota achieved statehood in 1858. That makes Goodhue County an important source for researchers working on early Minnesota family history.

The office is open Monday through Friday. Both parties must appear together to apply for a new marriage license. Forms and information are available on the county website at goodhuecountymn.gov. The vital statistics page is at goodhuecountymn.gov/departments/recorder-vital-statistics and covers fees, requirements, and how to request copies of records already on file.

Goodhue County sits along the Mississippi River in southeastern Minnesota. It borders Dakota County to the north, Wabasha and Washington counties to the east, and Rice, Steele, Dodge, and Olmsted counties to the south and west. All marriage licenses issued in Goodhue County, regardless of where the couple later moved, stay on file with the Recorder in Red Wing.

The Minnesota Historical Society maintains genealogical records and guides for researching historic marriages in Goodhue County, with indexes that extend well before the MOMS system.

MNHS holds older marriage indexes that predate the MOMS system, making it a key resource for genealogical research into Goodhue County records going back to 1854 and earlier.

Applying for a Marriage License in Goodhue County

To get a marriage license in Goodhue County, both parties must go to the Recorder's office together. Each person needs a valid government-issued photo ID. The standard fee is $115. Couples who have completed at least 12 hours of premarital education pay $40. You need to bring the certificate from the education program to qualify for the lower fee. Cash, check, and money order are accepted forms of payment.

The application collects full legal names, birth dates, Social Security numbers, and the full maiden names of each party's parents. If either person was previously married, you need a certified copy of the divorce decree or a death certificate to show the prior marriage has ended. The Recorder reviews the application and issues the license the same day if everything is in order.

Under Minn. Stat. section 517.08, the license is valid for six months and can be used anywhere in Minnesota. There is no waiting period. Two witnesses who are at least 16 must be present at the ceremony. Under section 517.10, the officiant files the signed certificate back with the Goodhue County Recorder within five days. The Recorder records it and stores it permanently.

Note: Social Security numbers collected during the application are kept private and do not appear on the issued license or the certified copy.

Looking Up Goodhue County Marriage Records Online

MOMS is the statewide marriage record index for Minnesota. Goodhue County records are fully indexed from January 1, 1854, to the present. That is a long, searchable history. Go to moms.mn.gov and enter a name to search. The results show party names, the county of issuance, and the marriage date. The search is free and available to anyone.

MOMS is an index, not a certified copy service. If you find the record you need, you still have to contact the Goodhue County Recorder to get an official certified copy. That copy costs $9. You can request it by phone, by mail, or in person at the Red Wing office. In-person requests are processed the same day in most cases.

For genealogy research that goes beyond what MOMS covers, the Minnesota Historical Society has additional resources. Their guide at libguides.mnhs.org/vital/marriage explains how to access microfilm and other historical records. Goodhue County also has birth and death records from 1870, which can be useful for building a broader family history picture.

Minnesota Marriage Law and Goodhue County

All Goodhue County marriage licenses are issued under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 517. The county Recorder follows state law in every step of the process. Both parties must be at least 18. Under section 517.01, close relatives by blood or by adoption cannot marry. Neither party can be currently married to another person.

The officiant must be authorized under section 517.04. Judges, court-appointed officials, and recognized religious leaders are among those with valid authority. The officiant signs the certificate along with two witnesses and returns it to the Recorder within five days. Late filings can create complications with the official record, so the five-day window matters.

Minnesota eliminated the five-day waiting period in August 2016. Since then, couples can use the license as soon as it is issued. The six-month expiration still applies. If you get the license well ahead of your wedding date, keep track of when it expires. Goodhue County, like all Minnesota counties, follows this statewide rule with no local exceptions.

What a Goodhue County Marriage Certificate Contains

A certified copy from the Goodhue County Recorder shows the full legal names of both spouses, the marriage date, the county of issuance, the officiant's name and title, and the names of the two witnesses. The recording date is also on the document. This is what government offices, banks, attorneys, and courts recognize as proof of marriage.

The application file at the Recorder's office holds more information. Dates of birth, parents' names, Social Security numbers, and prior marriage details are all part of the file. That information is not on the certified copy you receive, but it is part of the Recorder's record. Genealogy researchers sometimes need that deeper layer of information and may be able to access it depending on the age of the record and applicable public records rules.

Goodhue County's marriage record collection goes back to 1854, which is remarkable for a county in Minnesota. The records from that era cover marriages that took place before the county had a formal courthouse system. For researchers, these old records can be found through MOMS and may also have corresponding entries in historical indexes or church records for the Red Wing area.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Goodhue County. Each has its own Recorder's office for marriage records. If you are not sure which county issued a particular license, check the MOMS database by name.