Hennepin County Marriage Records
Hennepin County marriage records go back to 1852 and are on file at the County Recorder's office in Minneapolis. As Minnesota's most populous county, Hennepin offers more service locations for marriage licenses than any other county in the state. You can apply at the Government Center in downtown Minneapolis or at one of several satellite locations in the metro. The statewide MOMS database covers all Hennepin County marriage records online. Whether you need a new license, a certified copy, or a search of older records, this page explains what to do and where to go.
Hennepin County Overview
Hennepin County Recorder - Vital Records
The Hennepin County Recorder handles marriage licenses and vital records for the county. The main office is at 300 South 6th Street in Minneapolis, inside the Hennepin County Government Center. This office processes new marriage license applications, issues certified copies of marriage certificates, and handles records searches. The Recorder has marriage records going back to 1852, which covers the county's entire recorded history.
Hennepin County offers more in-person service locations than any other Minnesota county. In addition to the Government Center, you can apply for a marriage license at Midtown Exchange in south Minneapolis, at a North Minneapolis location on Plymouth Avenue, at the Southdale service center in Edina, at the Maple Grove location, at Ridgedale in Minnetonka, and at Brookdale in Brooklyn Center. This network of offices makes it easier to find a convenient location if you live in the suburbs. The Maple Grove location has extended lobby hours including Saturdays.
The main Recorder office phone is (612) 348-3051. Office hours at the Government Center are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. You can find more details at hennepin.us and at hennepin.us/residents/vital-records. Online appointment scheduling is available, and completing a pre-application online before your visit can save time.
| Main Office | Hennepin County Government Center, Suite A-025 300 South 6th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55487 |
|---|---|
| Midtown Exchange | 2929 Chicago Avenue South, Lower Level, Minneapolis, MN 55407 |
| North Minneapolis | 1001 Plymouth Avenue North, Minneapolis, MN 55411 |
| Maple Grove | 9325 Upland Lane North, Suite 101, Maple Grove, MN 55369 |
| Southdale (Edina) | 1225 Southdale Center, Edina, MN 55435 |
| Ridgedale (Minnetonka) | 12601 Ridgedale Drive, Minnetonka, MN 55305 |
| Phone | (612) 348-3051 |
| Hours | Mon-Fri 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM; Maple Grove lobby open Mon-Fri 6AM-7PM, Sat 6AM-2PM |
| Records Available | Marriage records from 1852 to present |
The Hennepin County website provides access to vital records services, including marriage license applications, service location details, and online pre-application tools.
The county site covers all service locations and lets you schedule appointments or download forms before your visit.
Getting a Marriage License in Hennepin County
Both parties must appear in person at any Hennepin County Recorder location. Each person needs valid photo ID, such as a driver's license, state ID, or passport. The standard fee is $115. Couples who have completed at least 12 hours of premarital education pay $40. Bring the education certificate to qualify for the reduced rate. Hennepin County accepts cash, check, money order, and credit cards, giving you more payment flexibility than many smaller counties.
Hennepin County recommends completing an online pre-application before your visit. This speeds up the in-person process. Both parties still have to come to the office, but having the paperwork started ahead of time cuts down on wait time. The application asks for full legal names, birth dates, Social Security numbers, and parents' full maiden names. If either person was previously married, bring a certified divorce decree or death certificate to show the prior marriage ended.
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. Hennepin County and Ramsey County are notable for providing the original plus two souvenir copies of the marriage certificate after the ceremony is complete. The certified copy arrives by mail about two to three weeks after the marriage. Additional certified copies cost $9 each.
Standard processing for marriage licenses takes about three weeks. Expedited processing, which takes roughly one week, is available for an extra $20 fee. If you need the license quickly for an upcoming ceremony, the expedited option is worth considering.
Hennepin County maintains information about marriage officiants on its website, including how officiants can register and what documentation they need to perform ceremonies in the county.
The officiants page explains the registration process and what authorized officiants need to do after a ceremony to ensure the marriage certificate is properly filed.
Searching Hennepin County Marriage Records Online
MOMS is Minnesota's free statewide marriage record index. Hennepin County records are fully indexed from 1852 to the present. Go to moms.mn.gov and search by name. The system returns results showing both parties' names, the county, and the marriage date. Because the index covers such a long span of time, MOMS is one of the best starting points for any Hennepin County marriage records search.
The MOMS index does not provide certified copies. It is a search and verification tool. If you need a certified copy for legal purposes, you contact the Hennepin County Recorder directly. In-person visits to any service location can get you a copy on the spot. Requests by mail or phone take longer. The cost is $9 per certified copy. Note that some records may appear under variant spellings in the MOMS system, especially older records where names were sometimes recorded phonetically.
For historical records and genealogy research, the Minnesota Historical Society has significant resources for Hennepin County. Their marriage records guide at libguides.mnhs.org/vital/marriage explains what is available, including indexes, microfilm, and digitized collections. Hennepin County records from the 1850s and 1860s can sometimes be found through both the MOMS index and the Historical Society's collections.
Marriage Laws for Hennepin County Residents
Hennepin County follows Minnesota Statutes Chapter 517 for all marriage license matters. The state law applies equally across all 87 counties. Both parties must be at least 18. Under section 517.01, close relatives cannot marry and neither party can be already legally married. You must provide truthful information on the application. Giving false information is a criminal offense.
Officiants performing ceremonies in Hennepin County must be authorized under section 517.04. Judges, court-appointed officials, and authorized religious officiants all qualify. Hennepin County also maintains a list of registered marriage officiants, which can be useful if you need help finding someone to perform the ceremony. The officiant signs the certificate at the ceremony and files it with the Recorder within five days under section 517.10.
Two witnesses at least 16 years old must be at the ceremony and must sign the certificate. There is no waiting period in Minnesota. The license is valid right away. The six-month validity window is the only deadline to keep in mind. If your wedding date is more than six months away, wait to apply until closer to the date. The expedited processing option Hennepin County offers can help if you are working with a tight timeline.
What Hennepin County Marriage Records Include
A certified copy of a Hennepin County marriage certificate shows the full legal names of both spouses, the date and place of the marriage, the officiant's name and title, and the names of the two witnesses. The Recorder's recording date is also on the document. This is the standard form accepted for name changes, passport applications, insurance updates, and any other legal purpose where proof of marriage is needed.
Hennepin County issues the original certificate plus two souvenir copies after the ceremony. The certified copy arrives by mail a few weeks later. Souvenir copies are decorative and are not the same as certified copies for legal purposes. If you need proof of marriage for an official purpose, you must use the certified copy from the Recorder, not the souvenir version.
The application file on record with the Recorder contains more information than the certified copy. It includes dates of birth, Social Security numbers, parents' maiden names, and prior marriage details. These are not on the public certificate but remain in the Recorder's system. Genealogy researchers may want to ask about access to older application records, as some historical files may be available under Minnesota public records law. Hennepin County's records go back to 1852, making it a valuable source for early Minneapolis-area family history.
Cities in Hennepin County
Hennepin County includes Minneapolis and a large number of suburbs. All marriage licenses for residents of these cities are issued through the Hennepin County Recorder's office.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Hennepin County. If you live near a county line, check which county your address falls in before applying for a license.