Pope County Marriage Records

Pope County marriage records are filed with the County Recorder in Glenwood. The county maintains records going back to around 1862, and the statewide Minnesota Official Marriage System lets you search online. For marriage license applications, certified copy requests, or historical record searches, the Pope County Recorder's Office in Glenwood is where to go for all marriage-related vital records in the county.

Pope County Recorder

The Pope County Recorder's Office in Glenwood handles all marriage license applications and vital records for the county. Staff process new applications when both parties appear in person, record completed licenses returned after ceremonies, and issue certified copies to eligible individuals. The office is also responsible for land records and other official county filings.

Pope County is in west-central Minnesota, near Lake Minnewaska. It is a rural county with a small population, and the recorder's office provides personalized service. If you need help locating older records or have questions about the application process, call the office ahead of your visit. Staff can tell you exactly what to bring and whether any additional steps apply to your situation.

Applying for a Marriage License

Both people must visit the Pope County Recorder's Office at the same time to apply. Under Minnesota Statute 517.08, in-person appearance by both applicants is mandatory. Each person brings a valid, government-issued photo ID and provides their Social Security number. The standard fee is $115. Applicants who have completed 12 or more hours of premarital education from a state-approved provider qualify for the reduced $40 fee.

Minnesota dropped the waiting period for marriage in August 2016. You can get married on the same day you pick up the license. The license is good for six months anywhere in the state. If it expires before you use it, you need to reapply. The ceremony can take place in any Minnesota county, not just Pope County.

Cash, check, and money order are accepted for payment. Social Security numbers are collected for state reporting and do not appear on the license. If you were married before, bring your final divorce decree or a certified death certificate for your former spouse. The recorder's office needs to see the document to confirm the prior marriage ended legally.

What to Bring to the Recorder's Office

Preparing your documents in advance makes the application process faster. Here is what you need when applying for a marriage license in Pope County.

• Valid government-issued photo ID for each applicant
• Social Security number for each applicant
• Full legal names of both parents, including mother's maiden name
• If previously married: certified divorce decree or death certificate for prior spouse
• License fee in cash, check, or money order

Both applicants must be at least 18 years old under Minnesota Statute 517.01. Younger applicants need to take additional steps before the county can issue a license. At the ceremony, two witnesses who are at least 16 must sign the license. The officiant also signs. Under Statute 517.10, the completed license must go back to the recorder's office within five days of the ceremony. Certified copies can be ordered after the record is filed.

Finding Pope County Marriage Records

The Minnesota Official Marriage System provides a free online index of marriage records from all counties including Pope. You can search by name and confirm the year and county of a marriage. MOMS does not give you the full certificate text, but it tells you where to send your request for a certified copy. If MOMS shows a Pope County record, the recorder's office in Glenwood handles the copy request.

Pope County records date from 1862. The recorder's office maintains both older paper records and more recent digital records. If a record does not appear in MOMS, it may still exist in the county archives. Staff can search manually if you have a name and approximate year. Certified copies are $9 each. You can request them in person or by mail. Include both parties' names, the year, and your contact information in any written request.

For older genealogical records or if you are unsure which county holds a record, the Minnesota Department of Health can provide guidance on vital records statewide.

Search Minnesota Marriage Records Online

The Minnesota Official Marriage System lets you search indexed marriage records from Pope County and all other Minnesota counties for free.

Start your search on MOMS to confirm the county and year of a marriage before contacting the Pope County Recorder's Office in Glenwood for a certified copy.

Nearby Counties

Pope County is in west-central Minnesota. These counties border Pope County and maintain their own marriage records through local recorders.