Search St. Louis County Marriage Records

St. Louis County marriage records date back to 1870 and are kept by the County Recorder in Duluth. As the largest county in Minnesota by land area, St. Louis County spans a wide region and has several office locations where residents can apply for marriage licenses or request certified copies of marriage certificates. The main recorder office is in Duluth, but the county also operates service locations in Hibbing, Virginia, Ely, and Cook, making it easier for couples across the county to get what they need.

St. Louis County Recorder

The main St. Louis County Recorder office is at 100 North Fifth Avenue West, Room 101, in Duluth. The phone number is 218-726-2559 and hours run Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. This is the primary location for marriage license applications and certified record requests. Marriage records go back to 1870, making St. Louis County one of the counties with the longest available marriage record history in Minnesota.

Because the county is so large, the Recorder maintains several satellite service centers. The Hibbing office is at 1810 12th Ave. East, Room 100, phone 218-262-0109. Virginia is at 307 South First Street, Suite 2R, phone 218-749-0673. The Ely office is at 320 Miners Drive E, phone 218-365-8200. There is also a Cook location at 9558 Ashawa Road, phone 218-471-7705. Not all satellite offices have the same hours as the main Duluth location, so call ahead before making a trip.

The county website is at stlouiscountymn.gov. The Recorder's department page is at stlouiscountymn.gov/departments-a-z/recorder. Both applicants must appear in person at any of these locations to apply for a license.

Getting a Marriage License in St. Louis County

Both applicants must appear together at one of the Recorder's offices. You will need a valid photo ID and your Social Security number. If you were married before, bring the divorce decree or the death certificate of the former spouse. The Recorder collects your names, addresses, dates of birth, and prior marriage information. Your SSN is required but does not appear on the license.

The standard fee is $115. Couples who complete a 12-hour premarital education course before applying pay only $40. Bring proof of course completion on the day you apply. Certified copies of the marriage certificate cost $9 each. Under Minnesota Statutes Section 517.08, the license is effective immediately after issue and valid for six months. It can be used for any ceremony performed anywhere in Minnesota.

St. Louis County also allows courthouse weddings. Judges are available for ceremonies starting at noon. Contact the court at 218-221-7682 for the Duluth location or 218-305-7039 for Virginia to ask about scheduling and any fees involved. This is a convenient option if you want a civil ceremony right at the county government center.

Veterans can file their military discharge records (DD-214) at no charge at the Duluth courthouse. The Recorder also handles ministry credential filings and notary commission filings.

St. Louis County marriage records can be searched online at moms.mn.gov, the Minnesota Official Marriage System, which covers records back to 1870 for this county.

MOMS provides a searchable index of St. Louis County marriage records by name and year, with certified copies available directly from the St. Louis County Recorder in Duluth or at any satellite office.

How to Find St. Louis County Marriage Records

You can search St. Louis County marriage records online through MOMS at moms.mn.gov. The system covers records from 1870 to the present for this county. Search by name to see if a marriage record exists. The results show the county where the record is held. Certified copies must be ordered from St. Louis County directly.

For in-person searches or certified copy requests, the Duluth main office is the primary point of contact. If you live closer to Hibbing, Virginia, Ely, or Cook, the satellite offices can also assist. Call ahead to confirm the satellite office's current hours before visiting. The Recorder can look up records by name or approximate date. Older records going back to 1870 are maintained at the county level, and some very early records may also be accessible through the Minnesota Historical Society at mnhs.org.

Certified copies cost $9 each. Mail requests are accepted at the Duluth mailing address: PO Box 157, Duluth, MN 55801. Include the full names of both parties, the year of marriage, and a check or money order. Contact the office at 218-726-2559 to confirm the current process and any form requirements before mailing your request.

Minnesota Marriage Law in St. Louis County

Minnesota marriage law applies consistently across all 87 counties. Chapter 517 of the Minnesota Statutes sets out the rules for obtaining a license, holding a ceremony, and filing the completed record. St. Louis County Recorder acts as the local registrar under Section 517.01.

Both parties must be 18 or older. Applicants who are 16 or 17 need written parental consent. Minnesota does not require a blood test and has no waiting period since August 2016. The license is valid anywhere in the state for six months from the issue date. Two witnesses must be present at the ceremony and sign the license. They must be at least 16 years old. The officiant returns the completed, signed license to the Recorder within five days of the ceremony under Section 517.10.

Once filed, the marriage is part of the public record. Most details are publicly accessible, though Social Security numbers and some personal identifiers are protected. Anyone can request a plain copy, but certified copies require a fee and are issued by the Recorder. St. Louis County's records from 1870 onward are among the most complete in the state, which makes this county especially useful for genealogical research in northeastern Minnesota.

Cities in St. Louis County

St. Louis County is the largest county in Minnesota. All marriage licenses and certificates, regardless of which community the couple lives in, are filed with the St. Louis County Recorder.

Other communities in St. Louis County include Hibbing, Virginia, Ely, Hermantown, Proctor, and Cook. All marriage records for these areas are filed with the St. Louis County Recorder.

Nearby Counties

St. Louis County borders several northeastern Minnesota counties. Each county has its own recorder office that handles local marriage records.