Steele County Marriage Records Search

Steele County marriage records are kept by the County Recorder in Owatonna, the county seat in southern Minnesota. The Recorder's office handles marriage license applications, certified copies of marriage certificates, and other vital records for the county. Both applicants must appear in person to obtain a license. The office serves all communities within Steele County and participates in the MOMS statewide database, making online searches possible for most records.

Steele County Recorder Office

The Steele County Recorder is at 630 Florence Avenue, Owatonna, MN 55060. The phone number is 507-444-7490. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The Recorder handles marriage licenses, birth and death records from 1870, and land records. A public viewing station is available in the office for those who want to view records on-site without requesting copies.

Both people planning to get married must appear together at this office. You need a valid photo ID and your Social Security number. If you were previously married, bring the divorce decree or the death certificate of your former spouse. The Recorder will ask for full legal names, dates of birth, addresses, and prior marriage details. All of this goes into the application and becomes part of the permanent county record.

The county's main website is at steelecountymn.gov. The Recorder's Office page is at steelecountymn.gov/167/Recorders-Office. That page provides contact information and an overview of the services the office handles, including the marriage license process and certified copy requests.

The Steele County Recorder's Office page provides details on marriage licenses, vital records services, and how to contact the office in Owatonna.

Steele County's Recorder office in Owatonna maintains marriage records alongside birth and death records dating back to 1870, all accessible through the office's public viewing station or by certified copy request.

Marriage License Application in Steele County

To get a marriage license in Steele County, both applicants go to the Recorder's office at 630 Florence Avenue in Owatonna. The visit takes around 20 to 30 minutes when you arrive with all required documents. The Recorder issues the license on the same day. Under Minnesota Statutes Section 517.08, no waiting period applies. The license is valid for six months and can be used for any ceremony anywhere in Minnesota.

The fee is $115 for a standard license. Couples who completed a 12-hour premarital education course before applying pay only $40. Bring documentation of course completion with you. Certified copies of the marriage certificate are $9 each and can be ordered at the same time you apply for the license or any time after the Recorder files the completed certificate.

Steele County also has a public viewing station, which means you can come in and look at indexed records without paying for a certified copy. This is useful if you just want to confirm a record exists. For certified copies, you pay the $9 fee and the Recorder produces an official document with the county seal.

Note: The Recorder processes online applications through MOMS for couples who want to start the process online before appearing in person.

How to Find Steele County Marriage Records

Steele County participates in MOMS, so its marriage records are indexed in the statewide database at moms.mn.gov. You can search there by name and year. The results show whether a record exists and which county holds it. For certified copies, contact the Steele County Recorder directly at 507-444-7490.

In-person searches are available at the Recorder's office during normal business hours. The public viewing station lets you look at records on-site. For certified copies, bring a valid ID and the relevant details about the marriage. Staff can also take written requests by mail. Include the names of both parties, the year of marriage, and a check or money order for $9. Birth and death records dating from 1870 are also accessible through the same office if you need related vital records.

For historical records that predate computerized systems, the Minnesota Historical Society at mnhs.org has indexes and microfilm for many Minnesota counties, including Steele County. That is a helpful resource for genealogical research going back to the county's founding era.

Minnesota Marriage Law in Steele County

Minnesota's marriage statutes in Chapter 517 govern the process in all 87 counties. The Steele County Recorder acts as the local registrar under Section 517.01 and is responsible for issuing licenses and keeping filed marriage records.

Both parties must be 18 or older. Applicants aged 16 or 17 need written parental consent. No blood test is required. There is no waiting period as of August 2016. Two witnesses at least 16 years old must be present at the ceremony. The officiant returns the signed license to the county within five days after the ceremony under Section 517.10. Once the Recorder files the license, it becomes a permanent public record in Steele County.

Social Security numbers are required on the application but are not printed on the license. The license is good anywhere in the state for six months. If you do not use it within that time, you must get a new one and pay the fee again. Steele County follows all state guidelines on how marriage records are stored, accessed, and protected.

Nearby Counties

Steele County is surrounded by several southern Minnesota counties. Each maintains its own marriage records at the county recorder's office.