Stevens County Marriage Records

Stevens County marriage records are held by the County Recorder in Morris, the county seat in western Minnesota. The Recorder's office issues marriage licenses and keeps certified copies of marriage certificates for the county. Both parties planning to marry must appear in person at the office. The county has maintained birth, death, and marriage records since the early settlement period, with vital records going back to 1872.

Stevens County Recorder Office

The Stevens County Recorder is at 400 Colorado Ave, Suite 305, Morris, MN 56267. The phone number is 320-208-6565. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The office keeps marriage records alongside birth and death records going back to 1872. A public viewing station is available for in-office record review without ordering a certified copy.

Both applicants must come in together to get a marriage license. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID and your Social Security number. If you were married before, bring the divorce decree or death certificate that ended the prior marriage. The Recorder collects your full legal names, dates of birth, addresses, Social Security numbers, and prior marriage details. This information becomes part of the county's permanent marriage record.

The county website is at co.stevens.mn.us. The Recorder's page is at co.stevens.mn.us/departments/recorder/. That page provides contact details and an overview of services. Online information is available through the county site and through the statewide MOMS system.

The Minnesota Historical Society maintains genealogical records and guides for researching historic marriages in Stevens 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 Stevens County records going back to 1872 and earlier.

Getting a Marriage License in Stevens County

To get a marriage license in Stevens County, both applicants visit the Recorder's office in Morris. The license is issued the same day. Under Minnesota Statutes Section 517.08, no waiting period applies, and the license is effective immediately. It stays valid for six months and works for ceremonies anywhere in the state.

The standard fee is $115. Couples who completed a 12-hour premarital education course pay $40. Bring proof of completion to the office. Certified copies of the marriage certificate cost $9 each. You can order them the day you apply or any time after the officiant files the completed license. Stevens County birth and death records from 1872 are also available through the Recorder's office, so you can handle multiple record requests in one visit if needed.

The public viewing station at the Recorder's office lets you look at indexed records without paying for a copy. If you only need to confirm a record exists, this can save you the fee. For legal purposes like name changes or insurance, you need a certified copy with the county seal.

Searching Stevens County Marriage Records

The MOMS database at moms.mn.gov covers Stevens County marriage records. You can search by name to see if a marriage was recorded in the county. The index shows the county of record, and certified copies must come from the local recorder. Stevens County participates in MOMS, so most records from recent decades appear in the online index.

If you prefer to search in person, go to the Recorder's office at 400 Colorado Ave in Morris. Staff can search by name or approximate date. For older records predating computerized records, the Minnesota Historical Society at mnhs.org may have supplemental indexes for Stevens County going back to the county's early days in western Minnesota.

Certified copies cost $9. To request by mail, include the names of both parties, the year of marriage, and a check or money order. Call 320-208-6565 to confirm the mailing address and any form requirements before sending a mail request.

Minnesota Marriage Law in Stevens County

All 87 Minnesota counties follow the same marriage statutes in Chapter 517. Stevens County Recorder acts as the local registrar under Section 517.01. The office issues licenses and records completed certificates after the officiant files them.

Both parties must be 18 or older. Applicants who are 16 or 17 need written parental consent. Minnesota has no blood test requirement. There is no waiting period since August 2016. Two witnesses at least 16 years old must be present at the ceremony and sign the license. The officiant returns the completed license to the county recorder within five days of the ceremony under Section 517.10. Once filed, it becomes part of the permanent public record in Stevens County.

Your SSN is required on the application form but does not appear on the license. The license is valid statewide for six months. If you do not hold the ceremony within that time, you must apply again. Stevens County stores all filed marriage records and they remain accessible to the public, with some personal details protected by statute.

Nearby Counties

Stevens County sits in western Minnesota near the North Dakota border. Neighboring counties each maintain their own marriage records locally.