Wabasha County Marriage Records

Wabasha County marriage records are maintained by the County Recorder in Wabasha, the county seat along the Mississippi River in southeastern Minnesota. The Recorder's office handles marriage license applications and keeps certified copies of marriage certificates for residents of the county. Birth and death records from January 1, 1870 are also available at the same office. Both applicants must appear in person to apply for a marriage license.

Wabasha County Recorder Office

The Wabasha County Recorder is at 625 Jefferson Avenue, Wabasha, MN 55981. The phone number is 651-565-3623. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Birth and death records go back to January 1, 1870. Marriage records are also maintained at the county level. Both applicants must appear in person to get a marriage license, and certified copies can be requested by visiting or by contacting the office about a mail request.

When applying for a marriage license, bring a valid government-issued photo ID and your Social Security number. If you have been married before, bring the divorce decree or death certificate that ended that marriage. The Recorder collects full legal names, dates of birth, addresses, Social Security numbers, and prior marriage details. This information becomes part of the official record in Wabasha County.

The county website is at co.wabasha.mn.us. The Recorder's page is at co.wabasha.mn.us/departments/recorder/. That page has contact information and details about the Recorder's services. Online information is available, and Wabasha County participates in the statewide MOMS database for marriage record searches.

The Wabasha County Recorder page provides contact details, office hours, and information about marriage licenses and vital records available in Wabasha.

Wabasha County's recorder maintains marriage records alongside birth and death records from 1870, serving residents along the Mississippi River in southeastern Minnesota.

Getting a Marriage License in Wabasha County

Both applicants go to the Recorder's office in Wabasha together. The application process typically takes 20 to 30 minutes with documents in hand. Under Minnesota Statutes Section 517.08, no waiting period applies and the license is valid immediately. It is good for six months from the date issued and can be used for any ceremony held anywhere in Minnesota.

The standard fee is $115. If you and your partner completed a 12-hour premarital education program before applying, the fee is reduced to $40. Bring proof of course completion when you apply. Certified copies of the marriage certificate cost $9 each. You can order them at the time of application or at any point after the officiant returns the completed license to the county.

Wabasha County also has birth and death records dating back to January 1, 1870. If you need related vital records on the same visit, the Recorder can help with multiple requests at once. For genealogical work that spans several record types, combining requests into one trip is a practical approach.

Note: Wabasha County participates in the statewide MOMS system. Most marriage records are indexed online, though certified copies must still come from the local Recorder's office.

Searching Wabasha County Marriage Records

The MOMS database at moms.mn.gov is the best place to start an online search. Wabasha County participates in MOMS, so marriage records indexed by the county appear in the statewide search. Search by name to find a record and then contact the Wabasha County Recorder for a certified copy.

For in-person searches or to request a certified copy directly, visit the Recorder's office at 625 Jefferson Avenue in Wabasha during normal business hours. Call ahead at 651-565-3623 to confirm the office is open and to ask about what you need to bring. Mail requests are also accepted. Include the full names of both parties, the approximate year of marriage, and a check or money order for $9. The Recorder can search back to the county's early records from 1870. For very old records, the Minnesota Historical Society at mnhs.org has supplemental materials for southeastern Minnesota counties.

Minnesota Marriage Law in Wabasha County

Minnesota's marriage statutes in Chapter 517 apply uniformly in Wabasha County. The County Recorder serves as the local registrar under Section 517.01. The office issues licenses and records completed marriage certificates after the officiant files them.

Both parties must be 18 or older, or 16 to 17 with written parental consent. No blood test is required. The waiting period was eliminated in August 2016. Two witnesses at least 16 years old must attend the ceremony and sign the license. Under Section 517.10, the officiant has five days after the ceremony to return the completed license to the county recorder. Once filed, the record is permanent and publicly accessible.

Social Security numbers are required for the application but are not printed on the issued license. The license is valid statewide for six months from the date it was issued. Wabasha County follows all state protocols for storing, accessing, and protecting marriage records. Requests from the public are processed during normal business hours at the office in Wabasha.

Nearby Counties

Wabasha County is in southeastern Minnesota along the Mississippi River. These neighboring counties each maintain their own marriage records locally.