Search Wadena County Marriage Records

Wadena County marriage records date back to 1873 and are kept by the County Recorder in Wadena, the county seat in central Minnesota. The Recorder's office serves as the local registrar for vital records, including marriages, and all records are entered into the statewide MOMS database. If you need a marriage license or a certified copy of a marriage certificate, the Recorder's office at the courthouse in Wadena is where you go. Birth and death records from 1880 are also available at the same location.

Wadena County Recorder Office

The Wadena County Recorder is at the Courthouse, 415 Jefferson Street South, Suite 220, Wadena, MN 56482. The phone number is 218-631-7622. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Marriage records go back to 1873. Birth and death records are available from 1880. The Recorder is also the Local Registrar for Vital Records, and all marriage records are entered into MOMS. A public viewing station is available for in-office research.

Both applicants must appear together to get a marriage license. Bring a valid 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 full legal names, dates of birth, addresses, Social Security numbers, and prior marriage details. All information goes into the county's permanent marriage record system.

The county website is at co.wadena.mn.us. The Recorder's page is at co.wadena.mn.us/354/WADENA-COUNTY-RECORDER. That page lists all services the Recorder handles, including marriage licenses, vital records, land records, military discharge filings, passport photos, and notary commission filings.

The Wadena County Recorder page details all services at the courthouse location, including marriage licenses, vital records from 1873, and additional services like passport photos and military discharge filings.

Wadena County's Recorder serves as the Local Registrar for Vital Records and maintains a full MOMS-connected marriage record system, making it easy to find records from this central Minnesota county going back to 1873.

Marriage License Process in Wadena County

To get a marriage license in Wadena County, both applicants go to the courthouse in Wadena. The Recorder processes the application and issues the license the same day. Under Minnesota Statutes Section 517.08, no waiting period applies. The license is valid immediately and works for any ceremony in Minnesota for six months from the issue date.

The standard fee is $115. Couples who completed a 12-hour premarital education course pay only $40. Bring proof of course completion when you apply. Certified copies of the marriage certificate are $9 each. You can order them on the day you get your license or at any time after the Recorder files the completed certificate. The public viewing station at the courthouse lets you look at records without paying for a certified copy, which is helpful if you just want to confirm a record exists.

Wadena County's Recorder also offers additional services at the courthouse. Veterans can file military discharge records (DD-214) at no cost. Passport photos are available for $14 per set of two. Notary public commission filings cost $20. If you need any of these services along with a marriage license, a single visit to the courthouse can handle everything.

Note: All Wadena County marriage records are entered into MOMS, so past records are searchable online through the statewide database at moms.mn.gov.

How to Find Wadena County Marriage Records

Wadena County fully participates in the MOMS statewide database. That means marriage records from the county are indexed and searchable at moms.mn.gov. Search by name and year to locate a record. Certified copies must be ordered from the Wadena County Recorder, not through the MOMS website. Marriage records go back to 1873 in the county system, though MOMS coverage may vary for older records.

For in-person access, the public viewing station at the courthouse lets you review records without ordering copies. Bring a valid ID. For certified copy requests by mail, call 218-631-7622 first to confirm the mailing address and any required forms. Include the names of both parties, the year of marriage, and a check or money order for $9 per copy. For very old records from the 1870s to early 1900s, the Minnesota Historical Society at mnhs.org may have supplemental indexes and microfilm for central Minnesota counties including Wadena.

Minnesota Marriage Statutes in Wadena County

Minnesota's marriage laws in Chapter 517 apply in Wadena County as in all other counties. The County Recorder acts as the local registrar under Section 517.01. That designation means the Recorder is officially responsible for receiving, recording, and storing all marriage licenses filed in the county.

Both parties must be 18 or older. Applicants who are 16 or 17 need written parental consent. No blood test is required. The waiting period was removed effective August 2016. Two witnesses at least 16 years old must attend the ceremony. The officiant returns the completed license to the county recorder within five days of the ceremony under Section 517.10. After the Recorder files it, the record is permanent and part of the public record for Wadena County.

SSNs are required on the application but do not appear on the issued license. The license is valid statewide for six months. If it expires before the ceremony, a new application and fee are required. Wadena County stores all records according to state guidelines and they are available to anyone who makes a proper request during business hours.

Nearby Counties

Wadena County sits in central Minnesota and borders these counties. Each county recorder handles local marriage records independently.