Waseca County Marriage Records
Waseca County marriage records are maintained by the County License Bureau in Waseca, the county seat in southern Minnesota. The License Bureau handles marriage license applications and keeps certified copies of marriage certificates for the county. Birth and death records going back to 1870 are also available at the same office. Both applicants must appear in person to obtain a license. The office is the single location serving all communities throughout Waseca County.
Waseca County Overview
Waseca County License Bureau
The Waseca County License Bureau is at 300 North State Street, Waseca, MN 56093. The phone number is 507-835-0625. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The License Bureau handles marriage license applications and can also provide certified copies of marriage certificates. Birth and death records from 1870 are available at the same location.
Both people planning to get married must appear together at the License Bureau. You need a valid government-issued photo ID and your Social Security number. If you have been married before, bring the divorce decree or death certificate from the prior marriage. The License Bureau collects full legal names, dates of birth, addresses, Social Security numbers, and prior marriage details. All of this becomes part of the county's permanent marriage record.
The county website is at wasecacounty.gov. The License Bureau's page is at wasecacounty.gov/departments/license_bureau/. That page has current contact details and describes the services the Bureau provides. Online information is available, and Waseca County participates in the statewide MOMS database for marriage record searches.
| Office | Waseca County License Bureau |
|---|---|
| Address | 300 North State Street, Waseca, MN 56093 |
| Phone | 507-835-0625 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | wasecacounty.gov - License Bureau |
The Minnesota Official Marriage System at moms.mn.gov is the statewide database for searching marriage records across all 87 counties, including Waseca County, with free online access to records from 1870 to present.
Search Waseca County marriage records by name on MOMS before contacting the License Bureau in Waseca, so you have the record details ready when you call or visit in person.
Applying for a Marriage License in Waseca County
Both applicants go to the License Bureau in Waseca together. The process takes about 20 to 30 minutes when you have your documents ready. Under Minnesota Statutes Section 517.08, no waiting period applies. The license is valid immediately and stays good for six months. It can be used for any ceremony held anywhere in Minnesota during that window.
The standard fee is $115. If you and your partner completed a 12-hour premarital education course before applying, the fee is $40. Bring proof of course completion to the office. Certified copies of the marriage certificate are $9 each. You can order them the day you get your license or any time after the ceremony is filed. The Bureau also has birth and death records from 1870, so if you need related vital records, one visit can cover multiple requests.
Waseca County participates in MOMS, so your marriage record will be indexed in the statewide database after the Recorder files the completed license. That makes future record searches easier for anyone who needs to verify the marriage took place in Waseca County.
Note: Online services are available for general information, but marriage license applications must be completed in person at the License Bureau in Waseca.
Searching Waseca County Marriage Records
The MOMS database at moms.mn.gov is the place to start for online searches. Waseca County participates in MOMS, so marriage records indexed by the county are searchable by name and year. If you find a record in MOMS, contact the Waseca County License Bureau to request a certified copy.
For in-person requests, visit 300 North State Street in Waseca during regular business hours. Call 507-835-0625 ahead of time to confirm office availability and ask about what to bring. Mail requests for certified copies are also accepted. Include the full names of both parties, the year of marriage, and a $9 check or money order. For genealogical research on older records going back to 1870, the Minnesota Historical Society at mnhs.org may have supplemental indexes for Waseca County alongside the county's own holdings.
Minnesota Marriage Law in Waseca County
Chapter 517 of the Minnesota Statutes governs marriage records in all 87 Minnesota counties, including Waseca. The local registrar, in this case the License Bureau, acts under Section 517.01 and is responsible for issuing licenses and recording completed certificates.
Both parties must be 18 or older. Parental consent is required for applicants who are 16 or 17. No blood test is needed. The waiting period was eliminated on August 1, 2016. Two witnesses who are at least 16 must be present at the ceremony and sign the license. The officiant returns the completed, signed license to the county within five days per Section 517.10. Once the county files it, the record is part of the permanent public record for Waseca County.
SSNs are required on the application but not printed on the issued license. The license is valid statewide for six months from the date of issue. Waseca County stores filed marriage records and they are accessible to the public upon request. These rules are the same in Waseca County as in every other Minnesota county.
Nearby Counties
Waseca County is in southern Minnesota and borders these counties. Each maintains its own marriage records at the county level.