How to Find Minnesota Marriage Records

United States

U.S. Vital Records

How to Find U.S. Marriage Records

Minnesota Vital Records

How to Find Minnesota Marriage Records

Finding Minnesota Marriage Records

• Marriages are kept by the county clerk for each county and begin at the creation of the county
• 1958 - county clerks began sending copies to the state, but state copies are inaccessible; it is necessary to request copies from local authorities

Next Step: When did the marriage occur?		Marriage Records Choose a time period: Before 1958 1958 to Present Marriage year unknown

Learn more about U.S. Marriage Records

Marriages Before 1958

• Marriages are kept by the county clerk for each county and begin at the creation of the county

If you cannot locate your ancestor in the databases below, try searching for marriage information in other records.

STEP ONE: Find Marriage Information in Index

Marriage Indexes and Digital Images
Database Name - Index and Image	Link or links to access database		# of records
FamilySearch, Marriages, 1860-1949	On FamilySearch; free; INCOMPLETE for all counties and years		282,469
Findmypast, United States Marriages, 1860-1932	On Findmypast; ($); Index, Some images available

If you do not locate the marriage in the above, try:
Database Name-Index Only	Link or links to access database		# of records
Minnesota Official Marriage System, Marriages, 1850-present	On Minnesota Official Marriage System; free; INCOMPLETE for all counties and years. Coverage chart.		Undisclosed
FamilySearch, Marriages, 1849-1950	On FamilySearch; free; INCOMPLETE for all counties and years		459,445
Ancestry, Marriages, 1849-1950	Free using Ancestryinstitution at FamilySearch Centers	$, Use your own Ancestry subscription	778,376

Can't access Ancestry?	Visit your local family history center or your local public library.
No marriage record for your ancestor?	Search for Gretna Greens-- locations away from the home county where marriage laws were less restrictive. Search other records with marriage information.

STEP TWO: Obtain the Record

If you did not find your ancestor in the databases above, follow the instructions below:

PART A: You don't know the exact date or place of marriage

• If you know the county of marriage, you can request a search for a fee from the county clerk.
• If you don't know the date or county of marriage, you can also try searching for marriage information in other records.

PART B: You know the exact date and place of marriage from your records

• Order a copy of a marriage record for a fee from the county clerk.

OR

• View a copy of a marriage record on microfilm at a Family Search Center:

Some images of county marriage records may be available on microfilm at your local Family Search Center. If you know the approximate date and county where the marriage took place, use the FamilySearch Catalog to see what is available.

• Search the FamilySearch Catalog by county.
• Select the topic Vital Records. Look for records authored by the county clerk.
• For a small fee, order the microfilm to view at a local FamilySearch Center.

Return to the Top: Choose another marriage year

Marriages 1958 to Present

• 1958 - county clerks began sending copies to the state, but state copies are inaccessible; it is necessary to request copies from local authorities

STEP ONE: Find Marriage Information in Index

Marriage Indexes
Database Name-Index Only	Link or links to access database		# of records
Minnesota Official Marriage System, Marriages, 1850-present	On Minnesota Official Marriage System; free; INCOMPLETE for all counties and years.		Undisclosed
FamilySearch, Marriages, 1958-2001	On FamilySearch; free; INCOMPLETE for all counties and years		2,414,040
Findmypast, United States Marriages, 1860-1932	On Findmypast; ($); Index, some images available
Ancestry, Marriages, 1958-2001	Free using Ancestryinstitution at FamilySearch Centers	$, Use your own Ancestry subscription	2,712,428

Can't access Ancestry?	Visit your local family history center or your local public library.
No marriage record for your ancestor?	Search for Gretna Greens-- locations away from the home county where marriage laws were less restrictive. Search other records with marriage information.

STEP TWO: Obtain the Record

PART A: You don't know the exact date or place of marriage

• If you know the county of marriage, you can request a search for a fee from the county clerk.
• If you don't know the date or county of marriage, you can also try searching for marriage information in other records.

PART B: You know the exact date and place of marriage from your records

• A copy of a marriage record may be ordered for a fee from the county clerk.

Return to the Top: Choose another marriage year

Wiki Articles

• Learn more about U.S. marriage records
• How to find U.S. birth records
• How to find U.S. marriage records
• How to find U.S. death records
• United States Record Finder
• United States, How to Use Marriage Records
• United States Marriage Records
• United States Vital Records
• U.S. Vital Records Overview
• Locating United States Vital Records

• Minnesota, Marriages, 1849-1950 Index only.
• Minnesota, Marriages Index, 1849-1950 Index only ($)
• Minnesota, County Marriages, 1860-1949 Index and Images; Incomplete.

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