Rhiannon Hendricks
Getting married in Minnesota involves a few steps and legal requirements. Firstly, couples must obtain a marriage license from any county in Minnesota, regardless of where they plan to get married within the state. The fee for a marriage license is $115, and there is no longer a waiting period for obtaining the license. Couples must also meet the minimum age requirement of 18 years and cannot be married to anyone else at the time of their wedding. Same-sex marriage is legal in Minnesota, and there is no residency requirement for couples wishing to marry in the state. These are the essential legal considerations for couples planning to wed in Minnesota, and further steps involve choosing an officiant and selecting a wedding venue that meets the state's requirements.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Marriage license required | Yes |
| Marriage certificate required | Yes |
| Residency requirement | No |
| Same-sex marriage allowed | Yes |
| Minimum age | 18 |
| Marriage between certain relatives allowed | No |
| Officiant requirements | Must be a court administrator, former court commissioner, residential school superintendent of the Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf and the Minnesota State Academy for the Blind, or a licensed or ordained minister of any religious denomination who is over the age of 21 |
| Location requirements | Must be a location where you are legally allowed to be and that does not have restrictions |
| Validity of marriage license | 6 months |
| Name change process | Can be done on the marriage license application or through the courts after marriage |
| Felony conviction name change | Requires an additional form and a 30-day waiting period |
| Premarital counseling discount | Offered for couples who complete 12 hours of premarital counseling from an approved church or counselor |
| Witness requirements | At least two witnesses over the age of 16 must be physically present |
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What You'll Learn
Marriage licenses are valid for six months
To be legally married in Minnesota, you must apply for a marriage license. This can be done in any county, and there is no residency requirement. The fee to apply for a marriage license is $115, but couples who complete 12 hours of premarital counselling from an approved counsellor can get a discount. There is no longer a waiting period for your marriage license; you can usually make an appointment and get your license on the same day.
After you get your marriage license, you can be married by a court administrator, a former court commissioner, the residential school superintendent of the Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf and the Minnesota State Academy for the Blind, or a licensed or ordained minister of any religious denomination. Ministers must be at least 21 years old and file a copy of their credentials with the Office of Vital Records for any Minnesota county before performing a wedding.
Your wedding ceremony can take place anywhere that does not have restrictions, such as a public park, your home, or a friend's home. Some courthouses will let you rent rooms for civil weddings, but this usually isn't free and requires prior arrangement.
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Same-sex marriage is legal
To be legally married in Minnesota, you must apply for a marriage license. This can be done in any county, and the license is valid for six months. The fee to apply for a marriage license is $115, but Minnesota offers a discount to couples who complete 12 hours of premarital counselling from an approved church or counsellor. After obtaining the license, the couple must wait at least 24 hours before the wedding ceremony can take place. The ceremony must be held within the state of Minnesota and must include both members of the couple, an authorised minister or wedding officiant, and at least two witnesses who are at least 16 years old.
Any recognised minister or member of a religious organisation looking to perform a wedding in Minnesota must be at least 18 years old and is required to file their ordination credentials with the Vital Statistics Office or the Office of Vital Records before the ceremony. There are no restrictions as to gender or religious beliefs. The minister must also complete a form and file a copy of their certificate of ordination or ministry license.
Same-sex marriage has been legal in the United States since 2015, following the federally enforced marriage equality laws enacted in 2013.
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Couples must be 18 or over
To be legally married in Minnesota, both members of the couple must be at least 18 years old and able to make their own decisions. This is a requirement for entering into a legal marriage in the state. Same-sex marriage has been legal in the United States since 2015, and Minnesota honours the right of all consenting adults to be legally wed, including LGBTQ+ couples.
Minnesota does not have a residency requirement, so neither person is required to live in Minnesota or even in the United States. To be legally married in the state, couples must obtain a marriage license and certificate from any county in Minnesota, regardless of where they plan to marry within the state. There is no longer a waiting period for marriage licenses, and they are valid for six months from the date of issue. The fee to apply for a marriage license is $115, but Minnesota offers a discount to couples who complete 12 hours of premarital counselling from an approved counsellor or church.
After obtaining a marriage license, couples can be married by a variety of officials, including court administrators, former court commissioners, school superintendents, and licensed or ordained ministers of any religious denomination. Ministers must be at least 21 years old and are required to complete a form and file their credentials with the Office of Vital Records or the local registrar of any Minnesota county before performing a wedding.
Weddings can take place anywhere that does not have restrictions, such as public parks, homes, or street corners. Some courthouses may also allow weddings in private rooms, but this usually requires a fee and prior arrangement. The ceremony itself has no formal requirements for wording or content, but it must include the couple, an authorised official, and at least two witnesses who are 16 years of age or older.
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Ministers must be over 21
To be legally married in Minnesota, you must obtain a marriage license and certificate, valid for up to six months, and be married by someone authorized to perform marriages. This can be done by a minister of any religious denomination, provided they are over the age of 21 and have completed and filed the necessary forms and credentials.
Minnesota law states that ministers must be at least 21 years old to officiate a wedding. This applies to ministers of any religious denomination, including licensed or ordained ministers. Before performing a legally binding ceremony, ministers must complete a form and submit their certificate of ordination or ministry license to the Office of Vital Records in any Minnesota county. This ensures that the minister is authorized to solemnize civil marriages and grants them the necessary credentials.
The requirement for ministers to be over 21 years of age is an important aspect of Minnesota's wedding laws. It ensures that individuals presiding over weddings have reached a level of maturity and responsibility. This age threshold is in place to maintain the solemnity and legality of marriage ceremonies.
It is worth noting that Minnesota does not have a residency requirement for ministers. Ministers from out of state or country can perform weddings in Minnesota as long as they meet the age requirement and submit the necessary documentation. This flexibility allows couples to choose a minister that aligns with their beliefs and preferences, regardless of their place of residence.
In addition to the minister's requirements, Minnesota has other laws pertaining to weddings. For example, there is no specific residency requirement for the couple getting married, and same-sex marriage is recognized. The state also prohibits marriages between certain close blood relatives, such as biological children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and first cousins. These laws collectively contribute to the legal framework surrounding marriages in Minnesota, ensuring that weddings are conducted in a manner that aligns with the state's regulations.
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No residency requirements
Minnesota has no residency requirements for couples looking to marry in the state. This means that neither person is required to live in Minnesota or even in the United States. The state honors the right of all consenting adults who are at least 18 years old to be legally wed, including same-sex couples.
To be legally married in Minnesota, you must apply for a marriage license. It doesn't matter which county you get your license from, as long as you get married in Minnesota. The fee to apply for a marriage license is $115, which must be paid when a couple applies for the license. However, Minnesota offers a discount to couples who complete 12 hours of premarital counseling from an approved church or counselor. Your marriage license is valid for six months from the date on it.
After you get your marriage license, you can be married by a few different people, including a court administrator, a former court commissioner employed by the court system, or a licensed or ordained minister of any religious denomination. If you want to get married by a court official, you should contact the county where you plan to get married for information. If you get married by a minister, they must be at least 21 years old and are not required to be a Minnesota resident. They also must complete a form and file a copy of their certificate of ordination or ministry license with the Office of Vital Records for any Minnesota county.
Your wedding ceremony can take place anywhere that you are legally allowed to be and that does not have restrictions. You could get married at a courthouse, but you may be standing in a random hallway. Some courthouses will let you rent rooms for civil weddings, but usually not for free and with prior arrangement. You could also get married for free and without prior arrangement in a public park, your own home, a friend's home, or on a street corner.
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Frequently asked questions
For a wedding to be legally binding in Minnesota, the couple must have a marriage license and certificate, two witnesses over the age of 16, and an authorized minister over the age of 18. Both members of the couple must declare their consent to be married during the ceremony.
A wedding in Minnesota can be officiated by a court administrator, a former court commissioner, the residential school superintendent of the Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf and the Minnesota State Academy for the Blind, or a licensed or ordained minister of any religious denomination. A minister must be over the age of 21 and file their credentials with the Vital Statistics Office before the ceremony.
The fee to apply for a marriage license in Minnesota is $115. However, couples who complete 12 hours of premarital counselling from an approved church or counsellor receive a discount.
You can get married anywhere that does not have restrictions and where you have permission. This could include a public park, your own home, a friend's home, a courthouse, or a random street corner.
