How to Get a Marriage License in Minneapolis: Step by Step

If you want your nikah to be a legal marriage in Minnesota as well, you need a marriage license first. Here is how it works in Minneapolis, from applying to collecting the license, in plain steps.

At a glance

Where

Hennepin County Service Centers (Licensing); downtown Minneapolis at the Government Center, Hennepin County Government Center service center, 300 South 6th Street, Suite A-025, Minneapolis, MN 55487 (other service centers listed on the county site)

Booking

Walk-ins possible; the county recommends booking an appointment through its online scheduler to avoid long waits. Service centers are open 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

Fee

$125 Reduced fee $50 with 12 hours of premarital education and the educator's statement. Fees are non-refundable.

Payment

In person: cash, checks/money orders payable to Hennepin County Treasurer, and Visa/Mastercard/Discover/American Express (per the county service center page). Remote applications: check or money order.

Who attends

Three options: both applicants in person; one applicant in person (absent party completes a notarized 'party not appearing' form and a notarized licence application, and the attendee brings a copy of the absent party's proof of age); or neither in person, by mail with notarized supplemental forms.

Valid for

Valid for 6 months; can only be used for a wedding in Minnesota. Ceremony can be anywhere in Minnesota or at a county service center.

Same day?

Licence is issued when you pay at the service center. A waiting period between licence and wedding is not stated on the page.

Step by step

1. Apply. Submit applicant information online (you get an email confirmation), gather ID, then visit a service center to confirm the information, approve the licence, pay and receive the licence packet. Remote option: mail forms, proof of age and payment to Director of Licensing - Remote Marriage, 300 South 6th Street, MC 678-B, Minneapolis, MN 55487-0678.
2. Book or plan your visit. Walk-ins possible; the county recommends booking an appointment through its online scheduler to avoid long waits. Service centers are open 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
3. Gather your ID and documents. See the list below. Bring originals.
4. Attend and pay. Three options: both applicants in person; one applicant in person (absent party completes a notarized 'party not appearing' form and a notarized licence application, and the attendee brings a copy of the absent party's proof of age); or neither in person, by mail with notarized supplemental forms. In person: cash, checks/money orders payable to Hennepin County Treasurer, and Visa/Mastercard/Discover/American Express (per the county service center page). Remote applications: check or money order.
5. Give the license to your officiant. Your imam needs it at the ceremony, and must be authorized to solemnize marriages in Minnesota. Valid for 6 months; can only be used for a wedding in Minnesota. Ceremony can be anywhere in Minnesota or at a county service center.

What to bring

• Proof of age for each applicant, e.g. driver's licence, state ID or birth certificate (full list is in the online confirmation email/screen).
• Must be at least 18 at the time of the wedding.
• No Minnesota residency required.
• Divorce/prior-marriage and SSN rules are not stated on the page.

Good to know

• Remote applications: the county emails a copy of the licence; report errors within 48 hours, after which changes need a marriage record correction.
• A name change cannot be made through the marriage licence application if you have a felony (Minnesota Statute 259.13).
• Officiants must be at least 21 and file their credentials with the county ($45 filing fee); this applies to all clergy regardless of religion, title or position. No residency requirement for officiants.
• The officiant returns the signed certificate within 5 days of the ceremony to Hennepin County; after recording, the county returns the certified marriage certificate.
• Certified marriage record copy: $9 base fee (extra processing fees may apply); most copies can be issued at the time of an in-person application.
• Information line 612-348-3000 (Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.).

Your nikah and the license

The license is what makes your marriage legal. Your nikah is the religious ceremony. If your imam is authorized to solemnize marriages in Minnesota, one ceremony can be both. See imams serving Minneapolis.

A few common questions

Details come from the Hennepin County Service Centers (Licensing); downtown Minneapolis at the Government Center website, checked in October 2026. Fees, hours and booking rules change, so confirm before you go. Hennepin County Service Centers (Licensing); downtown Minneapolis at the Government Center: marriage license page. Contact: 612-348-8240; servicecenterinfo@hennepin.us. This guide is general information, not legal advice.