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Marriage License Information
The following is an informational guide to assist people
applying for a marriage license in Pope County.
WHERE TO APPLY:
Marriage license applications are available at the Pope County
Recorder’s Office between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Monday through Friday
PLEASE ALLOW 30 MINUTES FOR THE APPLICATION PROCESS.
An
Application Worksheet is available to complete the necessary
information ahead of time.
You may apply in any county of the state regardless of where you
live or intend to have the marriage ceremony performed. Once the
license is issued, you may use it anywhere in the State. It
is not valid for use in states other than Minnesota. The
license is valid for six (6) months from the date issued. Both
parties must apply and sign for the license.
Other information needed to complete the application includes
the following:
- Legal names of both parties
- Address and state of residence
- Date of birth
- Information regarding previous marriages
- If a minor age 16 - 17, consent is required from the legal custodial parents, guardian or the court.
- Full names the parties wish to use after marriage
-
Social Security Numbers
The Legislature has set the fee for a marriage license at $110.00. The marriage license fee for parties who have completed at least 12 hours of premarital education is $40.00. The premarital education must be provided by a licensed or ordained minister, a person authorized to solemnize marriages under section 517.18, or a person authorized to practice marriage and family therapy under section 148B.33. The education must include the use of a premarital inventory and the teaching of communication and conflict management skills. In order to qualify for the reduced fee, the parties must submit, at the time of application, a signed, dated and notarized Statement of Premarital Education. The statement of premarital education must appear on the letterhead of the educator completing the certificate.
WAITING PERIOD:
There are no blood tests required to marry in Minnesota. However, there is a Five day waiting period. The waiting period means that once you have applied for the license, five days must pass before it can be issued. This waiting period can only be waived by a judge in case of an emergency or extraordinary circumstances. At the conclusion of the five days, you can either pick up the license or it will be mailed. For any applicant that has a felony conviction for a crime committed on or after August 1, 2000 under MN Law or the law of another state or federal jurisdiction, and is requesting a name change, there is a Thirty day waiting period. See MN Statute 259.13 Sections 3, 4, and 5 for proper procedures.
SOLEMNIZATION OF MARRIAGE:
Marriages may be solemnized by any person who is authorized by Minnesota law to do so and is at least 21 years of age. Ministers of any religious denomination must file a Certificate of Ordination with one County in this State in order to perform a marriage ceremony. Judges/Court Administrators may also perform marriages and may be contacted through Court Administration. The phone number for Pope County Court Administration is: 320-634-5222.
WITNESSESS/CERTIFICATE:
The law requires that two people who are sixteen (16) years old or older witness your marriage ceremony. The signed certificate must be filed with the County Recorder of the county where the license was issued within five days. The County Recorder records the marriage and mails a certified copy to the married parties.
© 2008 Pope County, Minnesota