Pope County, Minnesota

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.

An application can be applied for in any county of the state regardless of residence or where the marriage ceremony will be performed. Once the license is issued, it can be used 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

COST OF THE LICENSE:
The Legislature has set the fee for a marriage license at $115.00. 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 the application is made, 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, the license can be picked or 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 two people who are sixteen (16) years old or older witness a marriage ceremony. The signed certificate must be filed with the County Recorder of the county where the license was issued within five days following the ceremony. The County Recorder records the marriage and mails a certified copy to the married parties.

General Information
(320) 634-5727 • Pope County Courthouse • 130 E. Minnesota Avenue • Glenwood, MN 56334

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