• Both applicants need to be present at the Blue Earth County License Center to apply for the marriage license. 
  
• Identification and social security numbers for each party is required.
  
• If either or both applicants has/have been married previously, information regarding the termination of the most recent marriage is required. (date, court, place)
  
• Fees: $40 with a Premarital Education Certificate, $115 without a Premarital Education Certificate. No refunds.  Payment must be made by cash, check or money order.

• Anyone who has a felony conviction for a crime committed on or after August 1, 2000 under Minnesota Law or the law of another state or federal jurisdiction may not use a different surname after marriage except as authorized by Minnesota Statute 259.13, and doing so is a gross misdemeanor.  See the Name Change Notice from Convicted Felon.
  
• There is a five-day statutory waiting period from the day you apply for the license until it is valid to use and then it must be used within 6 months of the issuing date.
  

Couples can receive a discounted marriage license application fee by obtaining a Premarital Education Certificate that states they have received at least 12 hours of premarital education that includes the use of a premarital inventory and the teaching of communication and conflict management skills.

Requirements of Educator's Statement are set out in statute and are as follows:

a.  Must be on the educator's letterhead

b.  Educator's statement must be notarized (Effective July 1, 2010 - Educator's statement must be notarized OR marked with a church seal)

c.  Must have completed 12 hours of education not completing or are taking

d.  Educator's statement must be presented at the time of application, no refunds  given

e.  Education must be provided by a licensed or ordained minister or designee authorized to solemnize marriages under MS 517.18 or licensed to practice marriage and family therapy under MS 148B.33

f.  Local registrar must retain educator's statement for 7 years

g. Legal names of both the bride and groom must be on educator's statement and these names must be identical to the names on the marriage application.

Statute specifically requires the following wording be used on the educator's statement.

The statement from the person who provided the premarital education under paragraph (b) must be in the following form: "I___________(name of educator), confirm that ______________ (names of both parties) received at least 12 hours of premaritial education that included the use of a premarital inventory and the teaching of communication and conflict management skills.  I am a licensed or ordained minister, a person authorized to solemnize marriages under Minnesota Statutes, section 517.18, or a person licensed to practice marriage and family therapy under Minnesota Statutes, section 148B.33."

MS 517.08 subd 1 (c)

(c) The marriage license fee for parties who have completed at least 12 hours of premarital education is $40.  In order to qualify for the reduced license fee, the parties must submit at the time of applying for the marriage license, a statement that is signed, dated and notarized OR marked with a church seal, from the person who provided the premarital education on their letterhead confirming that it was received.  The premarital education must be provided by a licensed or ordained minister or the minister's designee, 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 premarital inventory and the teaching of communication and conflict management skills. 

Obtaining a Marriage Record

• Information needed to obtain a marriage record: Groom's name, bride's name before marriage, and date of marriage.
• Records of marriage applied for in Blue Earth County are on file from 1865 to the present.
• All marriage records prior to 1997 are "public" records. Records after 1997 contain some confidential information and must be partially restricted before public viewing.
• If you would like to see if we hold the marriage record you are looking for, please check the MN Official Marriage Systems (MOMS) website at www.mncounty.com
• Requests should be made by mail and should include a $9 fee for each certified or non certified copy requested.

  Mail to: Blue Earth County Vitals PO Box 3524 Mankato, MN 56002