Getting a Marriage License
Marriage license questions go to Yellow Medicine County Public Services at 180 8th Avenue in Granite Falls. The county page gives the application route, fee schedule, six-month validity period, counseling discount, and certified copy pricing. Both applicants must apply, and an absentee applicant uses the supplemental application process.
Public Services is separate from Court Administration. Use the county vital-statistics page for the license and MOMS for statewide marriage-search support.
How to Apply for a Marriage License
- Contact Public Services if you need the current application process or absentee forms.
- Bring the required identity information and any educator statement if you want the counseling discount.
- Both applicants sign the license application.
- Pay the correct fee.
- Return the completed license after the ceremony so the record can be filed.
Marriage License Application Fields
| Field | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Full legal name | Yes | Used to identify each applicant. |
| Date of birth | Yes | Part of the application record. |
| Prior marriages | Yes | Used to confirm eligibility. |
| Supplemental application | Conditional | Used when one applicant cannot appear in person. |
Marriage Fees
Yellow Medicine County lists a $125 marriage license fee without premarital counseling and a $50 fee with the 12-hour counseling statement. Certified copies of a marriage record are $9, a consent for a minor to marry is $10, and a duplicate marriage license is $25.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Marriage license | $125 |
| Marriage license with counseling | $50 |
| Certified copy of marriage | $9 |
| Minor consent | $10 |
Public Services is the county office that actually handles marriage licenses and certified marriage copies.
How to Look Up Marriage Records
Use the Minnesota Official Marriage System for statewide search and certified-copy access. County staff direct applicants there for the marriage index and online request workflow. If you already know the event date or names, MOMS is the fastest route.
Minnesota Official Marriage System is the official statewide marriage index.
That statewide system is the cleanest path when a Yellow Medicine marriage record needs to be searched or ordered outside the county counter.
How to Find Divorce Records
Divorce records are district court files, not vital records. Search MCRO by name or case number, choose the Family category, and select Yellow Medicine County as the court location. Certified copies of divorce decrees come from Court Administration at 415 Ninth Avenue.
MCRO and Yellow Medicine County District Court are the correct starting points for divorce case files.
The county vital-statistics page is also where the marriage fee schedule lives, which helps explain why marriage and divorce records are split across different offices.
Certified Copies and Name Changes
Certified marriage copies are available from Public Services, while certified divorce decrees come from Court Administration. Minnesota law also changed the marriage-based name-change process for some applicants, so name-change questions after marriage should be routed through the district court rather than the marriage counter.