Getting a Marriage License in Washington County
Marriage licenses are issued by Washington County Property Records and Taxpayer Services, not by the court. Applications are processed only at the Government Center at 14949 62nd Street North in Stillwater, and the office line is 651-430-6175. Hours run Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. A couple may apply in Washington County no matter where they live, as long as the marriage takes place in Minnesota.
The license fee is $125. It drops to $50 with qualifying premarital education and a completed Reduced Marriage Fee Educator's Statement under Minn. Stat. § 517.08. Payment is cash or check only. The license is valid for six months from the application date, and applicants must prove they are at least 18.
A felony conviction adds a rule. The marriage process cannot be used to change a name for a person with a felony conviction; that name change must go through District Court.
How to Apply for a Marriage License
The application has two parts: an online form and an in-person visit. Start online, then finish at the Government Center within seven days to take the oath and pay. Same-day license issuance is offered once the visit is complete. The steps below cover the process.
- Complete the online marriage license application linked from the county's marriage page.
- Gather proof of age and identity for both applicants.
- If using the reduced fee, complete the Reduced Marriage Fee Educator's Statement.
- Appear together at the Government Center within seven days to take the oath.
- Pay the fee by cash or check; the license issues the same day.
The license is good for six months, so plan the application around the ceremony date. The statute behind the reduced fee and the application requirements is section 517.08.
Civil marriage officiants can register with the county for $20, which is a separate process from the couple's license.
Marriage License Application Fields
The application collects the same core details for both applicants. The table below lists the main fields the county requires.
| Field Label | Type | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Text | Yes | Current legal name. |
| Full name after marriage | Text | Yes | Desired post-marriage name. |
| Current address | Text | Yes | Residential or mailing address. |
| Social Security number | Text | Conditional | If the applicant has one. |
| Date of birth | Date | Yes | Proof of age required. |
| Place of birth | Text | Yes | City, state, country. |
| Previous marriage information | Text or date | If applicable | Details of prior marriages. |
| Premarital education statement | Form | Optional | Needed for the $50 reduced fee. |
| Oath and signature | In person | Yes | At the Government Center within seven days. |
The oath and signature must happen in person, which is why the online form alone does not complete the application.
Washington County Marriage and Divorce Fees
The county sets vital records fees, while court filing and copy fees are set by the state. The table below lists the county's marriage-related fees.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Marriage license | $125 |
| Reduced marriage license with premarital education | $50 |
| Certified marriage certificate | $10 |
| Marriage application copy | $1 |
| Marriage certificate amendment, more than 45 days from filing | $40 |
| No marriage verification document | $10 |
| Marriage officiant registration | $20 |
Certified copies of divorce decrees are court documents, so they are ordered from Court Administration for $14, not from Property Records.
How to Look Up Washington County Marriage Records
Washington County holds marriage records from 1870 to the present for licenses applied for in the county. Certified copies are available in person at the Government Center and at county license and service centers in Cottage Grove, Forest Lake, Stillwater, and Woodbury. Marriage license applications, by contrast, are taken only at the Government Center.
By mail, complete the Marriage Record form, enclose a $10 check or money order payable to Washington County, and send it to Washington County Vital Records, 14949 62nd Street N., P.O. Box 6, Stillwater, MN 55082. After a ceremony, the officiant must complete and file the certificate within five days, and the county then mails a certified copy.
Genealogy viewing of older records can be done at the Government Center during regular hours.
How to Find Washington County Divorce Records
Divorce, called dissolution in Minnesota, is filed in the District Court Family Division. Search divorce records through MCRO Case Search by party name or case number, with Family selected and Washington County checked. Remote document access for family cases is limited, so the portal shows only court-prepared orders, opinions, and notices online. The Family Court line is 651-413-8132.
| Field Label | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Name tab | Tab | Search a party name. |
| Case Number tab | Tab | Use an exact family case number. |
| Case Category | Checkbox | Select Family (FAM). |
| Court Location | County checkbox | Select Washington County. |
| Date Filed | Date or range | Narrow by filing date. |
| Case Status | Dropdown | All, Active, or Inactive. |
Minnesota is a no-fault divorce state, and the Judicial Branch publishes self-help forms for dissolution with or without children. Confirm the current residency requirement and forms on the family law help pages before filing.
Getting Certified Copies
Two offices issue certified copies, depending on the record. A certified marriage certificate comes from Property Records and Taxpayer Services for $10. A certified copy of a divorce decree or other court document comes from Court Administration for $14, by calling 651-413-8030, option 6. Plain, uncertified court copies are listed as no charge.
For a name change after a felony conviction, the marriage process will not work. Under Minn. Stat. § 259.13, a person with a felony conviction may apply for a District Court name change for no fee if the action is filed within 180 days after the marriage and a certified copy of the marriage certificate is submitted to the court.
Note: A certified marriage copy comes from the county, while a certified divorce decree comes from the court, so confirm which office holds the record you need.
Minnesota Vital Records and Statewide Tools
Minnesota records marriages through a statewide system, with the county acting as the local registrar for licenses applied for in Washington County. The county is the right place for a license issued here and for a certified copy of a Washington County marriage. For an event recorded in another county, the local registrar there or the statewide system is the better path.
Divorce and other family judgments, by contrast, are court records governed by the Rules of Public Access. They are searched through MCRO and certified through Court Administration, the same as any other court file. Keep the two systems separate so a request goes to the right office the first time.