A Dakota County marriage license costs $115, or $40 if you complete 12 hours of premarital education, and both applicants generally need to fill out an online application and then appear together at one of three county service centers with proof of age. Minnesota has no waiting period, so you can marry the same day the license is issued. The license is valid for six months and can be used anywhere in Minnesota.
What to Bring
Both applicants must present proof of age to the county registrar, who examines you under oath about anything that would legally prevent the marriage.1Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Minnesota Statutes 517.08 – Application for License A valid driver’s license or passport works. Both parties must be at least 18. Minnesota prohibits marriage for anyone under 18, with no exceptions for parental consent or judicial approval.
The application asks for:
- Full legal names and the names you will use after the marriage
- Post office addresses and county and state of residence
- Full ages of both parties
- Social Security numbers (these go on the application but do not appear on the license itself; if you don’t have one, you’ll sign a statement confirming that)
- Whether you are related to each other, and if so, how
- Prior marriage history, including the date, location, and court of any dissolution or annulment, or the date and place of a former spouse’s death
One thing to know if it applies to you: a party with a felony conviction under Minnesota or federal law cannot change their name through the marriage application and must instead use Minnesota’s separate legal name-change process. Using a new name without following that process is a gross misdemeanor.1Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Minnesota Statutes 517.08 – Application for License
How to Apply
Dakota County uses a two-step process. First, complete the electronic application through the county’s online portal. You’ll receive a confirmation number, which you use to reserve an in-person appointment.2Dakota County. Marriage Licenses When you arrive, mention the confirmation number or tell the clerk you filed online, and they can pull up your application at any of the three service center locations.
In most cases both parties must appear together. Dakota County allows an exception when one person cannot appear: the other party can fill in the absent applicant’s information, but the person who did not appear must then verify everything in a notarized statement and send a copy of their proof of age before the county will release the license.1Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Minnesota Statutes 517.08 – Application for License Call Dakota County at 651-554-6531 or email nscservicedesk@co.dakota.mn.us in advance if this applies to you.2Dakota County. Marriage Licenses
Where to Go
Three Dakota County locations process marriage licenses, all open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed weekends:3Dakota County. Service and License Centers
- Administration Center in Hastings
- Northern Service Center in West St. Paul
- Western Service Center in Apple Valley
The Burnsville License Center does not handle marriage licenses, so don’t go there for this. Any of the three centers above can access your online application immediately after you submit it.2Dakota County. Marriage Licenses
Fees and Payment
The standard fee is $115. Dakota County accepts cash, checks, money orders, and Visa, MasterCard, and Discover cards. Card payments carry a 2.49 percent convenience fee.2Dakota County. Marriage Licenses
Premarital Education Discount
Couples who complete at least 12 hours of premarital education pay $40 instead of $115, a savings of $75.1Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Minnesota Statutes 517.08 – Application for License
To qualify, bring a signed and dated statement from the person who provided the education, printed on their letterhead and either notarized or marked with a church seal. The education must come from one of the following:
- A licensed or ordained minister, or someone the minister designates
- A person authorized to solemnize marriages under Minnesota law
- A licensed marriage and family therapist
Have the paperwork ready before your appointment. The clerk reviews it on the spot, and if the letterhead, notarization or seal, and signature aren’t all in order, you’ll pay the full $115 that day.1Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Minnesota Statutes 517.08 – Application for License
How Long the License Lasts and Where You Can Marry
Once issued, the license is valid for six months.2Dakota County. Marriage Licenses If you don’t marry within that window, it expires and you’ll need to apply again and pay a new fee. Minnesota imposes no waiting period, so you can legally marry the same day the license is issued.
The ceremony must take place within Minnesota, but it does not have to happen in Dakota County. A license from any Minnesota county is valid for a wedding held in any other county.4Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Minnesota Statutes 517.07 – License Prerequisite to Marriage No blood tests or medical examinations are required.
Who Can Officiate
Minnesota recognizes a broad range of officiants. Civil marriages may be solemnized by a person at least 21 years old who has been authorized by a recognized religious body, a judge, a court administrator, or certain other officials. State law also specifically allows ceremonies conducted according to the traditions of Quaker meetings, the Baha’i faith, Hindu and Muslim associations, and American Indian religious practices.5Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Minnesota Statutes 517.18 – Marriage Solemnized by Quakers and Others
Your officiant does not need to be a Minnesota resident, but they do need to meet the state’s authorization requirements. Online ordinations are common, though couples sometimes run into issues if the ordaining organization is not recognized as a legitimate religious body under Minnesota law. Confirm the officiant’s credentials before the ceremony rather than after. When you pick up your license, the clerk provides a packet of instructions for the person who will officiate.
After the Ceremony
Your officiant is responsible for completing and signing the marriage certificate included in the county packet, and for filing it with the county office that issued the license.6Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Minnesota Code 517.10 – Certificate; Witnesses Follow up to confirm this happens. Until the certificate is filed, the marriage may not show up in public records, which creates problems if you need proof for insurance, taxes, or a name change.
After filing, the county sends a certified copy to the address on the application. Additional certified copies can be requested from Dakota County; contact the county directly for current pricing.7Dakota County. Marriage Certificates Order a few extras if either spouse plans to change their name, since agencies like the Social Security Administration and the passport office will each want their own copy.