The parties applying for the marriage license will need to know the following information for both parties:

• Full first, middle and last name
• Social Security Number
• Address (street address, city, county, state and zip code)
• Date of Birth
• State or foreign country where each person was born
• Race (Optional)
• If previously married, number of previous marriages, how last marriage terminated (death or divorce), date (mm/dd/yyyy), and place terminated, court terminated and the previous married name
• If either of the parties is under 18, we must have court approval to issue the license - call our office for more information
• If the parties are related by blood or adoption and if yes, how related
• The full names and dates of birth of any children that both parties are the parents of, unless parental rights have been terminated. (No longer required effective August 1, 2009.)
• The full name each of the parties will take after the marriage and their complete married address. (This is the address where the certified marriage certificate is mailed to after the marriage.)
• Also note that there are restrictions on name changes after the marriage for people with felony convictions on or after August 1, 2000. (Marriage License - Required Forms for Felons Requesting Name Changes - must accompany application for marriage license)
• If you want the notice of your application for the marriage license published in the St. Cloud Times

There is a statutory five-day waiting period for the license to be issued. The license can be picked up after the five-day waiting period, or it can be mailed to the bride or groom. To waive the five-day waiting period requires the courts approval (please call our office at 320-656-6540 for more information).

The marriage license is valid for 6 months after the date of issuance. No refunds are available for unused licenses.

Apply Online for your Marriage License

Fee: 

There are no refunds.

*The marriage license fee can be reduced for parties who have completed at least 12 hours of premarital education. Download the specific requirements for the Statement of Premarital Education here.  

Premarital education statements must follow all of the requirements outlined in the statutes.  Effective August 1, 2009, the statute requires that the Eduator's statement be on the Eduators letterhead and that the Educator's signature be notarized. Certificates that do not follow statute will be rejected as proof of premarital education.  We always need original notarized signatures. A faxed or photocopied form is not acceptable.

Certified Copies of Marriage Records

You’ll need the following information to obtain a marriage record: groom’s name, bride’s name before marriage and date of marriage. All marriages prior to 1997 are public records. Records after 1997 contain confidential information and will be restricted before public viewing.

Available only for licenses that were applied for in Stearns County.

Fees: $9.00 for the first copy and $9.00 for each additional duplicate copy.

Apply Online for a Marriage Certificate

Civil Ceremonies

The Stearns County License Center maintains a list of people to contact to perform civil marriage ceremonies. This list is subject to change at any time.