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    Title: Marriage Officiant
    Alternate Title:
    Description:

    Persons authorized to perform marriages ceremonies must be at least 21 years old, and (both Minnesota residents and non-residents) are required to register with a county in Minnesota, regardless of their religious affiliation or title.


    Subject: Professionals
    Creation Date: 10/28/2016 11:05:19 AM
    Modification Date: 4/8/2026 3:46:47 PM
    Agency Name: County / City Licenses and Requirements
    Agency URL:
    Agency Description:
    Agency Phone: Agency Fax: Agency URL:
    Agency Address:





    Division Name: Contact a County Clerk / County Registrar Office
    Division URL:
    Division Description:
    Division Phone: Division Fax: Division URL:
    Audience: Hold Application URL:
    Renewal URL:
    Versa URL:
    Requirements:

    Marriage officiant filing

    Persons authorized to perform marriages ceremonies must be at least 21 years old, and (both Minnesota residents and non-residents) are required to register with a county in Minnesota, regardless of their religious affiliation or title.

    Key Legislative Changes
    • Repeal of Specific Credential Requirements: The previous statutes (Minn. Stat. § Section 517.05 and Minn. Stat. § Section § 517.18), which required ministers to file specific credentials of ordination or follow denominational-specific rules (like those for Quakers or Baha’is), have been repealed.

    • Standardized Registration: The new law (Minn. Stat. § Section 517.04) creates a single standard. Any person at least 21 years old may register as a "civil marriage officiant" with any Minnesota county registrar.

    Registration Process (Began July 1, 2025)

    1. Form: Use the  "Certificate of Filing for Marriage Officiant" form provided by the Minnesota county you are filing in.  

    2. Notarization: If filing by mail or online, your signature must be verified by a Notary Public. If filing in person, a person must provide a valid government-issued ID.

    3. Fees: The filing fee can vary by county.

    4. No Credentials Needed: Under the new system, a person generally does not need to provide proof of ordination or ministerial credentials to the county registrar to register .


    Rules:
    Statutes: 517

    Forms:

    Certificate of Filing for Marriage Officiant

    See individual County Clerk / County Registrar Office Website


    Fees: Fee can vary by county.
    Period of Issuance:
    Length of Determination:
    Other Info:
    Activity: Marriage officiant
    License Detail URL:

    Listing of Minnesota County Websites

    Contact a County Clerk / County Registrar Office


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