Minnesota Vital Records - Births, Deaths & Marriages

What You Need to Know:
Check or money order should be made payable to Minnesota Department of Health. Personal checks are accepted. Credit cards can be used with fax orders for an additional $6 charge per certificate. Call or visit the Web site to verify current fees.

Web site: Minnesota Department of Health

Dates: From 1900

Cost of copy: $16.00 (certified); $13.00 (non-certified)

Comments: The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) maintains birth records from 1900 for the entire state of Minnesota. For birth records prior to 1900, or for events that occurred less than three months ago, please contact the county office where the event occurred.

Anyone applying for a certified copy of a birth certificate in Minnesota must prove a tangible interest: i.e. subject named on birth certificate, child or grandchild of subject, parent or grandparent of subject, spouse or legal representative. Signature and notarization required! Tangible interest is not a requirement for the non-certified version (anyone can request them).
Application for Minnesota Birth Certificate (non-certified)

* Copies of earlier Minnesota birth records may be obtained from the local registrar in the county where the birth occurred.

Online:
Minnesota Birth Certificates Index, 1900-1934 (plus some pre-1900 records) (free)
Minnesota Birth Index, 1935-2002 (requires paid subscription to Ancestry.com)

Dates: From 1908

Cost of copy: $13.00 (certified and non-certified)

Comments: The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) maintains death records from 1908 for the entire state of Minnesota. For death records prior to 1908, or for events that have occurred less than four months ago, please contact the county office where the event occurred.

Anyone applying for a certified copy of a death certificate in Minnesota must prove a tangible interest: i.e. subject named on death certificate, child or grandchild of subject, parent or grandparent of subject, spouse or legal representative. Signature and notarization required! This is not a requirement for the non-certified version.
Application for Minnesota Death Certificate

* Copies of earlier Minnesota death records may be obtained from the local registrar in the county where the death occurred.

Online:
Minnesota Death Certificates Index, 1908-2001 (supplemented by death cards 1904-1907) (free)
Minnesota Death Index, 1908-2002 (requires paid subscription to Ancestry.com)

Dates: Varies by county; statewide index from 1958

Cost of Copy: $9.00

Comments: The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) does not issue copies of certificates of marriage. Copies of certificates of marriage are available from the county registrar that issued the marriage license. Check with them for ordering and fee information.

Online:
Minnesota Official Marriage System (MOMS) - searchable statewide marriage index (free)

Dates: Varies by county

Cost of copy: Varies

Comments: Copies of Minnesota divorce decrees are only available from the county registrar in the county where the divorce was granted. Check with them for ordering and fee information.

Online:
Minnesota Divorce Index, 1970-1995 (requires paid subscription to Ancestry.com)

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