Marriage - Ordinations

Fee Schedule

The Houston County Marriage records start in 1854.  You can research the marriage records yourself or staff from this office will do research.  See Fee Schedule above for hourly rate for Genealogy research.

There is a Statewide Minnesota Official Marriage System website that you can search for marriages and it will tell you what county you need to contact for the particular marriage that you are searching for.  The website is http://www.moms.mn.gov.

Houston County now has eMarriage Applications, which means you can apply on line and then come in to our office to pay the fees and sign the application. 

eMarriage Application system: https://moms.mn.gov/application/welcome

Houston County Marriage License Application Policy

You can apply at any County in the State of Minnesota as long as you are getting married in the State of Minnesota. 

Reduced Marriage Fee Educators Statement

The Reduced Marriage Fee Educators Statement is use when you have had at least 12 hour of pre-marital education classes.  See Minnesota Statute 517.08 Subd 1; 517.18 and 148B.33.  These are primarily for the clergy.  Please contact the Houston County Recorder’s Office if you have any questions.

On July 1, 2010 the marriage laws had several changes take effect.  The change that seemed to be causing the biggest problem has to do with the Educator’s Statement that comes from the clergy so that couples can receive a “REDUCED MARRIAGE FEE” license.  The Reduced Marriage Fee Educators Statement “may” be used by clergy when this situation arises.  This form MUST be copied on to church letterhead, the names of the applicants must be their full complete names (including middle name, not initials) and it may either be marked with the CHURCH’S SEAL, or it may be signed by the clergy IN FRONT OF A NOTARY.  The notary must then fill in the notary section at the bottom of the letter, sign and affix their notary seal.  The original must then be presented to this office at the time that the couple applies for their marriage license.  If any part of the above paragraph is not done properly, the couple has two choices.  One is to return the form to the clergy for corrections; the second is to pay the full fee. 

Ordinations

Certificate of Filing Ordinations

In order for anyone to perform a marriage in the State of Minnesota, the ordination credentials must be recorded in a County in the State of Minnesota.    To file your ordination credentials in Houston County you must fill out the Certificate of Filing page and accompany that with your ordination credentials.  Please check the fee schedule for the filing fee.