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Minnesota vital records

The Office of Vital Records is the vital records office for Minnesota.1 It issues certified birth certificates and death certificates2. It does not issue marriage certificates or divorce records; this page shows who does.2 Local offices also issue certified copies.3

Last checked against official sources.

On this page
  1. Records and where to get them
  2. Local offices
  3. Access rules and the law
  4. The state office
  5. Questions people ask
  6. Sources

Current notices from the office

  • MDH posts rolling processing dates: as of November 3, 2026, certificates received by October 30, 2026 were completed and mailed; birth amendments received by September 14, 2026.4
  • MDH is revising Minnesota Rules chapter 4601 for registering, amending and issuing records; current rules may change.5

Records and where to get them

RecordWho issues itYears heldFirst copyShortest published time
Birth certificateMinnesota Department of Health, Office of Vital Records, and county vital records offices11900 to today4$266At a local office: Same day4
Death certificateMinnesota Department of Health, Office of Vital Records, and county vital records offices11908 to today4$137At a local office: Same day4
Marriage certificateCounty office that issued the marriage license2Varies by county; Ramsey County from approximately 18508–At a local office: Up to 1 week9
Divorce recordsDistrict court in the county that granted the divorce2–$1410In person: Same day11

Birth certificate

Older records
County where the birth occurred2
Ways to order
Online through VitalChek, by mail, at a local office, by fax

How to get a Minnesota birth certificate

Death certificate

Older records
County where the death occurred2
Ways to order
Online through VitalChek, by mail, at a local office, by fax

How to get a Minnesota death certificate

Marriage certificate

Who holds it
MDH does not record marriages.2
Older records
Minnesota Historical Society holds marriage records for certain counties and years.12
Ways to order
Online through VitalChek, at a local office (option 1), at a local office (option 2)

How to get a Minnesota marriage certificate

Divorce records

Who holds it
MDH does not record divorces.2
Older records
MNHS holds pre-1950s civil case files for most counties.12
Ways to order
Online, by mail, in person

How to get Minnesota divorce records

Local offices

Local offices issue certified copies
Yes3
Which offices
County office; names vary (for example County Recorder, License Center, Vital Records)3

Access rules and the law

Who may get certified copies
Tangible interest for certified copies; noncertified copies open for public records. Birth records of children of unmarried parents are confidential unless made public.13

Laws and rules the office cites

The state office

Office
Office of Vital Records1
Mailing address
Minnesota Department of Health, Office of Vital Records, PO Box 64499, St. Paul, MN 55164-0499
6
Hours
8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except state holidays1

Questions people ask

How much do birth and death certificates cost in Minnesota?

A certified birth certificate costs $26 for the first copy and a death certificate $13.67

What is the phone number of the Minnesota vital records office?

Office of Vital Records: 651-201-5970.1

Where do I get a marriage certificate in Minnesota?

County office that issued the marriage license. MDH does not record marriages.2

Where do I get divorce records in Minnesota?

District court in the county that granted the divorce. MDH does not record divorces.2

Sources

Every fact on this page comes from these official sources, checked on November 5, 2026. Tap a source number next to a fact to read the exact words.

  1. Minnesota Department of Health: AboutMinnesota Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated March 24, 2026
  2. Minnesota Department of Health pagehealth.state.mn.us/people/vitalrecords/birthnc.htmlMinnesota Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated August 31, 2026
  3. Minnesota Department of Health: RegistrarsMinnesota Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated October 23, 2026
  4. Vital recordsMinnesota Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated November 3, 2026
  5. Minnesota Department of Health: RulemakingMinnesota Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated February 11, 2026
  6. Minnesota Department of Health form (PDF)health.state.mn.us/people/vitalrecords/docs/bcappia.pdfMinnesota Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated October 1, 2026
  7. Minnesota Department of Health form (PDF)health.state.mn.us/people/vitalrecords/docs/dcappia.pdfMinnesota Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated November 1, 2024
  8. Marriage recordsRamsey County, Minnesota
  9. Marriage license marriage certificateOlmsted County, Minnesota
  10. Copy requestMinnesota Judicial Branchdated June 29, 2026read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
  11. Ways to request copiesMinnesota Judicial Branchdated June 10, 2026read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
  12. Marriage RecordsMinnesota Historical Society (Gale Family Library, State Archives)
  13. Minnesota Department of Health pagehealth.state.mn.us/people/vitalrecords/tangible.htmlMinnesota Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated October 27, 2026
  14. Section 144revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/144.225Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes
  15. Section 144revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/144.226Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes
  16. Section 4601Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutesdated October 3, 2013