How to get Minnesota divorce records
In Minnesota, get a certified copy of the divorce decree from the district court in the county that granted the divorce.1 MDH does not record divorces.1 Each certified copy costs $142. You can order online, by mail or in person.
On this page
Ways to order
| How | Cost per copy | Processing time | Payment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online | See the details below | – | – |
| By mail | $142 a document | – | Check and money order3 |
| In person | $142 a document | Same day3 | Card, check and money order3 |
Online
- Run by
- MN Court Records Online (MCRO)3
Good to know
- Older documents may be missing.3
By mail
In person
What Minnesota divorce records cost
Types of copies
No-fee copies
- A judge's fee waiver in the case applies.2
How long it takes
These are the office's own published times. Mail and shipping time is extra unless the office says otherwise.
| How you order | Processing time |
|---|---|
| In person | Same day3 |
Who can order Minnesota divorce records
The state names these people and bodies as able to order a certified copy. Each line gives the official wording.
- Open case files are public; confidential and sealed cases need extra steps.2
Proof: Named parties in a confidential, not sealed, case verify identity; others file a request.3
Decree or certificate
The decree, the court's judgment with the terms of the divorce, comes from the clerk of the court that granted it. Divorce certificate vs decree explains which one an agency usually wants.
Asking the court clerk
The CDC's National Center for Health Statistics lists what a request for a divorce record should include:5
- Full names of husband and wife
- Date of divorce or annulment
- Place of divorce or annulment
- Type of final decree
- Purpose for which copy is needed
- Relationship to persons whose record is requested
- Day time telephone number with area code
Clerks charge their own copy and certification fees, and some offer an exemplified copy, a more formal certification used for out-of-state and foreign purposes.
Years held and older records
- Older records
- MNHS holds pre-1950s civil case files for most counties.6
Special situations
- Name change
- The court prepares a separate Certificate of Dissolution showing the parties' names, that the marriage is dissolved, the decree date and any name change; it is conclusive evidence of those facts.7
Warnings from the office
- Court administration does not hold birth, death or marriage certificates.2
- Use the Minnesota Judicial Branch Find Courts page to find the district court for a county.8
Questions people ask
How much is a certified Minnesota divorce record?
Each certified copy costs $14.2
How long does it take to get Minnesota divorce records?
In person: same day.3
Can I order Minnesota divorce records online?
Yes. Online: MN Court Records Online (MCRO).3
Who do I make the check or money order payable to?
Write it exactly as the office prints it: District Court Administrator.3
Where are older Minnesota divorce records kept?
MNHS holds pre-1950s civil case files for most counties.6
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from these official sources, checked between November 5, 2026 and November 6, 2026. Tap a source number next to a fact to read the exact words.
- Minnesota Department of Health pageMinnesota Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated August 31, 2026
- Copy requestMinnesota Judicial Branchdated June 29, 2026read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
- Ways to request copiesMinnesota Judicial Branchdated June 10, 2026read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page
- Minnesota Department of Health form (PDF)Minnesota Department of Health, Office of Vital Recordsdated October 1, 2026
- Where to Write for Vital Records: Application GuidelinesCDC National Center for Health Statisticsdated November 6, 2015
- Marriage RecordsMinnesota Historical Society (Gale Family Library, State Archives)
- Minn. Stat. 518.148 Certification of dissolutionOffice of the Revisor of Statutes, State of Minnesota
- Minnesota Judicial Branchdated June 29, 2025read from the Internet Archive copy of this official page