Minnesota Divorce Records

Steps to Find Divorce Records in Minnesota

Divorces are mandated by the states in which they are filed. Therefore, the states are responsible to maintain the divorce records for their state. In Minnesota, the State office has and maintains divorce records since January 1970. Records prior to that date cannot be located anywhere except the local county courthouse where the divorce was finalized.

Divorce records are commonly requested for legal reasons such as verifying that a divorce has taken place. Occasionally, they are requested for genealogical reasons in an attempt to gather more family history.

It is important to note that certified copies must be requested from the county where the divorce was filed and finalized no matter what year the divorce took place. Certified copies are not available at the state level.

Fees are requested to cover the cost of the searches and copies of divorce records. They vary across states and even across counties. The following number is available to inquire after the cost in any particular county in Minnesota: 612-676-5120. This number can be used to request the lookup fees for other types of vital record searches and copies in Minnesota. Fees are generally small, and range between five and fifteen dollars.

In Minnesota, written requests for divorce records should be made to the Local Registrar in the county where the divorce was finalized. All official divorce records are filed by the husband�s last name. If the name isn�t available in full, then you can conduct a search of past and present spouses to get it. Additionally, this type of search can be used to locate the name of the county. Since the addresses of all spouses are listed along with their names, the county can be derived from that.

Most vital record searches take between two to ten business days depending upon the amount of information that is provided with the request. Genealogical searches often take longer. In most instances, less information is available to begin the search. Moreover, the year of the divorce, the availability of pertinent information, the urgency of the request, and the availability of courthouse resources and staff can all factor into the amount of time spent processing a request.

Follow the guidelines here to produce a more efficient search.

1. Print or type each complete name and address clearly to avoid confusion. This includes the full name of both the husband and the wife. The maiden name should be included for the wife.
2. Keep your request brief and to the point.
3. Limit your request to one document.
4. Include the full names of the individuals, including nicknames and alternate spellings that may have been used.
5. Include the full address of the individual at the time of the divorce, including street, city or town, and state. If you know the county in which the divorce took place, include that as well.
6. Include the date that the divorce was finalized. If you do not have this piece of information available, include a time frame for the search. Generally, it is best to specify a short span of years for an unknown year search. You can always expand the number of years that you search, and a shorter span will lead to a shorter search. You can expect to pay an additional fee for searches such as this that require more effort.
7. Include contact information where you can be reached in the event that more information is required. Include a daytime telephone number, as well as, an evening telephone number. You may also include a fax number or an e-mail address.
8. Include your relationship to the individual�s listed in your search request.
9. Include the purpose of your request.
10. Print your name clearly and sign your request. Some states may also require additional identifying information on you as well, including a driver�s license number.
11. Include a SASE, or self addressed stamped envelope with your request for a speedier delivery.
12. Include the date that you mail your request with your correspondence.

A list of the local county courthouses for Minnesota is provided below in alphabetical order. Telephone numbers have been provided when available, but should be used for informational purposes only.

Aitkin County
Aitkin County Clerk
209 2nd St. NW
Aitkin, MN 56431
Telephone: (218) 927-7336

Anoka County
Anoka County Clerk
325 E. Main St.
Anoka, MN 55303-2483
Telephone: (763) 422-7399

Becker County
Becker County Clerk
915 Lake Avenue
P.O. Box 595
Detroit Lakes, MN 56502
Telephone: (218) 846-7304

Beltrami County
Beltrami County Clerk
619 Beltrami Ave. NW
Bemidji, MN 56601
Telephone: (218) 759-4174

Benton County
Benton County Clerk
531 Dewey Street
P.O. Box 129
Foley, MN 56329
Telephone: (320) 968-5037

Big Stone County
Big Stone County Clerk
20 SE Second Street
P.O. Box 218
Ortonville, MN 56278
Telephone: (320) 839-2308

Blue Earth County
Blue Earth County Clerk
Vital Statistics
P.O. Box 3524
Mankato, MN 56001-4585
Telephone: (507) 389-8343

Brown County
Brown County Clerk
P.O. Box 248
New Ulm, MN 56073
Telephone: (507) 233-6657

Carlton County Clerk
Carlton County Clerk
301 Walnut Ave.
Carlton, MN 55718
Telephone: (218) 384-9195

Carver County
Carver County Clerk
Government Center Administration Building
600 East Fourth Street
P.O. Box 157
Chaska, MN 55318
Telephone: (952) 361-1930

Cass County
Cass County Clerk
P.O. Box 3000
Walker, MN 56484
Telephone: (218) 547-7247

Chippewa County
Chippewa County Clerk
629 N. 11th St.
Montevideo, MN 56265
Telephone: (320) 269-9431

Chisago County
Chisago County Clerk
County Courthouse, Government Center
313 N. Main
Center City, MN 55012
Telephone: (763) 213-0438

Clay County
Clay County Recorder
807 11th Street North
P.O. Box 280
Moorhead, MN 56561
Telephone: (218) 299-5031

Clearwater County
Clearwater County Clerk
213 Main Avenue North
Bagley, MN 56621
Telephone: (218) 694-6129

Cook County
Cook County Clerk
P.O. Box 1150
Grand Marais, MN 55604
Telephone: (218) 387-3000

Cottonwood County
Cottonwood County Clerk
900 Third Avenue
P.O. Box 326
Windom, MN 56101
Telephone: (507) 831-1458

Crow Wing County
Crow Wing County Clerk
326 Laurel Street
Brainerd, MN 56401
Telephone: (218) 824-1300

Dakota County
Dakota County Clerk
Dakota County Government Center
1590 W. Highway 55
Hastings, MN 55033
Telephone: (651) 438-4313

Dodge County
Dodge County Clerk
22 East Sixth St.
P.O. Box 128
Mantorville, MN 55955
Telephone: (507) 635-6250

Douglas County
Douglas County Recorder
305 Eighth Avenue West
Alexandria, MN 56308
Telephone: (320) 762-3877

Fairbault County
Fairbault County Clerk
P.O. Box 130
Blue Earth, MN 56013
Telephone: (507) 526-6252

Fillmore County
Fillmore County Clerk
101 Fillmore Street
Preston, MN 55965
Telephone: (507) 765-4701

Freeborn County
Freeborn County Clerk
411 S. Broadway Ave.
Albert Lea, MN 56007
Telephone: (507) 377-5163

Goodhue County
Goodhue County Recorder
Courthouse
509 West Fifth Street
P.O. Box 408
Red Wing, MN 55066
Telephone: (651) 385-3148

Grant County
Grant County Clerk
10 Second Street NE
Elbow Lake, MN 56531
Telephone: (218) 685-4133

Hennepin County
Hennepin County Clerk
Government Center
300 S. 6th Street, 2nd floor
Minneapolis, MN 55487-0999
Telephone: (612) 348-8241

Houston County
Houston County Clerk
P.O. Box 29
Caledonia, MN 55921
Telephone: (507) 724-5813

Hubbard County
Hubbard County Clerk
301 Court St., Courthouse
Park Rapids, MN 56470-1421
Telephone: (218) 732-3552

Isanti County
Isanti County Clerk
555 18th Ave. S.W.
Cambridge, MN 55008
Telephone: (320) 689-1191

Itasca County
Itasca County Clerk
123 N.E. 4th St.
Grand Rapids, MN 55744
Telephone: (218) 327-2856

Jackson County
Jackson County Clerk
P.O. Box 209
Jackson, MN 56143
Telephone: (507) 847-2580

Kanabec County
Kanabec County Clerk
18 N. Vine St.
Mora, MN 55051-1342
Telephone: (320) 679-6466

Kandiyohi County
Kandiyohi County Clerk
400 Benson Avenue SW
P.O. Box 736
Willmar, MN 56201
Telephone: (972) 231-6532

Kittson County
Kittson County Clerk
410 South Fifth Street
P.O. Box 39
Hallock, MN 56728
Telephone: (218) 843-3632

Koochiching County
Koochiching County Clerk
County Courthouse
715 Forest St.
International Falls, MN 56649
Telephone: (218) 283-6260

Lac qui Parle County
Lac qui Parle County Clerk
P.O. Box 132
Madison, MN 56256
Telephone: (320) 598-3724

Lake County
Lake County Clerk
601 3rd Ave.
Two Harbors, MN 55616
Telephone: (218) 834-8301

Lake of the Woods County
Lake of the Woods County Clerk
206 Southeast Eighth Ave
P.O. Box 808
Baudette, MN 56623
Telephone: (218) 634-1451

Le Sueur County
Le Sueur County Clerk
88 South Park Avenue
Le Center, MN 56057
Telephone: (507) 357-2251 x235

Lincoln County
Lincoln County Clerk
319 North Rebecca Street
P.O. Box 119
Ivanhoe, MN 56142
Telephone: (507) 694-1360

Lyon County
Lyon County Clerk
607 W Main St.
Marshall, MN 56258
Telephone: (507) 537-6722

Mahnomen County
Mahnomen County Clerk
P.O. Box 379
Mahnomen, MN 56557
Telephone: (218) 935-2251

Marshall County
Marshall County Clerk
208 E. Colbin Ave.
Warren, MN 56762
Telephone: (218) 745-4816

Martin County
Martin County Clerk
201 Lake Avenue
P.O. Box 785
Fairmont, MN 56031
Telephone: (507) 238-3213

McLeod County
McLeod County Clerk
P.O. Box 127
Glencoe, MN 55336
Telephone: (320) 864-1216

Meeker County
Meeker County Clerk
325 N. Sibley
Litchfield, MN 55355
Telephone: (320) 693-5345

Mille Lacs County
Mille Lacs County Clerk
635 2nd St. S.E.
Milaca, MN 56353
Telephone: (320) 983-8308

Morrison County
Morrison County Clerk
213 S.E. 1st Ave.
Little Falls, MN 56345
Telephone: (320) 632-0145

Mower County
Mower County Clerk
201 1st St. N.E.
Austin, MN 55912
Telephone: (507) 437-9446

Murray County
Murray County Clerk
Government Center
2500 28th Street
Slayton, MN 56172
Telephone: (507) 836-6148 Ext. 150

Nicollet County
Nicollet County Clerk
501 South Minnesota Ave
P.O. Box 493
St. Peter, MN 56082
Telephone: (507) 931-6800 Ext. 322

Nobles County
Nobles County Clerk
P.O. Box 757
Worthington, MN 56187
Telephone: (507) 372-8236

Norman County
Norman County Clerk
16 East Third Avenue
P.O. Box 272
Ada, MN 56510
Telephone: (218) 784-7131

Olmsted County
Olmsted County Clerk
151 4th St., S.E.
Rochester, MN 55904
Telephone: (507) 285-1444

Otter Tail County
Otter Tail County Clerk
P.O. Box 867
Fergus Falls, MN 56538
Telephone: (218) 739-2271 Ext. 247

Pennington County
Pennington County Clerk
First and Main Streets P.O. Box 616
Thief River Falls, MN 56701
Telephone: (218) 681-2522

Pine County
Pine County Clerk
County Courthouse
315 6th St., Suite 3
Pine City, MN 55063
Telephone: (320) 629-5662 Ext. 128

Pipestone County
Pipestone County Clerk
416 S. Hiawatha Ave.
Pipestone, MN 56164
Telephone: (507) 825-6755

Polk County
Polk County Clerk
P.O. Box 397
Crookston, MN 56716
Telephone: (218) 281-3464

Pope County
Pope County Clerk
130 E. Minnesota Ave.
Glenwood, MN 56334
Telephone: (320) 634-5723

Public Health Center
Birth & Death Records
555 Cedar St.
St. Paul, MN 55101
Telephone: (651) 266-1333

Red Lake County
Red Lake County Clerk
124 North Main Street
P.O. Box 3
Red Lake Falls, MN 56750
Telephone: (218) 253-2997

Redwood County
Redwood County Clerk
P.O. Box 130
Redwood Falls, MN 56283
Telephone: (507) 637-4032

Renville County
Renville County Clerk
500 E. DePue Ave.
Olivia, MN 56277
Telephone: (320) 523-3669

Rice County
Rice County Clerk
320 N.W. 3rd St., Suite 10
Fairbault, MN 55021
Telephone: (507) 332-6114

Rock County
Rock County Clerk
204 East Brown
Box 509
Luverne, MN 56156
Telephone: (507) 283-5060

Roseau County
Roseau County Clerk
606 5th Ave. S.W., Room 30
Roseau, MN 56751
Telephone: (218) 463-2541

Saint Louis County
Saint Louis County Clerk
P.O. Box 157
100 N. 5th Avenue West
Duluth, MN 55801
Telephone: (218) 726-2559

Scott County
Scott County Clerk
428 S. Holmes St.
Shakopee, MN 55379
Telephone: (952) 496-7750 8144

Sherburne County
Sherburne County Clerk
Government Center
13880 Highway 10
P.O. Box 320
Elk River, MN 55330
Telephone: (763) 241-2915

Sibley County
Sibley County Clerk
County Courthouse
400 Court Avenue
Box 44
Gaylord, MN 55334
Telephone: (507) 237-4080

Stearns County
Stearns County Clerk
705 Courthouse Square, Room 125
Saint Cloud, MN 56303-4781
Telephone: (320) 656-3937

Steele County
Steele County Clerk
111 East Main Street
P.O. Box 487
Owatonna, MN 55060
Telephone: (507) 444-7700

Swift County
Swift County Clerk
301 14th Street N
P.O. Box 50
Benson, MN 56215
Telephone: (320) 843-3544

Todd County
Todd County Clerk
215 First Avenue South
Long Prairie, MN 56347
Telephone: (320) 732-4459

Traverse County
Traverse County Clerk
702 Second Avenue N
P.O. Box 487
Wheaton, MN 56296-0428
Telephone: (320) 563-4622

Wabasha County
Wabasha County Clerk
625 Jefferson Ave.
Wabasha, MN 55981
Telephone: (651) 565-3018

Wadena County
Wadena County Clerk
P.O. Box 415
Wadena, MN 56482
Telephone: (218) 631-7622

Waseca County
Waseca County Clerk
307 N. State St.
Waseca, MN 56093
Telephone: (507) 835-3540

Washington County
Washington County Clerk
River Heights Plaza
1520 West Frontage Road
Stillwater, MN 55082
Telephone: (651) 430-8258

Watonwan County
Watonwan County Clerk
P.O. Box 518
Saint James, MN 56081
Telephone: (507) 375-1216

Wilkin County
Wilkin County Clerk
300 South Fifth Street
P.O. Box 368
Breckenridge, MN 56520
Telephone: (218) 643-5112

Winona County
Winona County Clerk
74 West Third St
Winona, MN 55987
Telephone: (507) 457-6395

Wright County
Wright County Clerk
10 NW Second Street, Room 160
Buffalo, MN 55313-1165
Telephone: (763) 682-7509

Yellow Medicine County
Yellow Medicine County Clerk
415 9th Ave.
Granite Falls, MN 56241
Telephone: (320) 564-3670
 

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