Minnesota, vital records

Minnesota Vital Records

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Locate Minnesota state vital records. List of government and private entities that provide birth records, marriages and decrees, divorces and death.

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Official Minnesota vital record sources

Every card below goes to the government office responsible for that record. Use the category buttons to narrow the list.

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Showing 12 official sources

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More official Minnesota record sources

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More Minnesota sources

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More official Minnesota record sources

Secondary links stay collapsed until they are needed, keeping the page useful without turning it into an endless wall of cards.

More Minnesota sources

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Guide

Divorce certificate versus decree in Minnesota

Minnesota issues no state divorce certificate. The Minnesota Department of Health states that it does not record marriages or divorces. A divorce decree, with its property division and support terms, is obtained from the county district court office that granted the divorce, at $14 for a certified copy and no fee for an uncertified copy under Minn. Stat. 357.021. The Department's statement is at health.state.mn.us.

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Federal & National Authoritative Sources

These federal and national sources complement Minnesota's state-level records. They are the authoritative sources you should cross-check when Minnesota state records are incomplete or out-of-state activity matters.

CDC, Where to Write for Vital Records
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention maintains the official national directory of every state's vital records office. Use this to confirm the correct agency, mailing address, and current fee for the state where the event occurred.
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w/index.htm (cdc.gov) NCHS / National Vital Statistics System
The National Center for Health Statistics collects aggregate vital statistics from all 57 U.S. jurisdictions but does not itself issue individual certificates.
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/index.htm (cdc.gov) Minnesota Vital Records — health.state.mn.us
Plain-language federal portal explaining eligibility rules, processing times, and how to request records for events that occurred abroad.
Minnesota Vital Records (official: health.state.mn.us) (health.state.mn.us) SSA, Form SS-5 (Social Security Number Application)
If you need a vital record to replace a Social Security card or establish proof of age, the SSA accepts birth certificates and several secondary documents listed on Form SS-5.
https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf (ssa.gov)  Frequently Asked Questions Minnesota Vital Records Search, FAQ  Last reviewed: April 2026  Updated: October 2026

Record guide

Guide

About Minnesota vital record sources

Useful local context without burying the official record links above.

At a glance

Minnesota Vital RecordsStateMinnesotaOfficial sources13Vital records10Federal3Links checkedSep. 22, 2026Using these vital record sources

More Minnesota records on this site: Minnesota public records, Free Background Checks.

Straight answers

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Minnesota vital record questions

Open only the answer you need.

Does the federal government keep birth certificates?

No. The CDC is explicit: 'The Federal Government does not maintain files or indexes of these records.' Every U.S. vital record is kept by the state where the event occurred.

What is the difference between a certified and informational copy?

A certified copy has a raised seal and is accepted by SSA, passport offices, and courts. An informational copy is marked 'Informational, Not a Valid Document to Establish Identity' and cannot be used for legal ID.

How long does a mail request take?

It varies by state, but a mail order to a state vital records office is typically 4, 8 weeks. Walk-in county clerk requests can be same-day. Online orders through VitalChek add a separate processing time on top of the state's.

Who is legally allowed to order a certified copy?

Most states limit certified copies to the registrant, immediate family, and legal representatives. Informational copies are generally available to anyone after a waiting period defined by state law.

What if I was born abroad to U.S. citizen parents?

You should have a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA, form FS-240). Replacements come from the U.S. Department of State, not from a state vital records office.

All states

Record guide

About Minnesota vital record sources

Useful local context without burying the official record links above.

At a glance

Minnesota Vital Records

State
Minnesota
Official sources
13
Vital records
10
State agencies
2
Federal
1
Links checked
Sep. 22, 2026

Using these vital record sources

More Minnesota records on this site: Minnesota public records, Free Background Checks, Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas.

Straight answers

Minnesota vital record questions

Open only the answer you need.

Does the federal government keep birth certificates?

No. The CDC is explicit: 'The Federal Government does not maintain files or indexes of these records.' Every U.S. vital record is kept by the state where the event occurred.

What is the difference between a certified and informational copy?

A certified copy has a raised seal and is accepted by SSA, passport offices, and courts. An informational copy is marked 'Informational, Not a Valid Document to Establish Identity' and cannot be used for legal ID.

How long does a mail request take?

It varies by state, but a mail order to a state vital records office is typically 4, 8 weeks. Walk-in county clerk requests can be same-day. Online orders through VitalChek add a separate processing time on top of the state's.

Who is legally allowed to order a certified copy?

Most states limit certified copies to the registrant, immediate family, and legal representatives. Informational copies are generally available to anyone after a waiting period defined by state law.

What if I was born abroad to U.S. citizen parents?

You should have a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA, form FS-240). Replacements come from the U.S. Department of State, not from a state vital records office.

All states

Vital Records by state

Every state page lists that state's official vital record sources, each opened and verified.

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