{"id":374280,"date":"2019-03-25T14:45:54","date_gmt":"2019-03-25T19:45:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/minnesota-law\/minnesota-marriage-laws.html"},"modified":"2020-08-17T17:05:14","modified_gmt":"2020-08-17T22:05:14","slug":"minnesota-marriage-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/minnesota-law\/minnesota-marriage-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Minnesota Marriage Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Minnesota Marriage Laws<\/h1>\n
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Created by FindLaw’s team<\/a> of legal writers and editors<\/i><\/p>\n\n | Last updated\n

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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

Once you’ve decided that it’s time to get married<\/a>, there’s any number of things you’ll need to get done to prepare for the big day. On top of the non-romantic list are the specific legal requirements<\/a> that must be met to make your marriage legally valid. Meeting these requirements might not be the most exciting of things you’ll do when it comes to getting married, but getting Minnesota’s marriage requirements right will ultimately save you a lot of headache, and heartache, down the road.<\/p>\r\n

Child Marriage Banned in Minnesota<\/h2>\r\n

Minnesota became the second state (after Delaware) to ban child marriages. The legal marriage age was raised to 18 in May 2020. Previously, children as young as 16 were permitted to marry in the state with parental consent. The child marriage ban prohibits marriage by those under 18 in all circumstances. The new law also requires Minnesotans to provide proof of age when applying for a marriage license.<\/p>\r\n

Summary of Minnesota Marriage Laws<\/h2>\r\n

You can get help understanding the law by consulting with an attorney, but a good start is to review a breakdown of the relevant laws — in plain language. Read the chart below for a helpful explanation of the marriage laws in Minnesota.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Statutes<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Minnesota Statutes Domestic Relations Ch. 517-519A:<\/p>\r\n

Requirements<\/b><\/p>\r\n

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Valid Marriage Requirements<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n

For a valid marriage in Minnesota:<\/p>\r\n

Types of Marriages<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Minor Marriages<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n

Child marriage was banned in the state in 2020. No one under 18 can be legally married.<\/p>\r\n

Same-sex Marriage<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n

Although there are still laws on the books that prohibit it, same sex marriage is legal in all states<\/a>, including Minnesota. In states like Minnesota where same-sex marriage was legalized by statute prior to the U.S. Supreme Court, the laws contain provisions that exempt religious officials from having to solemnize a marriage that is contrary to their religious beliefs.<\/p>\r\n

Common Law Marriage<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n

Minnesota doesn’t allow common law marriages, but it recognizes valid common law marriages from other states.<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Misdemeanors<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

It’s a misdemeanor to commit the following:<\/p>\r\n