A Minnesota divorce certificate, officially known as a divorce decree or Judgment and Decree of Dissolution of Marriage, is the legal document that proves your marriage has been officially ended by the court. This certificate contains important information about your divorce, including the date it was finalized, the court that granted it, and the terms of your dissolution. Understanding how to obtain a Minnesota divorce certificate, whether you need a certified copy or plain copy, and where to request these documents helps you access the official records you need for legal, financial, and personal purposes.
Many people need their Minnesota divorce certificate for various reasons after their marriage ends. You may need to provide proof of divorce when remarrying, updating government records, changing your name back after divorce, refinancing property, updating beneficiaries on insurance policies or retirement accounts, or resolving other legal and financial matters. Knowing the difference between the types of divorce records available and how to request them from the proper sources ensures you get the documentation you need quickly and efficiently.
What are Minnesota Divorce Records?
Minnesota divorce records consist of several types of documents created during and after the divorce process. The most important document is the Judgment and Decree of Dissolution of Marriage, which represents the final court order ending your marriage and outlining all terms of your divorce, including property division, child custody arrangements, child support obligations, and spousal maintenance if applicable. This document serves as your official Minnesota divorce certificate.
The divorce decree becomes part of the public court record once entered by the court clerk. However, certain information in divorce cases may be designated as confidential to protect privacy, particularly information about minor children or sensitive financial details. The basic fact that a divorce occurred and the final decree itself are generally public records accessible to anyone, though accessing detailed case files may require proper authorization.
Minnesota law distinguishes between plain copies and certified copies of divorce certificates. Plain copies are standard photocopies or printouts of the divorce decree that show the document's content but don't include official certification. Certified copies include an official seal and certification from the court clerk or county registrar verifying that the copy is a true and accurate reproduction of the original document on file. Most legal and official purposes require certified copies rather than plain copies.
Where to Obtain Your Minnesota Divorce Certificate
The primary source for obtaining your Minnesota divorce certificate is the county courthouse where your divorce was granted. Each Minnesota county maintains records of divorces finalized in that county's district court. You'll need to contact or visit the court administrator's office or clerk of court in the specific county where your divorce was granted to request copies of your divorce decree.
If you're unsure which county handled your divorce, you can search Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) to locate your case. The MCRO system provides online access to many public Minnesota state district court records and documents, allowing you to search by your name, your ex-spouse's name, or case number. Once you locate your case, the system shows which county court granted the divorce.
Where to Get Minnesota Divorce Certificates:
- County courthouse where divorce was granted - for certified copies
- Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) - for plain copies of recent divorces
- Minnesota State Law Library - for guidance on locating records
- County court administrator's office - for information and requests
- Online through county court systems - some counties offer online requests
- By mail - most counties accept mail requests with proper forms and fees
Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO)
The Minnesota Court Records Online system provides free access to many public court records, including divorce decrees filed after certain dates. MCRO allows you to search for cases by person name, business name, case number, or other identifiers. Once you locate your divorce case, you can view the Register of Actions (a chronological list of everything filed in the case) and access public documents available online.
For divorces finalized on or after July 1, 2015, MCRO provides access to court-prepared orders, including the final Judgment and Decree. You can view and download these documents as PDF files from the MCRO system. However, documents obtained through MCRO are plain copies without certification. While these copies show the content of your divorce decree, they won't include the official seal and certification required for most legal purposes.
MCRO offers four search functions: Case Search for finding cases by various criteria, Document Search for locating specific documents by case number, Hearing Search for finding scheduled court hearings, and Judgment Search for docketed money judgments. The Case Search function is most useful for locating your divorce records.
How to Request a Certified Copy
Obtaining a certified copy of your Minnesota divorce certificate requires contacting the county courthouse where your divorce was granted and following that county's specific procedures for requesting certified copies. Each Minnesota county has its own process, fees, and forms for copy requests, though the basic steps remain similar across counties.
Most counties require you to complete a copy request form providing information about the case, including the case number, parties' names, and date of divorce. You'll need to specify that you want a certified copy rather than a plain copy, and you must pay the required fe,e which typically ranges from $10 to $30 per certified copy, depending on the county and number of pages.
You can usually request certified copies in person by visiting the courthouse, by mail by sending the completed request form and payment, or online through some county court systems that have implemented electronic request systems. In-person requests typically allow you to receive your certified copy immediately or within a short time, while mail requests take longer for processing and delivery.
Information Needed to Request Certified Copy:
- Full names of both parties (as they appeared in the divorce case)
- Case number, if known
- Approximate date when divorce was finalized
- The county where the divorce was granted
- Your relationship to the case (party, attorney, authorized representative)
- Reason for requesting, if required bythe county
- Payment for certification fees
When submitting a request by mail, include a self-addressed stamped envelope for the return of your certified copy. Some counties require notarized signatures on requests, particularly if you're requesting records for cases where you weren't a party. Check with your specific county's court administrator's office for their exact requirements.
Fees for Minnesota Divorce Certificates
Fees for obtaining copies of Minnesota divorce certificates vary by county and by whether you need plain copies or certified copies. Certified copies cost more than plain copies because they include the official seal and certification from the court. Most Minnesota counties charge between $10 and $30 for the first certified copy of a divorce decree, with additional fees for extra copies or additional pages.
Some counties charge per page for lengthy divorce decrees, while others charge a flat fee regardless of document length. If you need copies of other documents from your divorce case beyond just the final decree, additional fees apply for each document you request. Counties may also charge search fees if extensive research is needed to locate older divorce records.
Payment methods accepted vary by county but typically include cash, checks, money orders, and credit/debit cards for in-person requests. Mail requests usually require checks or money orders rather than cash. Online request systems typically accept credit/debit card payments. Make checks or money orders payable to the specific county as indicated in their copy request instructions.
Copy Type | Typical Cost | Processing Time | Best Used For |
Plain copy from MCRO | Free | Immediate download | Personal reference, preliminary review |
Plain copy from the courthouse | $5-$15 | Same day to a few days | Informal documentation |
Certified copy | $10-$30 first copy | Same day to 2 weeks | Legal purposes, official records |
Additional certified copies | $5-$15 each | Same as the first copy | Multiple institutions require certified copies |
Using Your Minnesota Divorce Certificate
Once you receive your Minnesota divorce certificate, you can use it for various legal and practical purposes. The certified copy serves as official proof that your marriage has been legally dissolved, which is required for many transactions and legal processes. Common uses for divorce certificates include providing proof of divorce when applying for a marriage license to remarry, updating your marital status with government agencies, and changing your legal name back to your maiden name or previous name.
Financial institutions often require certified copies of divorce decrees when updating account ownership, removing an ex-spouse from accounts, or retitling assets that were divided in the divorce. If your divorce decree awarded you ownership of real estate or vehicles, you'll need the certified divorce certificate to complete property transfers and title changes. Insurance companies require certified copies when removing an ex-spouse from policies or updating beneficiary designations.
Employers and benefit administrators may need certified copies of your divorce certificate to process changes to health insurance coverage, retirement account beneficiaries, or other employment benefits affected by your divorce. Government agencies, including Social Security, the IRS, and state departments of motor vehicles, require certified divorce certificates for updating your records and processing name changes or benefit modifications.
Common Uses for Divorce Certificates:
- Applying foa r marriage license to remarry
- Legal name change after divorce
- Updating Social Security records
- Changing name on driver's license and identification
- Removing ex-spouse from property titles and deeds
- Updating bank accounts and financial records
- Modifying insurance policies and beneficiaries
- Changing retirement account designations
- Updating passport and travel documents
- Proving divorce in legal proceedings
Privacy and Confidentiality Considerations
While Minnesota divorce decrees are generally public records, certain information in divorce cases is protected from public access to safeguard privacy. Courts seal or redact information about minor children, including their addresses, schools, and detailed personal information. Financial account numbers, Social Security numbers, and other sensitive identifiers are typically kept confidential rather than appearing in public divorce records.
If your divorce involved domestic abuse, child endangerment, or other safety concerns, you may have obtained orders sealing portions of your case file or restricting access to certain information. These protective measures remain in effect even though the divorce is final, helping ensure your safety and privacy. When requesting copies of your divorce certificate, confidential information should not appear on the documents you receive.
Third parties can generally access basic information about divorces, including the fact that a divorce occurred, the names of the parties, the date of divorce, and the final decree. However, detailed financial information, testimony transcripts, and certain other case documents may not be accessible to the general public. Only parties to the divorce, their attorneys, and persons with legitimate legal interests typically have full access to complete divorce case files.
Older Divorce Records
Locating divorce certificates for divorces that occurred many years ago may require additional effort, particularly for divorces granted before courts began maintaining electronic records. Minnesota Court Records Online primarily provides access to records from July 2015 forward, meaning older divorce records aren't available through the online system and must be requested directly from the county courthouse.
For divorces granted decades ago, you may need to contact the county's records management department or archives rather than the current court administrator's office. Some older records may have been transferred to long-term storage or county historical societies. The Minnesota State Law Library provides resources for locating historical divorce records and can offer guidance on where to search for older decrees.
When requesting copies of old divorce records, be prepared to provide as much identifying information as possible, including full names of both parties, the approximate year of divorce, and the county where the divorce was granted. Processing requests for older records may take longer than processing requests for recent divorces because staff must locate documents in archives or older filing systems.
If You Cannot Locate Your Divorce Records
If you're having difficulty locating your Minnesota divorce certificate or records, several resources can help. The Minnesota State Law Library website provides information about finding divorce decrees and other court records, including contact information for county courthouses. Court staff can help you search their records systems if you provide adequate identifying information.
If you don't remember which Minnesota county granted your divorce, try searching MCRO using your name or your ex-spouse's name. The system searches across all Minnesota district courts, potentially helping you identify the correct county. You can also check with the Minnesota Judicial Branch website for directories of county courts and contact information.
If your divorce occurred in another state before you moved to Minnesota, you'll need to request records from the county or state where the divorce was granted rather than from Minnesota. Each state has different procedures for accessing divorce records, so check with that state's court system or vital records office for guidance.