North Dakota Marriage Records

To get married in North Dakota, both parties have to be at least 18 years of age. Individuals aged 16 or 17 may get married but must provide written consent from their parents or legal guardians. North Dakota does not permit marriage between close relations, including sisters, brothers, parents, grandparents, cousins, or even half-blood kin. Parties that would like to get married can purchase a marriage license from any of the county offices.

If the requesters are from another state, they have to obtain a North Dakota marriage license to get married in the state. Licenses are purchased according to the state the parties are getting married in rather than where they reside. If any or both parties were previously married, state law requires that a certified copy of the Divorce Decree is submitted to the county office along with the application.

In North Dakota, the average age of marriage is 28.6 for opposite-sex couples as of 2019. Due to the sunshine laws, marriage records in North Dakota are primarily open to the public. These make all government records open to interested parties unless a specific law authorizes the restriction of access to a record. Typically, marriage records are maintained by the Vital Records Office of the North Dakota Department of Health. Records before 1925 can be sourced from the North Dakota State Archives. These records are also stored by the county clerk’s offices where the marriage licenses have been provided.

What are Marriage Records?

Marriage records in North Dakota prove a couple is married in the state. These are created at the county level when parties apply for a marriage license and perform a ceremony to establish a marriage contract. Marriage records in North Dakota may include the names of the participating parties, the location, date of marriage, names of the officiant, and witness names. These records will also detail the spouse’s parents' names and the bride and groom’s birth dates.

Marriage records are significant for personal and wide-scale reasons. At the individual level, the record may be used to prove a relationship when applying for spousal benefits. They can also be needed as evidence to change names following the wedding or to confirm the legitimacy of a child. Researchers may use marriage records to research the genealogical history of a specific group. At the government level, marriage records are considered cumulatively to form trends that help track social issues.

According to the state’s Sunshine laws, all government records and meetings are open to interested parties, provided no contravening laws restrict access to the specific document. That means marriage records should be open to all parties unless they have sensitive details or are otherwise restricted by court order. These records may be accessed at the county clerk's office, which issued the marriage license, or the vital records office of the North Dakota Department of Health.

Marriages in California

According to the CDC records, North Dakota has one of the lowest marriage rates in the country, with 5.7 per 1000. This figure is slightly lower than it previously was, at 6.5 in 2010. It is also less than the national average of 6.2 per 1,000. Part of the reason for the low marriage rates is that much of the population does so at an older age. This corresponds with an equally low divorce rate of 2.7 per 1,000 residents.

52% of the people aged 15 and over within the state are currently married, 37% have never been married, 9% are divorced, and the remaining 2% are widowed. The following data shows how the married population is grouped according to ethnicity.

White (non-Hispanic) - 53.98%
Asian (including Hispanic) - 53.01%
Mixed (including Hispanic) - 33.1%
White Hispanic - 45.66%
Black (including Hispanic) - 35.24%
Others (including Hispanic) - 31.55%

As previously mentioned, the divorce rate in North Dakota is 2.7 per 1,000, which is higher than the national average of 2.4. The median age group of divorce for both men and women in the state is between 45 and 49. White Hispanics are also the group with the highest divorce rate.

Marriage by proxy is not allowed in North Dakota. For a marriage to occur, all copies of the marriage license must be provided.

The witnesses, along with the officiant, should also be present to sign the marriage license. Depending on the county and the venue, the spouses must present themselves at the county offices before the ceremony in time to complete the paperwork. One can get a copy of the marriage certificate after the ceremony.

That said, the first step is the marriage license. This may be purchased at any of the County offices in the state. A North Dakota marriage license is only valid for 60 days, after which it becomes invalid. Depending on the county, marriage licenses may be completed in person or online. Both individuals must be present at the county offices or courthouse for in-person applications. However, they do not have to be residents of the county.

A North Dakota marriage license also allows a couple to be married anywhere within the state. The only requirement pertains to the license location. If parties plan to marry in North Dakota, they must obtain a license from one of its counties. Parties must bring identification that proves their date of birth, like a driver’s license, passport, or copy of a birth certificate. Both individuals also have to present their Social Security cards. Previously married applicants will provide a certified copy of their divorce certificates. If the requester is married more than once, they will issue all certified copies of their divorce decrees.

Couples also have the option of changing their surname after marriage. North Dakota provides the option of changing the last name of either spouse or changing it to a name by combining the surnames of both spouses. It can be separated by a hyphen or space. Either spouse can move their current surname so it becomes their new middle name, and they can take the spouse's surname as the new last name. The fee for marriage licenses in North Dakota is $65, while a marriage certificate costs $10. Payment for these can be made in credit, cash, or check.

North Dakota Marriage Certificate

Marriage certificates are official or legal documentation that proves two individuals are married. In North Dakota, when the marriage license is signed and returned to the County Recorder’s office, they process it and issue a copy of the marriage certificate. The marriage certificate can be used for different reasons, including updating marital statuses and financial records. It can also provide proof of marriage for insurance or when applying for benefits. The certificate also comes in handy during litigation regarding property or inheritance disputes.

They can be essential when applying for citizenship, especially if one of the spouses is not a United States resident. Considering they form part of the marriage records, certificates can be accessed by parties not directly connected to the spouses. However, certified copies of the certificates are only available to the persons on the marriage record or their legal representatives. Third parties may access the records, provided there is court authorization.

How to Find and Access North Dakota Marriage Records

Requesters may obtain access to North Dakota marriage records online, via mail, or in person.

Finding and Accessing North Dakota Marriage Records in Person

Certified copies of a marriage can be accessed at the county offices where the licenses were filed and purchased. Locate the county where the application took place and head to the clerk of the court’s office at the county courthouse or the County Recorder’s office. Bring valid forms of government-issued identification, including driver’s licenses or passports.

Provide the required details concerning the parties on the record as well. Depending on the county, it costs an estimated $15 per request. Alternatively, one can visit the North Dakota Department of Health’s Vital Records division in Bismarck. Provide the names of the persons involved and the wedding date. A state ID or passport would be required. The first certified copy is $15, while additional copies cost $10.

Finding and Accessing North Dakota Marriage Records via mail

To get North Dakota marriage records via mail, download and print the application from the county Recorder’s website, provided it is where the license was issued. It depends on the county, though, as some do not have the option on their website. Fill in the required details. Include a check for the records or money order and attach it to the document. Requesters will also include a copy of their identification to verify their identities. This is addressed to the County Recorder’s office and consists of a return address on the mail order. The requests' Processing times may vary but generally take a few weeks.

Finding and Accessing North Dakota Marriage Records Online

To access marriage records online, visit the North Dakota Department of Health’s vital records website. The North Dakota State Archives maintains records of marriages before 1925. Records for marriages from 1925 have recently been merged with the North Dakota Heritage Center and State Museum, so requesters can manually seek information on the page. Alternatively, parties can search by name, county, and wedding date.

Counties in North Dakota

List of Content

What are Marriage Records?
Marriages in California
1. North Dakota Marriage Certificate
How to Find and Access North Dakota Marriage Records