Phone: 763-682-7509

Birth and Death Certificates

Birth certificates 1935 to current and death certificates 1997 to current are generated electronically from the Minnesota Department of Health. You need not go to the individual’s county of birth or death to acquire these certificates. All other records must be acquired at the county of birth or death. A Tangible Interest form is required to be filled out prior to receiving a certified copy of a certificate. We will view your current ID at the time of application. The form will need to be notarized if you are applying by mail. If you live out of state, enclose a money order for the amount of the certificate.

You would send it to:
Robert J. Hiivala
Wright County License Bureau Room 160
10-2nd St. NW
Buffalo, MN 55313

Tangible Interest Forms:
Minnesota Death Record Application (PDF - 225 KB)
Minnesota Birth Record Application (PDF - 70 KB) 

Fees

Birth Records: $16.00 for first copy; $9.00 for each additional copy of the same record.

Death Records: $13.00 for first copy; $6.00 for each additional copy of the same record, purchased at the same time.  

Marriage Application

As of August 1, 2009 BOTH parties will need to be present to apply for a marriage license. Please bring identification with you (driver's license, identification card or passport).  You will be asked for your full given name, address, county of residence, age, date of birth, country or state of birth and social security number. You will be asked for the full names you will be using after the marriage and if either of you have had a felony conviction on or after 8/01/2000. 

If you are under the age of 18, please contact us for additional information.

Marriage licenses are valid for 6 months. You must marry within that time or the license will expire and you will be required to reapply. There is a 5-day waiting period from the time of application to when you pick up the certificate.

If your spouse is deceased, we will need the date and county of death.  If you are divorced we will need the date and county of your last divorce.

Marriage Applications: $110.00 or $40.00 if you have a completed premarital education statement.  As of August 1, 2009 premarital education statements must be notarized by the educator and the document must be on the educator's letterhead (MS517.08). The names appearing on the premarital education must be identical to the names on the marriage license (no nicknames).  The completed premarital education statement must be presented at time of application.  There are no refunds. 

We accept cash or check only.

Marriage Certificates – Certified copies are $9.00. You will have to go to the county where you originally applied for the license to get a certified copy.

Credentials of Ministers are filed in the License Bureau.  There is no fee to file credentials. You will be issued a Certificate of Filing.  Please bring your ordination certificate and identification with you.

Genealogy

You are welcome to come into our office and search family histories within Wright County or we will search for you at a fee of $20.00 per hour.

Birth records start at 1871.
Death records start at 1871.
Marriage records start at 1950. 

Marriage records starting at 1858 and ending at 1950 are available at the Wright County Heritage Center, 2001 Hwy 25 No, Buffalo

If you would like to contact the Minnesota Department of Health, their Internet address is www.health.state.mn.us.