Minnesota Public Records
| How
To Search Public and Vital Records -
Vital records are records of life events important enough that
some level of government acquires, organizes, and preserves
them. While the term "vital records" is often applied
to a wide variety of life events... Read
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Minnesota Vital Records
Minnesota vital records registration began in earnest in 1870, and
was the responsibility of each county for the next thirty-seven years.
However, some counties have records for earlier events, particularly
marriages. In 1907, the state of Minnesota took over the responsibility
of keeping birth and death records.
For births records prior to 1900, death records prior to 1908, and
marriage records in general, write:
District Court Administrator
County District Court
(County Seat), Minnesota
For birth records after 1900, and death records after
1908, write:
Minnesota Department of Health
Section of Vital Statistics Registration
717 Delaware Street, S.E.
P.O. Box 9441
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55440-9441
Minnesota Land Records
Minnesota is a federal-land state. Lands were generally bought from
the government or from other individuals. For government purchases
within the state, consult the Bureau of Land Management, Eastern
States Office's patent indexes available on CD-ROM through various
genealogical vendors and through:
Government Printing Office
Superintendent of Documents
P.O. Box 371954
Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954
This patent index is also found among the database
searches available at Ancestry Home Town web site (ancestry.com).
For transactions between individuals, consult the local county Register
of Deeds. For further reference to all transactions, consult the
publications below.
Hone, E. Wade. Land and Property Research in the United States.
Salt Lake City: Ancestry, Inc., 1997.
Kinney, George, and Lydia Lucas. Guide to the Records of Minnesota's
Public Lands. St. Paul: Minnesota Historical Society, 1985.
Minnesota Court Records
Court records can be a complex source for any state. Their records
entail probate records (which include wills), guardianship, naturalization,
and a wide variety of other sources, ranging from criminal trials
to simple road orders. All contain information about individuals
within the area. It should be remembered that there are different
levels of jurisdiction for courts in the United States, all of which
should be considered for research under various circumstances. Court
of Common Pleas, Orphan's Court, Probate Court, District Court,
Superior Court, Supreme Court, and other titles are among those
encountered. To study more about court records in general, see:
"Research in Court Records" by Arlene H. Eakle, found
in Loretto Dennis Szucs and Sandra Hargreaves Luebking, eds., The
Source: A Guidebook to American Genealogy, rev. ed. (Salt Lake City:
Ancestry, 1997).
Minnesota Military Records
Minnesota Historical Society Research Center holds numerous records
of military involvement, including Grand Army of the Republic records,
regimental records, Minnesota State Militia service cards, Civil
War pension registers, some World War I military service cards,
draft lists, and others. Some sources of specific interest are:
Work Projects Administration. Minnesota in the Civil and Indian
Wars: An Index to the Rosters. N.p.: n.p., 1936.
Neagles, James C. U.S. Military Records: A Guide to Federal and
State Sources. Salt Lake City: Ancestry, Inc., 1994.
Additional Sources
Pope, Wiley R. Tracing Your Ancestors in Minnesota: A Guide to Sources.
St. Paul: Minnesota Family Trees, 19??-. (Multiple volumes)
Upham, Warren, and Rose Barteaw Dunlap. Collections of the Minnesota
Historical Society. St. Paul: Minnesota Historical Society, 1912.
Warren, Paula Stuart. "Genealogical Research in Minnesota,"
National Genealogical Society Quarterly 77 (March 1989): 22-42.
Minnesota Vital Records:
Event: Birth
Cost of copy: $14.00
Address:
Minnesota Department of Health
Section of Vital Statistics
717 Delaware Street, SE
P.O. Box 9441
Minneapolis, MN 55440
Remarks: State office has had records since January
1900 and death records since January 1908. Copies of earlier records
may be obtained from Local Registrar in county where event occurred.
Additional copies of the birth record when ordered at the same time
are $8.00 each. Additional copies of the death record when ordered
at the same time are $5.00 each.
Check or money order should be made payable to Treasurer,
State of Minnesota. Personal checks are accepted. To verify current
fees, the telephone number is (612) 676-5120. Information on how
to obtain certified copies is also available via the internet at
Treasurer, State of Minnesota.
Search All Minnesota Records
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Event: Death
Cost of copy: $11.00
Address:
Minnesota Department of Health
Section of Vital Statistics
717 Delaware Street, SE
P.O. Box 9441
Minneapolis, MN 55440
Remarks: State office has had records since January
1900 and death records since January 1908. Copies of earlier records
may be obtained from Local Registrar in county where event occurred.
Additional copies of the birth record when ordered at the same time
are $8.00 each. Additional copies of the death record when ordered
at the same time are $5.00 each.
Check or money order should be made payable to Treasurer,
State of Minnesota. Personal checks are accepted. To verify current
fees, the telephone number is (612) 676-5120. Information on how
to obtain certified copies is also available via the internet at
Treasurer, State of Minnesota.
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Event: Marriage (State)
Cost of copy: See remarks
Address:
Minnesota Department of Health
Section of Vital Statistics
717 Delaware Street, SE
P.O. Box 9441
Minneapolis, MN 55440
Remarks: Statewide index since January 1958. Inquiries
will be forwarded to appropriate office. Certified copies are not
available from State Department of Health.
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Event: Marriage (county)
Cost of copy: $8.00
Address: See remarks
Remarks: Local Registrar in county where license
was issued. Additional copies of the marriage record when ordered
at the same time are $2.00 each.
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Event: Divorce (State)
Cost of copy: See remarks
Address:
Minnesota Department of Health
Section of Vital Statistics
717 Delaware Street, SE
P.O. Box 9441
Minneapolis, MN 55440
Remarks: Index since January 1970. Certified copies
are not available from State office.
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Event: Divorce (county)
Cost of copy: $10.00
Address: See remarks
Remarks: Local Registrar in county where divorce
was granted.
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