Minnesota Premarital Course Online
Take Minnesota's 12-hour premarital education course together, online, and pay $50 for your marriage license instead of $125. One enrollment covers both of you, and your signed, notarized Educator's Statement comes in the mail.
- License fee $50 instead of $125: $75 back in every Minnesota county
- $29.97 per couple, not per person
- 100% online and self-paced, progress saves
- Original notarized statement on letterhead, mailed by USPS
- Money-back guarantee with no time limit
The course pays for itself: Minnesota drops the marriage license fee from $125 to $50 for couples who finish 12 hours of premarital education. That is $75 back, in every county.
Start the course – $29.97 per coupleOne price covers both of you. Signed, notarized Educator's Statement mailed to your door. Standard, Faith-Friendly or Inclusive version.
Minnesota premarital course: the facts
Under Minn. Stat. 517.08, a Minnesota marriage license costs $125, or $50 for couples who completed at least 12 hours of premarital education that included a premarital inventory and communication and conflict management skills. Our online course costs $29.97 per couple, so it pays for itself and leaves $45.03 over.
| The law | Minn. Stat. 517.08, subdivision 1b (explained) |
|---|---|
| License fee | $125 without the course, $50 with it ($75 saved) |
| Length | At least 12 hours, online, self-paced, progress saves |
| What it covers | A premarital inventory, communication and conflict management, as the law requires |
| Who takes it | Both partners, on one enrollment |
| Proof | Educator's Statement on letterhead, signed, dated and notarized, mailed by USPS (usually 3 to 7 business days) |
| Where to use it | The marriage license office in any of Minnesota's 87 counties |
| Price | $29.97 per couple, money-back guarantee with no time limit |
| Instructor | Kristen Franzen, ordained minister and Minnesota LPCC (CC04980) |
| Versions | Standard, Faith-Friendly, Inclusive (LGBTQ+ couples) |
Save $75 in 3 steps
Take the course together
Enroll once for $29.97. Work through the 12 hours as a couple, over a couple of weekends or a few weeks.
Get your statement in the mail
Kristen signs and dates your Educator's Statement on letterhead, it is notarized, and we mail it to your home by USPS.
Apply at your county
Hand the statement in with your application at any Minnesota county license office and pay $50 instead of $125.
What your Educator's Statement looks like
Your statement is on letterhead and uses the wording Minnesota law sets out: both of your full legal names, the 12 hours of premarital education with a premarital inventory and communication and conflict management skills, and Kristen's name. Kristen signs and dates it by hand, it is notarized, and we mail it to you by USPS, ready to hand to the county with your application.
Use your names exactly as they will appear on your marriage license application.
What couples say
“We took the course over a weekend. Kristen’s mailed notarized statement arrived in Minneapolis in 3 days. We walked into the Hennepin County Government Center and our fee was immediately dropped to $50. Paid for itself and more!”
“Super easy to complete together at our own pace. We chose the Faith-Friendly track and appreciated the thoughtful discussion prompts. Accepted with zero questions at Ramsey County in St. Paul.”
Why couples finish this course
Most couples sign up for the $75 and come away with more than that. Minnesota's law asks for a premarital inventory plus communication and conflict skills, and the course teaches them as things you practice together, not lectures to sit through.
The fee is set by state law, so the statement works the same way in Hennepin, Ramsey, Dakota, Anoka, St. Louis, Olmsted or any other county. Some counties add their own format rules; our county pages list them.
Want the legal detail? Read Minn. Stat. 517.08 explained.
County guides: Hennepin County (Minneapolis) · Ramsey County (St. Paul) · Dakota County (Hastings) · Anoka County (Anoka)
What you will cover
- A premarital inventory you complete together
- Communication that keeps hard talks calm
- Conflict management and repairing after a fight
- Money and the finances you will share
Pick the version that fits you
Every version is 12 hours and comes with the same mailed, notarized Educator's Statement.
Standard
Evidence-based, secular curriculum: communication, money and conflict resolution.
Faith-Friendly
Christian principles and spiritual discussion alongside practical relationship tools.
Inclusive
An affirming curriculum written for LGBTQ+ couples and their relationship dynamics.
Taught by a counselor and minister who signs your statement
Kristen Franzen, MA, LPCC, LMHC, LPC, NCC, wrote and teaches the course. She is an ordained minister with the Universal Life Church, which is the basis on which Minn. Stat. 517.08 lets her provide premarital education. She is also a Minnesota Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (CC04980), a Florida Licensed Mental Health Counselor (MH22317) and a National Certified Counselor, and the founder of Cadenza Counseling LLC.
She reviews each Minnesota completion and signs every Educator's Statement herself; each one is then notarized.
Read Kristen's full bio and credentials
Reviewed by Kristen Franzen, LPCC. Facts checked against Minnesota Statutes 517.08 and county marriage license offices. Last updated .
Minnesota premarital course FAQ
How does the premarital course save us money in Minnesota?
Minnesota law (Minn. Stat. 517.08) sets the marriage license fee at $125, or $50 for couples who completed at least 12 hours of premarital education. That is $75 off, the same in every county. The course costs $29.97 per couple, so you keep $45.03.
Do both of us need to pay?
No. One enrollment at $29.97 covers both partners. You go through the course as a couple and get one Educator's Statement with both of your names on it.
How long does the course take?
Minnesota requires at least 12 hours. The course is self-paced: log in and out over several days or weeks. Once you reach 12 hours and finish, we prepare your statement.
What does the Educator's Statement need to show?
State law asks for a statement on the educator's letterhead, signed, dated and notarized (or marked with a church seal), confirming that both of you received at least 12 hours of premarital education with a premarital inventory and communication and conflict management skills. Your names must match your license application exactly. We mail you that statement by USPS, usually within 3 to 7 business days.
Is there a waiting period to get married in Minnesota?
No. Minnesota has no waiting period. Your license is valid for six months, for a ceremony anywhere in Minnesota.
Where do we get our marriage license?
From the local registrar in any of Minnesota's 87 counties (usually Vital Records or a county service center). You do not have to apply in the county where you marry. Most counties let you start online and then sign in person. See our step-by-step license guide.
Who teaches the course, and why does she qualify?
Kristen Franzen. Minnesota lets a licensed or ordained minister provide premarital education for the reduced fee, and Kristen is an ordained minister (Universal Life Church). She is also a Minnesota Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (CC04980) and a National Certified Counselor, and she signs every Minnesota statement herself.
What if it does not work for us?
Every enrollment comes with a money-back guarantee with no time limit.