Scott County Marriage License
Applying in Scott County? Fill out the form online, then walk in at the Government Center in Shakopee, no appointment needed. Bring an educator's statement whose names match your application exactly, middle names included, and the license is $50 instead of $125. Our course mails you that statement.
- Scott County fee with our statement: $50 instead of $125
- 12 hours, online, one enrollment for both of you
- Original signed, notarized Educator's Statement mailed by USPS
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.
Scott County marriage license at a glance
| Where | Scott County Customer Service, Scott County Government Center, 200 Fourth Avenue West, Shakopee, MN 55379 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Walk-in service during Government Center business hours; the walk-in line closes at 4:00 p.m. |
| Phone | 952-496-8432 |
| Fee | $125 without premarital education |
| Fee with statement | $50 with an educator's statement for 12 hours of premarital education |
| Included | The $50 fee applies only if you hand in the educator's statement when you apply. A 2.15% convenience fee is added to credit card payments. Extra certified copies of your marriage certificate cost $9 each. |
| Payment | Cash, check, or credit/debit card (2.15% convenience fee on credit cards). |
| Waiting period | None. The license is valid for six months anywhere in Minnesota |
Source: Scott County marriage license page. Fees and rules can change; check the county's page before you go.
How to apply in Scott County
- Take premarital education first. 12 hours together. Our online Minnesota premarital course is $29.97 per couple; allow time for the mailed statement.
- Fill out Scott's marriage license application online, any time.
- Both of you come to the Government Center in Shakopee to sign the application, pay and pick up your license. No appointment is needed: scan the standby QR code on the entry sign to join the walk-in list.
- If one of you cannot come, that partner completes Scott's supplemental application, has it notarized, and the partner who comes in brings it along.
The educator's statement in Scott County
Scott checks names closely: the names on the educator's statement must match the names on your license application exactly, as state law requires. If they do not match, staff stop the transaction, and you either come back later with a corrected statement or pay the full $125. Scott's sample statement asks for each partner's full first, middle and last legal name, the educator's letterhead, and an original signature that is notarized or carries a church seal. Our statement is signed, dated and notarized on letterhead.
What to bring
Valid government-issued photo ID for each of you.
After the wedding
Your officiant completes the county's Certificate of Marriage and returns it to Scott County within five days of the ceremony. Scott files it and mails one certified copy to the address on your application. Scott only issues certificates for licenses applied for in Scott County.
Good to know in Scott County
- Walk-in service is first come, first served and not guaranteed. When the office is at capacity you can wait outside, come back later, or leave paperwork in the drop box on Atwood Street between 4th and 5th Avenues. Come early: the walk-in line closes at 4:00 p.m.
- The 5th Avenue and Atwood Street entrances come in on the same floor as the Customer Service office; the 4th Avenue entrance means an elevator or a flight of stairs.
- Your officiant must have filed credentials with a Minnesota county before the ceremony. Scott publishes a list of judges and officiants registered there.
- Your ceremony needs two witnesses aged 16 or older.
What the course saves you in Scott County
| License without the course | $125 |
|---|---|
| License with our statement | $50 |
| You save at the court | $75 |
| Course, both of you | $29.97 |
| Money left over | $45.03, plus the skills |
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.
Reviewed by Kristen Franzen, LPCC. Facts checked against the Scott County marriage license page and Minn. Stat. 517.08. Last updated .
Scott County marriage license FAQ
How much is a marriage license in Scott County?
$125, or $50 with an educator's statement for at least 12 hours of premarital education (Scott County Customer Service). The $50 fee applies only if you hand in the educator's statement when you apply. A 2.15% convenience fee is added to credit card payments. Extra certified copies of your marriage certificate cost $9 each.
Does Scott County accept an online premarital course?
Minnesota law (Minn. Stat. 517.08) sets what counts: at least 12 hours with a premarital inventory and communication and conflict management skills, from a qualifying educator such as a licensed or ordained minister. It does not require the course to be in person. Scott checks names closely: the names on the educator's statement must match the names on your license application exactly, as state law requires. If they do not match, staff stop the transaction, and you either come back later with a corrected statement or pay the full $125. Scott's sample statement asks for each partner's full first, middle and last legal name, the educator's letterhead, and an original signature that is notarized or carries a church seal. Our statement is signed, dated and notarized on letterhead.
How do we apply in Scott County?
Fill out Scott's marriage license application online, any time. Both of you come to the Government Center in Shakopee to sign the application, pay and pick up your license. No appointment is needed: scan the standby QR code on the entry sign to join the walk-in list. If one of you cannot come, that partner completes Scott's supplemental application, has it notarized, and the partner who comes in brings it along.
Do we have to apply in Scott County?
No. A Minnesota license from any county can be used for a ceremony anywhere in Minnesota, so you can apply where it suits you. The ceremony must take place in Minnesota.
Can couples outside Shakopee take this course?
Yes. Couples in Prior Lake, Savage, Jordan, Belle Plaine and anywhere in Minnesota take the same course, and the fee rules are the same in every county.
Other counties: Hennepin County · Ramsey County · Dakota County · Anoka County. Applying somewhere else? See the Minnesota marriage license guide.