Birth, Marriage & Death Certificates

The City of Northfield cannot issue birth, marriage or death certificates. Please see information below on how to obtain these documents.

Birth and death certificates

Birth and death certificates are available through the Rice County recorder or Dakota County permits and licenses.

Obtaining a certified copy of a Minnesota birth certificate

If you were born in Minnesota from 1935 to the present, your birth certificate is on a statewide vital statistics system through the Minnesota Department of Health and is available through any county recorders office. If you were born before 1935, you will need to obtain a certified copy from the county in which you were born or the county where your mother resided at the time of your birth.

Obtaining a certified copy of a Minnesota death certificate

If the person died in Minnesota between January 1, 1997 to the present, the death certificate is on a statewide vital statistics system through the Minnesota Department of Health located in our office.

If the person died in Minnesota before January 1, 1997, you will need to obtain a certified copy from the county in which they died or the county where they resided at the time of the death.

Additional information

Rice County Recorder

Dakota County Permits & Licenses page

Marriage licenses

You may apply for a marriage license in any county in Minnesota regardless of residence or where the ceremony takes place, if you are going to be married within the geographical borders of Minnesota. Both parties applying for the marriage license must be present to sign the application.

Additional information

Rice County Recorder

Dakota County Permits & Licenses page