Cass County Marriage License Database search page

The marriage licenses at the Institute for Regional Studies span from the beginning of the recording of marriages in Cass County in the 1870s through July 1944. The issuing of marriage licenses was not required until 1887, although documentation for some earlier marriages was filed with the county . If a known marriage in Cass County is not found in the database, likely the only place it is recorded is in the records of a church or clergyman’s papers.

Individual licenses vary as to the type of documents and information included. The earliest documents are simply written statements by the clergyman or justice of the peace who performed the marriage. Only later are there forms that had to be completed and that required additional data be provided. The names of the parents of the groom and bride were asked only for several years in the early 1890s.

Ordering copies

The Cass County marriage licenses are open for public use in the research room of the Institute for Regional Studies. Photocopying is available. Mail and e-mail (ndsu.library.archives@ndsu.edu) photocopy requests are also available at a charge of $5.00 per marriage license, which includes a copy of the license and any supporting documents found in the file. Mail and e-mail requests should include the license number and names of the bride and groom. For e-mail requests please be sure to include your postal address. Prepayment is not required, rather a university billing will be sent with the copies. To bill an individual the NDSU Business Office requires the requester’s data of birth (used to set up your account).

Update history

Database mounted April 2002