How Long After Divorce Can You Remarry in Minnesota

Minnesota Has No Waiting Period to Remarry

You can remarry immediately after your Minnesota dissolution is final. There is no mandatory waiting period between your final Judgment and Decree being entered and applying for a new marriage license.

Minnesota repealed its six-month post-divorce waiting period on March 1, 1979. Since then, the only timing constraint is the date the court administrator officially enters the decree — not the date the judge signs it, and not the date you receive your copy.

This puts Minnesota in the majority of U.S. states. But if your new partner divorced in a different state, check their rules too. Wisconsin, for example, still enforces a strict six-month waiting period after a divorce is granted.

When Exactly Is Your Divorce Final?

Your dissolution becomes legally effective on the date the court administrator enters the final Judgment and Decree into the court record. That entry date appears on the Certificate of Dissolution (Form DIV103), which is the condensed, certified document you should keep on hand for any post-decree administrative task.

There is a 60-day appellate window under Minnesota Rule 104.01 after the decree is entered. Either party can file a Notice of Appeal during that window to challenge errors of law. But this appeal window does not prevent you from remarrying — the decree is effective immediately upon entry, even if an appeal is later filed.

If either party filed a post-decision motion (such as a Motion to Amend Findings under Rule 52.02), the appeal clock pauses until the court disposes of that motion. Those motions do not affect the finality of the decree for remarriage purposes, though.

What You Need for a New Minnesota Marriage License

Both parties must complete and sign the application; in-person, remote, mail, or electronic options depend on the county. Minnesota requires:

• A valid government-issued photo ID (driver's license or passport)
• Information about any previous marriage's termination (date, place, and court)
• The $125 marriage license application fee ($50 with qualifying 12-hour premarital education)
• No waiting period between the license application and the ceremony; the license is valid for six months

If you changed your name through the dissolution and your identification still shows your former name, bring the certified dissolution document as proof of the name change and check the county's document requirements.

Remarriage and Its Effects on Support Obligations

Remarrying can change your spousal maintenance (alimony) obligation. Under Minnesota Statutes § 518.552, subd. 5a, spousal maintenance terminates automatically upon the recipient's remarriage unless the parties agreed otherwise in writing or the decree explicitly states otherwise.

Child support is not affected by either parent's remarriage. Your new spouse's income is not included in the child support calculation under Minnesota's guidelines.

If you are receiving Social Security divorced-spouse benefits (available if your marriage lasted at least 10 years), remarriage generally ends benefits paid on your former spouse's record. If you receive divorced-survivor benefits, remarriage after age 60 (or age 50 if disabled) generally does not prevent those benefits.

One Administrative Step Before Remarrying

Before you apply for a new marriage license, make sure your post-decree name and identity updates are complete. If your driver's license still shows your married name but you restored your former name through the decree, the licensing clerk may flag the inconsistency.

The fastest path: update Social Security first (Form SS-5, no fee, 10–14 business days), then visit a DVS office to update your driver's license within 30 days of the name change. Once your ID matches your current legal name, the marriage license application is straightforward.

If you are working through the full sequence of post-decree administrative updates — name changes, account separations, retirement transfers — our Minnesota After-Divorce Checklist walks through every step in order, with the specific forms, fees, and deadlines for each agency.

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