Birth & Death Certificates

Birth Records 

Obtain a Certified Copy of a Minnesota Birth Certificate

If you were born before 1935: Birth certificates will take longer to process pending notification of county of birth and verification by the state.

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 located in our office.

Obtain A Certified Copy In Person

Customers should come to the License Center office with a picture ID and fill out the application. The certificate will be printed in the office.

Obtain A Certified Copy By Mail

You must complete a Minnesota Birth Record Application (PDF) and sign the form in front of a notary public. You will need to show the notary public a valid photo identification such as a driver’s license. Birth certificate requests are processed within one to three business days of when we receive them.

Send $26 for the first copy and $19 for each additional copy requested for the same record. Make your check payable to Watonwan County License Center.

Send the completed application and check to:

Watonwan County License Center              Attention:  Sylvia Kunz - sylvia.kunz@co.watonwan.mn.us
710 Second Avenue S                                                  Jessica Suess - jessica.suess@co.watonwan.mn.us
P.O. Box 518                                                                 Jill Fast - jill.fast@co.watonwan.mn.us
St. James, MN 56081

Note: You must have tangible interest as indicated on the application to obtain a certified birth record.

Obtain a Non-certified Copy of a Birth Certificate

Complete a Non Certified Birth Record Application (PDF) and sign the form in front of a notary public. You will need to show the notary public a valid photo identification such as a driver’s license. Birth certificate requests are processed within one to three business days of when we receive them.

Make a check for $13 payable to Watonwan County License Center. Each additional copy is $6.

Send the completed application and check to:

Watonwan County License Center                            Attention:  Sylvia Kunz - sylvia.kunz@co.watonwan.mn.us
710 Second Avenue S                                                                Jessica Suess - jessica.suess@co.watonwan.mn.us
P.O. Box 518                                                                               Jill Fast - jill.fast@co.watonwan.mn.us
St. James, MN 56081

Death Records 

Obtain a Certified Copy of a Minnesota Death Certificate

If the death occurred in Minnesota before January 1, 1997: You will need to obtain a certified copy from the county in which they died.

If the death occurred 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 accessible by our office.

Obtain A Certified Copy In Person

Customers should come to the License Center office with a picture ID and fill out the application. The certificate will be printed in the office.

Obtain A Certified Copy By Mail

• You must complete a Minnesota Death Record Application (PDF) and sign the form in front of a notary public. You will need to show the notary public valid photo identification such as a driver’s license.
• Send $13 for the first copy and $6 for each additional copy requested for the same record. Make your check payable to Watonwan County License Center
• Send the completed application and check to:

Watonwan County License Center                           Attention:  Sylvia Kunz - sylvia.kunz@co.watonwan.mn.us
710 Second Avenue S                                                               Jessica Suess - jessica.suess@co.watonwan.mn.us
P.O. Box 518                                                                              Jill Fast - jill.fast@co.watonwan.mn.us
St. James, MN 56081

Note: You must have tangible interest as indicated on the application to obtain a certified death record.

Obtain a Non Certified Copy of a Death Certificate

• Complete a Minnesota Non Certified Death Record Application (PDF).

•  Make a $13 check payable to Watonwan County License Center.

• Send the completed application and check to:

Watonwan County License Center                             Attention: Sylvia Kunz - sylvia.kunz@co.watonwan.mn.us
710 Second Avenue S                                                                Jessica Suess - jessica.suess@co.watonwan.mn.us
P.O. Box 518                                                                              Jill Fast - jill.fast@co.watonwan.mn.us
St. James, MN 56081