The earliest marriage recorded, but filed years later, was for Samuel McPeters and Mary Peterson who were married on March 24, 1872.  The first license recorded was for Anders Anderson and Christina Anderson who were married August 3, 1879.  According to the Dakota Territory law, marriage licenses were not required.  Marriage certificates could, but were not required to, “be filed with the clerk of the city or town where the marriage was solemnized, or where either of the parties reside, or the register of deeds of such county … ”  The person solemnizing a marriage had to furnish a signed certificate of the marriage, but only upon request by the parties.  The marriage certificates into 1886 consist only of a written statement by the person performing the wedding, giving the names of the bride and groom, and date and place of the wedding.  Likely, marriages were performed in the county that were not recorded at the county courthouse.  In 1886 a form began to be used that was completed by the person performing the wedding and returned to the courthouse.

In 1887 federal legislation was passed that required the person solemnizing a marriage to file a certificate of the marriage at the office of the probate court or in the office of the court having probate powers.  At the first session of the North Dakota Legislature in 1889-1890 a law was passed requiring that a marriage license be obtained from the county court.  The judge of the county court also was required to maintain a marriage record book.  On July 1, 1890 an “Application for Marriage License” form was implemented.

Marriage licenses were handled in the Cass County Clerk of Court office until January 1, 2001, when the responsibility was transferred to the County Treasurer’s office. 
 

Marriage Licenses  |  Cass County