Goodhue County Birth Records

Goodhue County birth records are held at the County Recorder office in Red Wing, on the Mississippi River in southeastern Minnesota. The office has birth certificates going back to 1870 and handles requests in person, by mail, or by email. If you need a certified copy of a birth record from Goodhue County, or if you are doing genealogy research in this part of the state, the Recorder office at the courthouse in Red Wing is where to go.

Goodhue County Recorder

The Goodhue County Recorder office is inside the Courthouse at 509 West Fifth Street in Red Wing. The office maintains birth and death records for Goodhue County and is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. In-person requests are handled at the counter. Bring a valid photo ID, the name and date of birth of the person on the record, and your payment. Staff will search the record and print your copy during the visit.

The Recorder office in Red Wing serves all towns and areas in Goodhue County. Birth records from 1870 give researchers solid coverage for the county, which includes communities along the Mississippi River and the southeastern edge of the Twin Cities metro. The office is easy to reach by phone at 651-385-3148 or by email at recorder@goodhuecountymn.gov if you want to ask questions before making the trip.

Getting a Birth Certificate from Goodhue County

The Recorder office in Red Wing handles birth certificate requests in person, by mail, and by email. Going in person is the quickest route. Bring your photo ID, the name and date of birth of the person on the record, and your payment. Most requests are processed and completed the same day.

For mail requests, put together a written request that includes the person's full name, date of birth, and your relationship to them. Attach a copy of your photo ID and a check or money order for the fee. Send it to Goodhue County Recorder, Courthouse, 509 West Fifth Street, Red Wing, MN 55066. If you have questions about what to include, you can email recorder@goodhuecountymn.gov first. Turnaround for mail requests runs about one to two weeks.

The Minnesota Department of Health birth records ordering page is another option if you prefer to request at the state level. MDH holds records for all 87 counties and takes online orders through their website.

Goodhue County Birth Certificate Fees

Goodhue County charges $26 for the first certified copy of a birth certificate. Each additional copy ordered at the same time costs $19. These fees are set by Minn. Stat. § 144.225 and apply statewide.

The office accepts cash, check, money order, and credit card. Mail requests should include a check or money order payable to Goodhue County Recorder. If you need multiple copies for different purposes such as passport, Social Security, or financial matters, ordering them all at once in a single request is the most cost-effective approach.

Who Can Access Goodhue County Birth Records

Minnesota restricts certified birth certificate access to close family members and authorized parties. Under Minn. Stat. § 144.225, eligible requestors include the person named on the record (if of legal age), a parent, legal guardian, spouse, adult child, or an authorized representative with written permission. You need a valid photo ID to get a certified copy regardless of how you submit your request.

Non-certified copies are available for genealogy research and are easier to access. These copies can't be used for legal purposes but work fine for family history. Older records may have fewer restrictions. The Minnesota Historical Society vital records guide is a useful tool for researching older Goodhue County birth records that may be held in state archives.

Homeless youth have access to a no-cost birth certificate process under Minn. Stat. § 144.2255. The MDH homeless youth page explains how to apply.

Minnesota County Vital Records Directory

The Minnesota Department of Health maintains a directory of all county vital records offices at health.state.mn.us/people/vitalrecords/registrars.html, including Goodhue County.

The directory lists each county's Recorder or Auditor office with phone numbers and addresses, making it easy to find the right contact for any county birth record request.

Research Resources for Goodhue County

If you're researching family history in Goodhue County, the Recorder office in Red Wing is a strong starting point. Birth records dating to 1870 cover most of the period since the county was organized. For older or harder-to-find records, the Minnesota Historical Society's statewide vital records resources can fill in gaps that county records don't cover.

For a full list of county contacts across Minnesota, the MDH county directory at health.state.mn.us/people/vitalrecords/registrars.html is the most complete source. Third-party ordering through VitalChek is available for online requests, though their service fee is added on top of the county fee. If cost matters, ordering directly through the county or state is the cheaper option.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near Goodhue County in southeastern Minnesota. Each county Recorder handles birth records for that area.