General State Laws
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MICHIGAN
A minister of the gospel who is ordained or authorized by his or her church to
perform marriages and who is a pastor of a church in this state, or continues to
preach the gospel in this state may perform marriages. --- Ministers must
complete a marriage certificate and give one to the couple. Another marriage
certificate must be returned to the county clerk who issued the license within 10
days after the marriage. --- For questions see the county clerk.
MINNESOTA
Any licensed or ordained minister of the gospel in regular communion with a
religious society may perform marriages. --- Ministers must file a copy of their
credentials of ordination with the clerk of the district court of any county. ---
Ministers must give a marriage certificate to the bride and groom and also file a
certificate with the clerk of the district court in the county which issued the
marriage license. --- For questions see the clerk of the district court.
MISSISSIPPI
Any ordained minister of the gospel who is in good standing with his or her
church may perform marriages. --- Ministers must send a certificate of marriage
to the clerk who issued the marriage license within three months after the
marriage. --- For questions see the clerk of the circuit court.
MISSOURI
Marriages may be performed by any clergyman who is a citizen of the United
States and who is in good standing with any church or synagogue in this state.
--- Ministers must keep a record of all marriages they perform. They must give
the couple a marriage certificate and must complete the marriage license and
return it to the recorder of deeds within 90 days after the marriage license was
issued. --- For questions see the recorder of deeds.
MONTANA
Ministers of the gospel of any denomination may perform marriages. --- Ministers
must complete and return a marriage certificate to the clerk of the district court
within 30 days after the marriage. Also the minister must provide marriage
certificates to the bride and groom upon request. ---For questions see the clerk
of the district court.
NEBRASKA
Any ordained clergyman whatsoever, without regard to the sect to which they
belong may perform marriages. --- Ministers must report marriages they perform
to the county judge who issued the marriage license within 15 days after the
marriage. Also the minister must provide marriage certificates to the bride and
groom upon request. --- For questions see the county clerk.
NEVADA
Any ordained minister in good standing with his denomination, whose
denomination is incorporated or organized or established in the State of Nevada
may perform marriages. --- Ministers are required to complete a complicated
procedure to obtain a certificate of permissions to perform marriages. Among
other requirements, the applicant's ministry must be primarily one of service to
his congregation or denomination and his performance of marriages must be
incidental to such service. See the county clerk for applications, and for any
questions you may have.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Marriages may be performed by any ordained minister of the gospel who resides
in the state and is in good standing with his church. Ministers not residing in the
state may obtain permission to perform a marriage upon application to the
Secretary of State. --- Ministers must send a copy of the marriage certificate to
the town clerk. ---For questions see the town clerk.
NEW JERSEY
Every minister of every religion may perform marriages. --- Ministers must
complete a certificate of marriage and return it to the county clerk. --- For
questions see the county clerk.
NEW MEXICO
Any ordained clergyman whatsoever, without regard to the sect to which he or
she may belong may perform marriages. --- Ministers must provide the county
clerk with a marriage certificate within 90 days after the marriage. --- For
questions see the county clerk.
NEW YORK
Marriages may be Performed by a clergyman or minister of any religion.
However, a 1972 court case said that in order for a marriage to be valid, the
minister must have an actual church or at least a stated meeting place for
worship or any form of religious observance. --
Ministers do not have to be licensed except that before performing marriages in
New York City, the minister must register his or her name and address in the
office of the city clerk of the city of New York. --- Ministers must complete a
marriage certificate and return it to the town or city clerk who issued the
marriage license within 5 days after the marriage. --- For questions see the town
or city clerk.
OHIO
Any ordained or licensed minister of any religious society or congregation within
this state may perform marriages. --- Before performing a marriage, ministers
must present their ordination credentials to the probate judge of any county.
The judge will provide the minister with a license to perform marriages. The
minister must then present his license to the probate judge in any county in
which he performs a marriage. ---Ministers must send a certificate of marriage to
the probate judge of the county which issued the marriage license within 30 days
after the marriage. --- For questions see the clerk of the probate court.
NORTH CAROLINA
Any ordained minister of any faith who is authorized to perform marriages by his
church may do so. --- ministers must complete the marriage license and return it
to the register of deeds who issued it. --- For questions see the register of
deeds.
OKLAHOMA
Ordained ministers of the gospel of any denomination who are at least 18 years
of age may perform marriages. --- Ministers must file a copy of their credentials
with the county clerk before performing marriages. ---Ministers must complete a
certificate of marriage and return it to the clerk or judge who issued the marriage
license. --- For questions see the clerk of the county court.
NORTH DAKOTA
Ordained ministers of the gospel and priests of every church may perform
marriages. --- Ministers must file a certificate of marriage with the county judge
who issued the license within 5 days after the marriage. Certificates must also be
given to the persons married. --- For questions see the county clerk.
OREGON
Ministers of any church organized, carrying on its work, and having
congregations in this state may perform marriages in this state if authorized by
their church to do so. --- Before performing marriages, ministers must file their
credentials with the county clerk of the county in which they reside or in which
the marriage is to be performed. --- Ministers must give the bride and groom a
marriage certificate upon request. Also, the minister must send a marriage
certificate to the county clerk who issued the marriage license within one month
after the marriage. --- For questions see the county clerk.
PENNSYLVANIA
Ministers of any regularly established church or congregation may perform
marriages. Also, persons may marry themselves if they obtain a certificate from
the clerk of the orphans' court. --- Ministers must provide a certificate of
marriage to the bride and groom. Also, they must send a marriage certificate to
the clerk of the orphans' court who issued the marriage license within 10 days
after the marriage. --- For questions see the clerk of the orphans' court.
RHODE ISLAND
Everyone who has been, or is, the minister of any society professing to meet for
religious purposes, or incorporated for the promotion of such purposes, and
holding stated and regular services, and who has been ordained according to
the customs and usage's of such society may perform marriages. --- Ministers
must obtain a license from the city or town clerk before performing marriages. ---
Ministers must endorse and return the marriage license to the town or city clerk
in which the marriage was performed. --- For questions see the town or city
clerk.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Ministers of the gospel who are authorized to administer oaths in this state may
perform marriages. --- Ministers must complete the marriage license and give
one copy to the parties and the other two must be returned to the county judge
of probate who issued it within 15 days after the marriage. --- For questions see
the county judge of probate or his clerk.
SOUTH DAKOTA
Marriages may be performed by a minister of the gospel, or priest of any
denomination. --- Ministers must provide the bride and groom with marriage
certificates upon request. Ministers must also keep a record book of all
marriages they perform. Finally, the minister must send a marriage certificate to
the clerk who issued the marriage license within 30 days after the marriage. ---
For questions see the clerk of courts.
TENNESSEE
All regular ministers of the gospel of every denomination, and Jewish rabbis,
more than 18 years of age, having the care of souls may perform marriages. ---
Ministers must endorse the marriage license and return it to the clerk of the
county court within three days after the marriage. ---For questions see the
county clerk.
TEXAS
Ordained Christian ministers and priests; Jewish rabbis and persons who are
officers of religious organizations and who are duly authorized by the
organization to conduct marriage ceremonies may perform marriages. ---
Ministers must complete the marriage license and return it to the county clerk
who issued it within 30 days after the marriage. --- For questions see the county
clerk.
UTAH
Ministers of the gospel or priests of any denomination who are in regular
communion with any religious society may perform marriages. ---Ministers must
provide a certificate of marriage to the county clerk who issued the marriage
license within 30 days after the marriage. --- For questions see the county clerk.
VERMONT
Ordained ministers residing in this state may perform marriages. Non-resident
ordained ministers may perform marriages with the permission of the probate
court of the district within which the marriage is to take place. --- Ministers must
complete the marriage license and certificate of marriage and return it to the
clerk's office from which it was issued within ten days from the date of the
marriage. --- For questions see the town clerk.
VIRGINIA
Ministers of any religious denomination may perform marriages. --- Before
performing marriages, ministers must provide proof of their ordination and proof
that they are in regular communion with their church to the circuit court of any
county or city or to the corporation court of any city in this state. The judge will
then authorize the minister to perform marriages provided the minister obtains a
bond in the amount of 500 dollars. --- Ministers may receive a fee of no more
than 10 dollars for performing a marriage. ---Ministers must complete the
marriage certificate and return it to the clerk who issued the marriage license
within five days after the marriage. --- For questions see the clerk of the county
circuit court or the clerk of the corporation court.
VIRGIN ISLANDS
Clergymen or ministers of any religion, whether they reside in the Virgin Islands
or elsewhere in the United States may perform marriages. ---Ministers must
complete the marriage license and return it to the clerk of the municipal court
which issued the license within 10 days after the marriage is performed. --- For
questions see the clerk of the municipal court.
WASHINGTON
Regularly licensed or ordained ministers or any priest of any church or religious
denomination anywhere within the state may perform marriages.--- Ministers
must send two certificates of marriage to the county auditor within 30 days after
the marriage. --- For questions see the county auditor.
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Ordained ministers of the gospel may perform marriages. --- Marriage licenses
are addressed to the minister who will perform the ceremony. The minister must
complete a marriage certificate for the bride and for the groom and return
another certificate to the clerk of the District of Columbia Court of General
Sessions within 10 days after the marriage. --- For questions see the clerk of the
Court of General Sessions.
WEST VIRGINIA
Any minister, priest or rabbi, over the age of eighteen years, may perform
marriages. --- Before performing marriages, ministers must provide proof of their
ordination to the clerk of any county court. The clerk will then provide the
minister with an order authorizing them to perform marriages. --- Ministers must
return the completed marriage license to the county clerk who issued it on or
before the fifth day of the month following the marriage. --- For questions see
the clerk of the county court.
WISCONSIN
Any ordained clergyman of any religious denomination or society may perform
marriages. --
-Before performing marriages, ministers must file their credentials of ordination
with the clerk of the circuit court in the county in which their church is located.
The clerk will give the minister a certificate. --- Ministers must complete the
marriage certificates and give one to the bride and one to the groom. The
original must be returned to the register of deed's of the county in which the
marriage was performed or if performed in a city, to the city health officer. This
must be done within 3 days after the marriage. --- For questions see the clerk of
the circuit court.
WYOMING
Every licensed or ordained minister of the gospel may perform marriages. ---
Ministers must give a marriage certificate to the bride and groom upon request
and must return a certificate to the county clerk. -- - For questions see the
county clerk.
