Source: https://nacministers.net/faq/knowledgebase/officiants-state-requirements/
Timestamp: 2020-07-03 16:29:56
Document Index: 152495793

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 1', 'art 1', '§ 657', '§ 655', '§ 654', '§ 659', 'art 2']

Officiants State Requirements Part 1 | Frequently Asked Questions
National Association of Christian Ministers Network
Ordination etc. Apps
Officiants State Requirements Part 1
This is an overview of the requirements for ministers performing wedding ceremonies in each State. We strive to provide accurate information. However, this content should not be considered legal counsel or advice. It is the responsibility of the officiant to know the laws which regulate the State (and sometimes county) of where they provide services.
Alabama: Any licensed minister of the gospel in regular communion with the Christian church or society of which he is a member may perform marriages. Also, marriages may be performed by the pastor of any religious society according to the rules of the religious society. — Ministers must provide a certificate of the marriage to the judge of probate within one month after the marriage. — For questions see the clerk for the judge of probate.
Alaska: The minister, priest or rabbi of any church or congregation in the state may perform marriages. — Ministers must provide marriage certificates to the newlyweds and report the marriage to the Marriage Commissioner. — For questions see the municipal clerk.
Arizona: Any licensed or ordained clergyman may perform marriages. — Ministers must record the marriage on the marriage license and return it to the clerk of the Superior Court within 20 days after the marriage. — For questions see the clerk of the Superior Court
Arkansas: Any regularly ordained minister or priest of any religious sect or denomination may perform marriages.— Ministers must have their ordination credentials filed by the county clerk who will then issue a certificate to the minister.— The marriage license must be completed by the minister and returned to the county clerk within 60 days from the date the license was issued.— For questions see the county clerk.
California: Any priest, minister, or rabbi of any religious denomination, of the age of 18 years or over may perform marriages. — Ministers must complete the marriage license and return it to the county clerk within 4 days after the marriage. — For questions see the county clerk.
Colorado: Marriages may be performed by any minister. — Ministers must send a marriage certificate to the county clerk. — For questions see the county clerk.
Connecticut: All ordained or licensed clergymen belonging to this state or any other state may perform marriages as long as they continue in the work of the ministry. — – Marriage license must be completed by the minister and returned to the city or town clerk. — For questions see the city or town clerk.
Delaware: Any ordained minister of the gospel and every minister in charge of a recognized church may perform marriages. — Ministers do not need to be licensed to perform marriages, but they must report their name and address to the local registrar in the district in which they live. — Ministers must keep the marriage license or a copy for at least one year. Also, the minister must, within 4 days, complete and return forms required by the State Board of Health to the clerk of the peace. — For questions see the clerk of the peace.
District of Columbia: 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 couple 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.
Florida: All regularly ordained ministers of the gospel in communion with some church may perform marriages. — Ministers must complete a certificate of marriage on the marriage license and return it to the office from which it was issued. — For questions see the county clerk.
Georgia: Any minister who is authorized by his or her church may perform marriages. — Ministers must complete a certificate of marriage and return it to the ordinary within 30 days after the marriage. — For questions see the ordinary’s clerk at the county courthouse.
Hawaii: Any minister may perform marriages if they are authorized by their church to do so.— Ministers must obtain a license from the department of health before performing marriages.— Ministers must keep a record of all marriages they perform.— Ministers must report all marriages they perform to the department of health.— For questions see the department of health.
Idaho Marriages may be performed by priests or ministers of the gospel of any denomination. — Ministers must give a marriage certificate to the bride and to the groom. Also, the minister must complete the license and marriage certificate and return it to the recorder who issued it within 30 days after the marriage. — For questions see the county recorder.
Illinois: Marriages may be performed by ministers of the gospel in regular standing in the church or society to which they belong. — The marriage license and certificate must be completed by the minister and returned to the county clerk within 30 days after the marriage. — For questions see the county clerk.
Indiana: Ministers of the gospel and priests of every church throughout the state may perform marriages. —Ministers must return the marriage license and a certificate of marriage to the clerk of the circuit court within 3 months after the marriage. —For questions see the clerk of the circuit court.
Iowa: Ministers of the gospel who are ordained by their church may perform marriages. — Minister must give a certificate of marriage to the newlyweds. Also, the minister must report the marriage to the clerk of the district court within 15 days after the marriage. — For questions see the clerk of the district court.
Kansas: Any ordained clergyman of any religious denomination or society may perform marriages.–Ministers are required to file credentials or ordination with the judge of a probate court before performing marriages.— Minister must return the marriage license and a certificate of marriage to the probate judge who issued the marriage license within 10 days after the marriage.— For questions see the clerk of the probate court.
Kentucky: Marriages may be performed by any minister of the gospel or priests of any denomination with any religious society. — At the present time there are no licensing requirements applicable to ministers or priests who wish to perform marriages in Kentucky. — Minister solemnizing the marriage or the clerk of the religious society before whom it was solemnized “shall within ONE MONTH return the license to the county clerk of the county in which it was issued, with a certificate of the marriage over his signature, giving the date and place of the marriage ceremony and the names of at least two of the persons present.— It is illegal to solicit marriages.— For questions see the county clerk.
Louisiana: Ministers of the gospel or priests of any denomination in regular communion with any religious society may perform marriages. — Ministers must register with the clerk of the district court of the parish or with the health department if in New Orleans. — After performing a marriage, the minister must complete a marriage certificate and return it to the clerk of the district court. — For questions see the clerk of the district court.
Maine: “A marriage, solemnized before any known inhabitant of the State professing to be a justice, judge, justice of the peace or notary public, or an ordained or licensed minister of the gospel, is not void, nor is its validity affected by any want of jurisdiction or authority in the justice, judge, justice of the peace, notary or minister or by any omission or informality in entering the intention of marriage, if the marriage is in other respects lawful and consummated with a full belief, on the part of either of the persons married, that they are lawfully married.”
o (Title 19A § 657) Whether a resident or nonresident of this State and whether or not a citizen of the United States: An ordained minister of the gospel; A cleric engaged in the service of the religious body to which the cleric belongs; or A person licensed to preach by an association of ministers, religious seminary or ecclesiastical body.
o (Title 19A § 655) “Every person authorized to unite persons in marriage shall make and keep a record of every marriage solemnized by that person in conformity with the forms and instructions prescribed by the State Registrar of Vital Statistics…”
o (Title 19A § 654) “A person who solemnizes a marriage when not authorized to do so under section 655 commits a civil violation for which a forfeiture not to exceed $100 for each offense may be adjudged. Forfeitures collected must be distributed to the municipality in which the offense occurred.”
o (Title 19A § 659) Official Information: • Maine’s State Legislature (search statutes) If questions should arise concerning any aspect of the marriage process or marriage laws in the State of Maine, the Department of Human Services, Bureau of Vital Records is the state agency which handles information for this particular area. You may contact this office at: 207.287.3181
Maryland: In Maryland, any adult can sign as clergy, as long as the couple who are getting married agree that he is a clergy. The celebrant doesn’t have to be a resident, register in advance, or fulfil any other requirements. —For questions see the clerk of the circuit court.
Massachusetts: Ordained ministers of the gospel may perform marriages. — Before performing marriages, ministers are required to apply for a certificate from the state. For applications write to: The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Office of the Secretary, Supervisor, Commissions Division, State House, Boston, Massachusetts 02133.You must file a copy of your ordination certificate and a statement from the church saying that you are in good standing. Please let us know well in advance if you need a statement from us. Ministers must keep records of all marriages they perform. Also, ministers must return a certificate of the marriage to the town clerk or registrar who issued the marriage license and to the town clerk of the town where the marriage was performed. — For questions see the town clerk or registrar or write to the Secretary of State.
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.
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 apply for 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 Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS)Certificates of Permission to perform marriages.
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 city/town clerk.
New Jersey: In New Jersey, “[various government officials] and every minister of every religion, are hereby authorized to solemnize marriage between such persons as may lawfully enter into the matrimonial relation; and every religious society, institution or organization in this State may join together in marriage such persons according to the rules and customs of the society, institution or organization.” It is a misdemeanor for someone not so authorized to “solemnize” a marriage and it is a misdemeanor for someone who is authorized to perform a marriage without the presentation of a license.
o (Title 37:1-13,15) As in most states, the prospective newlyweds give the marriage license directly to the minister: “Before a marriage can be lawfully performed in this state, the persons intending to be married shall obtain a marriage license from the licensing officer and deliver it to the person who is to officiate, but if the marriage is to be performed by or before any religious society, institution or organization, the license shall be delivered to such religious society, institution or organization, or any officer thereof.”
o (Title 37:1-2) A clergyman is also permitted to do “work of a psychological nature consistent with the accepted standards of their respective professions” and “work of a marriage and family therapy nature, …, when acting within the scope of the person’s profession or occupation and doing work consistent with the person’s training”. (Title 45:14B-8, 8B-8)
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: Important Note: The City of New York has significantly different laws and procedures from the rest of the state. See “New York City” below. 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. To be valid, a marriage ceremony must be performed by any of the individuals specified in Section 11 of the New York State Domestic Relations Law. These include:
If the address on your Driver’s License is within NYC limits, you will need three things to be able to perform marriages within NYC, instead of only one.
Founding Document, and
A Letter signed by one member of your Congregation.
In cases where the denomination publishes a directory of its clergy, the registrant may show that he or she is listed in that directory. If the registrant’s name does not yet appear in the denominational directory, the registrant claiming membership in that denomination may instead present written confirmation for that membership from the body that puts out the directory. Such confirmation can also consist of a certificate or letter showing that the registrant graduated from the seminary or theological school pertaining to the denomination
North Carolina: Marriage Officiants: 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.
North Dakota: Marriage Officiants: 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.
Click Here to Continue to Page –> 2 of 2
Last Updated: 5 months ago in Policy
EINs and Tax Exemptions
Officiants State Requirements Part 2
© 2020 Frequently Asked Questions • Powered by God's Strength