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.
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 bride and to the groom.
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. --- Ministers must be licensed
before performing marriages. See the local county
clerk for a license. --- Ministers must return the
marriage license and marriage certificate to the
county clerk within 3 months after the marriage. ---
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
Ordained ministers of the gospel may perform
marriages. --- We were informed that there is no
requirement for ministers in this state. For questions
see the town clerk.
MARYLAND
Any minister of the gospel authorized by the rules and
customs of their church may perform marriages. ---
Minister must complete the marriage license and
marriage certificate and give one certificate to the
couple. Another certificate and the license must be
returned to the clerk of the Court of Common Pleas
within five days after themarriage. --- For questions
see the clerk of the Court of Common Pleas.
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 a letter
of good standing 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.
(According to the county clerk, you must be a resident
of Nevada to perform weddings there.)
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 in the state of New York or at
least a stated meeting place for worship or any form
of religious observance. According to the City Clerk,
filing ordination credentials in not required. To be
eligible to perform weddings, you must be officially
recognized by your (New York) parish to be able to
perform that function. No other proof of that
authority is required.
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.
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.
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.
OHIO
You must request a license to perform a marriage in
Ohio and can receive one from the Office of the
Secretary of State.
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.
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. --- 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.
