Information For Wedding Officiants:
State Recognition of Certification
Q: In what states am I certified to solemnize a
marriage as an Officiant or ceremonial minister?
A: The following is a synopsis of states that either
recognize or do not recognize Officiant Certification from First Nation
Ministry and the American
Council of Wedding Officiants. Under the terms of your
certification, you are required to
familiarize yourself with state, county and municipal codes in the area
in which you plan to conduct wedding ceremonies, and to comply with any
and all such laws, regulations and statutes.
You may perform wedding ceremonies according to Section
30-1-7 of the Alabama code with a basic
credential.
You may perform wedding ceremonies as a licensed Alaska
marriage minister in compliance with
Alaska Statute AS 25.05.261. Please check with your local town or
county clerk for procedural instructions.
You may perform wedding ceremonies according to
Title
25-124 (B) of the Arizona Revised Statutes, which states that
"'licensed or ordained clergymen' includes ministers, elders or other
persons who by the customs, rules and regulations of a religious society
or sect are authorized or permitted to solemnize marriages or to
officiate at marriage ceremonies."
You may perform wedding ceremonies according to Section
9-11-213 of the Arkansas statutes.
You may perform wedding ceremonies according to Section
400 of the California code with a basic or
complete California minister license.
You may perform wedding ceremonies as permitted by
Colorado statute 14-2-109 (1), which states "A marriage may be
solemnized ... by the parties to the marriage, or in accordance with any
mode of solemnization recognized by any religious denomination or Indian
nation or tribe."
You may perform wedding ceremonies.
You may perform wedding ceremonies.
District of Columbia
See information under
Washington, D.C.
You may perform wedding ceremonies with a
basic credential.
You may perform wedding ceremonies.
As an
ordained ceremonial minister, you may perform wedding ceremonies in
Hawaii; however, in addition to obtaining your required
Hawaii ministerial credential, you must also
register to obtain a license from the
Hawai‘i Department of Health before performing marriages. In
addition:
You may perform wedding ceremonies according to Idaho
Statute Title 32, Chapters 3 and 4.
http://www3.state.id.us/cgi-bin/newidst?sctid=320030003.K
http://www3.state.id.us/cgi-bin/newidst?sctid=320040005.K
You may perform wedding ceremonies according to
Chapter
750 of the Illinois Code.
You may perform wedding ceremonies according to
Indiana
Code 31-11-6-1.
You may perform wedding ceremonies with a
basic credential.
You may perform wedding ceremonies in accordance with
Kansas Statute 23-104a.
You may perform wedding ceremonies in accordance with
Kentucky Revised Statutes 402.050 and 402.070. Please note that
ministers in the state of Kentucky must
comply with KRS 402.090.
You may perform wedding ceremonies in accordance with
Louisiana Revised Statute 9 §202 ("Authority to perform marriage
ceremony"). All Officiants must complete a notarized affidavit (available
here) and register with their local parish clerk's office prior to
solemnizing marriages in Louisiana. NOTE: If you are planning to
officiate wedding ceremonies as a career or on a regular basis, a
complete ordination is recommended.
You may perform wedding ceremonies according to
Title
19A, Chapter 23, Paragraph 655.
You may perform wedding ceremonies.
NOTE: In Maryland, any
adult can sign as clergy, as long as those who are getting married agree
that he or she is clergy. The officiant or celebrant does not have to be a resident, register
in advance, or fulfill any other requirements.
You may perform wedding ceremonies.
You may perform wedding ceremonies. Marriages may be
solemnized by any of the following: (a) federal, probate, district, and
municipal judges, and district court magistrates, in their court area;
(b) mayors, in their city; (c) Wayne County clerks; (d) ministers of the
gospel, anywhere in the state, "if the minister is ordained or
authorized to solemnize marriages according to the usages of the
denomination, and is a pastor of a church in this state, or continues to
preach the gospel in this state"; and (a) non-resident ministers of
the gospel, anywhere in the state, if the minister is authorized to
solemnize marriages by his or her state's laws.
Minnesota Statute 517.05
requires that persons who are ordained to perform marriage ceremonies
(both Minnesota residents and non-residents) must be 21 years of age and
must register their certificate of ordination or ministerial license
before performing a marriage ceremony in Minnesota. Once the certificate
is registered, marriages may be performed anywhere in the state. There
is no expiration date on state registration. Contact your local county
office for more information. First Nation Minister applicants must request
Minnesota Complete Ordination to be eligible to solemnize marriages
in Minnesota. (Click here for more information.)
You may perform wedding ceremonies with a
basic credential.
You may perform wedding ceremonies with a
basic credential.
You may perform wedding ceremonies with a
basic credential.
You may perform wedding ceremonies with a
basic credential.
Nevada and its individual
counties require you to register in the county in which you will be
performing wedding ceremonies. Please know which specific county you
will be solemnizing marriages in! The state of Nevada and the individual
counties require specific paperwork from us, and you must pay the county
an additional fee. (This fee is not collected by the church.)
Pending.
You may perform wedding ceremonies according to Chapter
37, Paragraph 1-13.
You may perform wedding ceremonies.
You may perform wedding ceremonies in
New York State (except in New York City) with
a basic ordination, according to Section 11 of the Domestic Relations Law.
SPECIAL PROVISION:
In order to perform marriage
ceremonies within New York City's five boroughs, you must personally register with the
City of New York
Marriage Bureau, and must provide additional
documentation that is only available in the
complete New York ordination package.
You may perform wedding ceremonies.
You may perform wedding ceremonies with a
basic credential.
Under Chapter 3101.08 of the Ohio Revised Code,
you may perform wedding ceremonies. The Ohio Secretary of State's office
does require full credentials with original signatures that are
only available in the complete Ohio wedding
minister ordination
package.
You may perform wedding ceremonies.
You may perform wedding ceremonies with a basic
or complete Oregon credential.
You may perform wedding ceremonies.
You are permitted to perform wedding ceremonies with a
basic credential. You must, however,
confirm your eligibility and local regulations with the Demographic
Registry Office in Santurce at least sixty days in advance of the
wedding to confirm your eligibility to perform wedding ceremonies
anywhere in Puerto Rico.
You may perform wedding ceremonies.
You may perform wedding ceremonies.
You may perform wedding ceremonies with a
basic credential.
You may perform marriages in Tennessee.
You may perform wedding ceremonies with a basic
Texas ministerial credential.
You may perform wedding ceremonies.
You may perform weddings if you
receive certification and are a resident of Vermont.
You may perform weddings in accordance with
Title 20-23 of the Code of Virginia. Some jurisdictions within the
Commonwealth may request a Letter of Good Standing or additional
credentials that are only available in the
complete ordination package.
You may perform wedding ceremonies.
You may perform wedding ceremonies with a basic
or complete Washington State wedding minister credential.
Due to local laws in the District of Columbia
restricting freedom of religion, you may not solemnize marriages in D.C.
as primary officiant at this time. However,
you may obtain a basic credential for
Virginia or Maryland, then have the Superior Court Clerk marry the
bridal couple in a private civil ceremony at Moultrie Courthouse (there
is no fee for this service, but it must be scheduled in advance). You
may then legally perform the public ceremony for family and friends at
any location within the District.
You may perform wedding ceremonies under a complete
ordination with West Virginia endorsement. The minister must
register with the local authority prior to performing ceremonies. Check
with your local County Clerk in West Virginia for procedural
information.
Permanent residents of Wisconsin may perform wedding ceremonies with a
complete credential. (We do not provide
support for non-resident ministers in Wisconsin.)
You may perform wedding ceremonies
with a basic credential.
 Outside
the United States
Ordination is a personal matter between the minister and the Church
itself, and is not subject to any local laws. However, there may be laws
or requirements that must be adhered to in local cities and towns, which
are the responsibility of the minister. |
