MARRIAGE LAWS
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  The laws as written here may be out-of-date. Please
  contact your local Marriage Bureau or County Clerk
  for the most current information.
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  This text Copyright by International Clergy Association.
  Reprinted by Universal Life Church with permission.
  Distributed without fee via CompuChurch Universal Life Church
.

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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.
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ALASKA
  The minister, priest or rabbi of any church or congre-
  gation in the state may perform marriages. -- Ministers
  must provide marriage certificates to the couple married
  and report the marriage to the Marriage Commissioner.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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COLORADO
  Marriages may be performed by any minister. --
  Ministers must send a marriage certificate to the
  county clerk. -- For questions see the county clerk.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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GEORGIA
  Any minister who is authorized by his or her church may
  perform marriages. -- Ministers must complete a certi-
  cate 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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IOWA
  Ministers of the gospel who are ordained by their church
  may perform marriages. -- Minister must give a certi-
  ficate 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.
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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 certifi-
  cate 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.
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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.
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LOUISIANA
  Ministers of the gospel or priests of nay 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 certi-
  ficate and return it to the clerk of the district court.
  -- For questions see the clerk of the district court.
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MAINE
  Ordained ministers of the gospel may perform marriages.
  -- Ministers must be licensed by the Secretary of State
  before performing marriages.  Application may be made to
  the town clerk or treasurer.  There is a $5 fee. -- After
  the marriage, the minister must file a copy of the record
  of marriage with the town clerk. -- For questions see the
  town clerk.
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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 the marriage. -- For questions see the clerk of
  the Court of Common Pleas.
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MASSACHUSETTS
  Ordained ministers of the gospel may perform marriages.
  -- Before performing marriages, ministers are required
  to apply for a certificate from the state.  For appli-
  cations 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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 licence and return it to the recorder
  of deeds within 90 days after the marriage license was
  issued. -- For questions see the recorder of deeds.
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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.
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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.
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NEVADA
  Any ordained minister in good standing with his denomi-
  nation, whose denomination is incorporated or organized
  or established in the State of Nevada may perform marriages.
  -- Ministers are required to complete a complicated pro-
  cedure to obtain a "certificate of permission" 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.
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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
  any questions see the town clerk.
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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.
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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.
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NEW YORK
  Marriages may be performed by a clergyman or minister of
  any religion.  However, a 1972 court case said that in
  order for the 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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PENNSYLVANIA
  Ministers of any regularly established church or congre-
  gation 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.
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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 usages 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.
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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.
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SOUTH DAKOTA
  Marriages may be performed by a minister of the gospel, or
  a 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.
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TENNESSEE
  All regular minsters 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.
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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.
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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 cer-
  tificate of marriage to the county clerk who issued the
  marriage license within 30 days after the marriage. --
  For questions see the county clerk.
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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 cer-
  tificate 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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WEST VIRGINIA
  Any minister, priest or rabbi, over the age of eighteen
  years, may perform marriages. -- Before performing mar-
  riages, 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.
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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 deeds 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.
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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.!