Franklin Dean
The laws and regulations regarding who can officiate a wedding vary from state to state and even county to county. In general, the person who can legally perform the marriage is one of several types of officiants: civil, professional, ordained, or religious. A civil officiant is a person who has gone through a formal, legal process to become recognized as an officiant, such as a justice of the peace or a magistrate. An ordained officiant is someone who has received the legal ability to be an officiant through non-denominational churches, nonprofit organizations, and online services. A professional officiant is a licensed officiant who offers marriage officiant services as well as guidance for writing vows and planning a wedding ceremony. A religious officiant is someone who is ordained by a specific religious denomination as a member of the clergy and is typically a leader within their faith, like a minister, priest, imam, or rabbi.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who can officiate a wedding? | This varies from state to state. In general, a wedding officiant is one of several types: civil, professional, ordained, or religious. |
| Civil officiant | A person who has gone through a formal, legal process to become recognised as an officiant. For example, a justice of the peace or a magistrate. |
| Ordained officiant | A close friend or family member who can receive the legal ability to be an officiant through non-denominational churches, nonprofit organisations, and online services. |
| Professional officiant | A non-religious and non-civil officiant, also called a celebrant, who offers marriage officiant services as well as guidance for writing vows and planning a wedding ceremony. |
| Religious officiant | Someone who is ordained by a specific religious denomination as a member of the clergy and is typically a leader within their faith, like a minister, priest, imam, or rabbi. |
What You'll Learn
- Civil Officiants: Justices of the peace or magistrates are civil officiants. They are legally recognised to perform non-religious, civil marriage ceremonies
- Ordained Officiants: A close friend or family member can become an ordained officiant through non-denominational churches, non-profit organisations, and online services
- Professional Officiants: Non-religious and non-civil officiants, also called celebrants, are licensed and experienced in officiating weddings
- Religious Officiants: A religious officiant is ordained by a specific religious denomination and is typically a leader within their faith, like a minister, priest, imam, or rabbi
- Registration: Some regions require the officiant to file credentials with the local court
Civil Officiants: Justices of the peace or magistrates are civil officiants. They are legally recognised to perform non-religious, civil marriage ceremonies
Civil officiants are people who have gone through a formal, legal process to become recognised as officiants. Justices of the peace or magistrates are examples of civil officiants. They are legally recognised to perform non-religious, civil marriage ceremonies.
Civil officiants are distinct from ordained officiants, who are typically close friends or family members of the couple who have received the legal ability to officiate through non-denominational churches, non-profit organisations, or online services. They are also different from professional officiants, who are licensed, non-religious, and non-civil officiants, and religious officiants, who are ordained by a specific religious denomination and are typically leaders within their faith, like a minister, priest, imam, or rabbi.
Civil officiants are legally recognised to perform non-religious, civil marriage ceremonies. However, marriage laws and regulations vary from state to state and even county to county, so it is important to check the laws in the local county where the wedding will take place to ensure that the chosen civil officiant fits the bill from a legal standpoint.
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Ordained Officiants: A close friend or family member can become an ordained officiant through non-denominational churches, non-profit organisations, and online services
A close friend or family member can become an ordained officiant through non-denominational churches, non-profit organisations, and online services. This process is often free and simple, and grants legal authority to conduct marriage ceremonies.
American Marriage Ministries is a non-denominational church that ordains people online so that they can officiate weddings for friends, family, and community. Their free ordination grants full legal authority to conduct marriage ceremonies across the US. The Universal Life Church is another non-denominational church that offers free online ordinations, which are legally recognised in 48 US states.
Some states require ministers to register with a government office prior to performing a marriage. For example, in New York, a marriage can be solemnized by a senior leader of The Society for Ethical Culture in the city of New York, or by a leader of The Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture. In Ohio, an ordained or licensed minister of any religious society or congregation within the state who is licensed to solemnize marriages may officiate weddings. In Texas, a licensed or ordained Christian minister or priest, or a person who is an officer of a religious organization and who is authorized by the organization to conduct a marriage ceremony, can officiate a wedding.
It is important to check the marriage laws of the specific state in which the wedding will take place, as requirements vary.
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Professional Officiants: Non-religious and non-civil officiants, also called celebrants, are licensed and experienced in officiating weddings
The person who marries you is known as a wedding officiant. They are legally qualified or ordained and should be someone you and your partner feel comfortable with. They are responsible for making your ceremony special, keeping your wedding guests engaged, and ensuring you are legally married.
There are several types of officiants for non-religious weddings and elopements. One option is to ask a friend or family member to officiate. Friends and relatives can get ordained online through American Marriage Ministries (AMM) for free. All that's required for ordination is belief in AMM's three tenets, which are founded in marriage equality for all people. Another option is to get married by a judge or clerk at the courthouse. Many courthouses and county clerk's offices offer marriage ceremony services. A third option is to hire a professional wedding officiant. Professional wedding officiants often specialize in specific types of ceremonies, including secular and civil weddings.
If you're not religious, it's important to interview a few potential officiants to determine how well they'll fit your needs. Ask if they're comfortable performing a non-religious wedding, and discuss any phrases or words you want to avoid during the ceremony. You can search for professional officiants online using Google Business Profiles or on vendor websites like The Knot, Wedding Wire, and The Officiant Directory.
To find a wedding officiant, you can also ask recently married friends for referrals, ask your other wedding vendors, or contact your house of worship.
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Religious Officiants: A religious officiant is ordained by a specific religious denomination and is typically a leader within their faith, like a minister, priest, imam, or rabbi
A religious officiant is a leader within their faith, such as a minister, priest, imam, or rabbi, who is ordained by a specific religious denomination. They are typically responsible for overseeing the entire wedding ceremony, from the processional to the recessional, and ensuring that the couple is legally married.
In Christian weddings, the officiant is typically a pastor, priest, or vicar. Protestant weddings are often conducted by a pastor or priest, while Catholic weddings require a priest, deacon, or bishop to be present. In Quaker weddings, the couple marries each other without a third-party officiant. Jewish weddings are presided over by a rabbi, and Islamic weddings are led by an imam. Hindu weddings are officiated by a pandit.
In addition to religious officiants, non-religious couples may opt for a government official, such as a civil celebrant, judge, mayor, or justice of the peace, to lead their wedding ceremony.
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Registration: Some regions require the officiant to file credentials with the local court
The requirements for officiating a wedding vary across the United States. While some states require officiants to register with a government office, others do not.
Minnesota
In Minnesota, individuals intending to perform a civil marriage must be at least 21 years old and must register a Certificate of Filing with the relevant county before the ceremony. This can be done in person at the County Government Center, via email, or by post. The cost of filing is $20. After receiving a Notice of Filing Marriage Officiant Credentials, the officiant may perform marriages anywhere in the state of Minnesota.
New York
In New York, marriages must be solemnized by specific individuals, including a current or former governor, a mayor, a judge, a member of the clergy, or a one-day marriage officiant designated by a town or city clerk.
California
In California, there is no requirement for officiants to register with the state before performing a ceremony.
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Frequently asked questions
It depends on the state and county where the wedding is taking place. In some states, like Texas, a constable may be able to officiate a wedding if they are a current, former, or retired federal or state judge. However, in other states, only ordained ministers, religious leaders, or specific government officials are authorized to perform weddings.
The requirements vary by state and county. In some cases, a constable may need to be licensed or ordained by a religious organization, register with the state or local government, or meet other specific criteria. It is essential to check the local laws and regulations to ensure the constable meets the necessary qualifications.
In New York State, outside of New York City, there is no requirement for the officiant to register. However, if the wedding is performed within the five boroughs of New York City, the officiant must register with the New York City Clerk's Office.
The responsibilities of a constable as a wedding officiant include ensuring the marriage license is accurate and complete, returning the license to the appropriate clerk's office, and signing the marriage certificate. They may also need to work with the couple to create the ceremony, obtain necessary credentials, and practice the ceremony ahead of time.
