George Boyle
If you're planning a wedding in Tennessee, you'll need to comply with the requirements imposed by its marriage laws. The state tried to pass a law in 2019 that would bar ministers who were ordained online from solemnizing weddings, but this was blocked by a federal judge. Tennessee marriage licenses are valid for 30 days, and there is no mandatory waiting period, meaning couples can get married immediately after receiving their license. The wedding officiant is responsible for handling the marriage license on the day of the wedding and returning it to the issuing county clerk within three days of the ceremony. The officiant must be a religious leader or government official, and online-ordained officiants are not legally allowed to wed people.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Registration with a government office | Not required |
| Religious affiliation | Required |
| Ordination | Required |
| Age of witnesses | No minimum age |
| Verbal consent | Required |
| Validity of marriage license | 30 days |
| Waiting period for minors | 3 days |
| Minimum age to marry | 16 years |
| Blood tests and medical exams | Not required |
| Premarital counseling | Not required |
| Premarital preparation course | Optional, reduces license fee by $60 |
| Accepted IDs | Not specified |
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What You'll Learn
- The officiant must be a religious leader or government official
- The officiant must fill out the marriage license
- The marriage license must be returned to the county clerk within three days of the ceremony
- The officiant must be ordained by a religious organization
- The wedding ceremony must take place within 30 days of the license's issuance
The officiant must be a religious leader or government official
In Tennessee, the officiant at a wedding must be a religious leader or a government official. This includes all ministers, including online ordained ministers of American Marriage Ministries. Tennessee does not require marriage officiants to register with any government office, but they must be ordained by a religious organization.
If you are a minister, your official title will be "Minister", and for the ceremony type, you must put "Religious", even if you are conducting a non-religious ceremony. For denomination, enter "Non-Denominational" unless you are conducting the wedding according to a specific religious tradition.
Tennessee recognizes the authority of any spiritual leader who has the "care of souls" to solemnize a wedding. This includes pastors, ministers, priests, rabbis, and preachers. There is also a long list of civil and religious officials who are allowed to preside over wedding ceremonies in Tennessee. Elected officials, from the governor to the local mayor, all have the authority as long as they haven't been removed from office or convicted of a felony. Other civil officials who are authorized include chancellors and judges, who retain this authority after retirement.
As the wedding officiant, it is your responsibility to handle the marriage license on the wedding day. The couple must give you their marriage license, and you must return it to the issuing county clerk within three days of the ceremony. The license is valid for 30 days from issuance, and the wedding ceremony must take place within this period.
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The officiant must fill out the marriage license
In Tennessee, marriage licenses are valid for 30 days, and there is no mandatory waiting period, meaning the couple can get married immediately after receiving their license. The wedding ceremony must take place within this validity period. Once the ceremony is completed, the signed marriage license must be returned to the issuing county clerk within three days.
As a marriage officiant in Tennessee, it is your legal responsibility to fill out and handle the marriage license in the presence of the couple and any witnesses. It is a good idea to remind the couple to bring their marriage license to the ceremony the day before the wedding.
When filling out the marriage license, you should enter "Minister" as your officiant title and "American Marriage Ministries" as the church name. Even if you are a member of another religious organization, for this specific wedding, you are acting under the banner of American Marriage Ministries. For religious denomination, enter "Non-Denominational" unless you are conducting the wedding according to a specific religious tradition, in which case you should enter that. For ceremony type, enter "Religious", even if you are conducting a non-religious ceremony.
After performing the wedding, you must sign the marriage license along with the couple and return it to the marriage office before the deadline passes. Your official title will be "Minister", and for denomination, write "Non-Denominational" unless you are conducting the wedding under a specific denomination. No license number is required. The name of the church is "Universal Life Church", or you can use your personal ministry or home address if the document asks for the church's address.
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The marriage license must be returned to the county clerk within three days of the ceremony
In Tennessee, couples must obtain a marriage license from any county clerk's office in the state. The marriage license must be completed by the officiant and returned to the issuing county clerk's office within three days of the wedding ceremony. This is a legal responsibility, and Tennessee Law prescribes clear guidelines on marriage license handling and return. When the couple receives their marriage license, it should be accompanied by instructions on how, where, when, and by whom the marriage license is to be returned.
The marriage certificate is the document that provides legal proof of marriage. Couples can request a certified original of their marriage certificate after their completed marriage license has been returned and processed. To request a marriage certificate, couples must contact the county clerk's office where they acquired the license or use VitalCheck, a third-party online service. The cost varies.
It is important to note that the marriage is not recognized by the State of Tennessee until the county clerk's office receives the completed marriage license and enters it into the state's system. If the marriage license is not used within 30 days, it is voided, and a new license must be purchased.
In addition to handling the marriage license, wedding officiants in Tennessee have specific requirements they must meet. Tennessee law requires officiants to be religious leaders or government officials. Online-ordained officiants are not legally allowed to wed people. Officiants must be ordained by a religious organization, such as the American Marriage Ministries, and it is recommended that they keep personal records of their official ministry credentials.
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The officiant must be ordained by a religious organization
If you want to officiate a wedding in Tennessee, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. Firstly, Tennessee law does not require marriage officiants to register with any government office. This means that there is no dedicated office for the registration of wedding officiants, and no laws or procedures requiring officiants to register.
However, to be able to legally perform marriages in Tennessee, you must be ordained by a religious organization and have the title of "Minister". This can include online ordination from organizations like American Marriage Ministries or Universal Life Church. Tennessee law specifies that ministers, including online-ordained ministers, can solemnize marriages.
It's important to note that while online ordination is accepted, Tennessee does not recognize officiants who are not religious leaders or government officials. So, if you plan to officiate a wedding in Tennessee, make sure you are ordained by a religious organization and can provide proof of your ordination if requested.
Once you have your ordination, you are legally able to officiate weddings in Tennessee. Your main duty as an officiant is to handle the marriage license. You must ensure that the couple presents you with their marriage license, which is valid for 30 days from issuance, and you must return it to the issuing county clerk within three days of the ceremony. It is also your responsibility to fill out the marriage license correctly and ensure that the couple gives their verbal consent to be married during the ceremony.
In addition to ministers, Tennessee recognizes a long list of civil and religious officials who are authorized to preside over weddings. This includes elected officials such as the governor, speaker of the senate or house, local mayors, chancellors, and judges, as well as spiritual leaders like pastors, priests, rabbis, and preachers who have the "care of souls".
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The wedding ceremony must take place within 30 days of the license's issuance
In Tennessee, marriage licenses are only valid for 30 days from the date of issuance. This means that the wedding ceremony must take place within this timeframe. The couple must present the marriage license to the officiant, who will then be responsible for returning it to the issuing county clerk within three days of the ceremony.
It is important to note that there is no mandatory waiting period after receiving the license, so the couple can get married immediately if they so choose. However, if one of the parties is a minor, there is a three-day waiting period after applying for the license before the ceremony can take place. This waiting period can be waived with a court application.
To ensure a smooth process, it is recommended that the officiant contact the couple the day before the wedding to remind them to bring the marriage license to the ceremony. This is because, without the license, the officiant will not be able to legally solemnize the marriage.
Additionally, the officiant must be ordained and should keep personal records of their official Ministry Credentials. While Tennessee does not require officiants to register with any government office, they must be ordained by a religious organization, such as the American Marriage Ministries or the Universal Life Church.
In Tennessee, the officiant must also fill out and sign the marriage license in the presence of the couple and any required witnesses. The license should be accompanied by instructions on how, where, when, and to whom it should be returned. The officiant's official title on the license will be "Minister", and the ceremony type will be listed as "Religious", even if the ceremony is non-religious.
By following these guidelines, an officiant can ensure that the wedding ceremony is legally binding and that the marriage license is properly handled and returned within the 30-day validity period.
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Frequently asked questions
In Tennessee, only religious leaders or government officials can officiate weddings. Elected officials, from the governor to local mayors, are allowed to officiate as long as they haven't been removed from office or convicted of a felony. Religious officials recognised by Tennessee include pastors, ministers, priests, rabbis, and preachers.
No, Tennessee does not require officiants to register with any government office. However, you must be an ordained minister to legally perform a marriage.
As a wedding officiant, you are responsible for handling the marriage license on the wedding day. You must fill out the marriage license in the presence of the couple and any witnesses. The license must then be returned to the issuing county clerk within three days of the ceremony.
Both applicants must fill out a written application stating their names, ages, addresses, social security numbers, and the names and addresses of their parents, guardian, or next of kin. The license is valid for 30 days from its issuance, and the wedding ceremony must take place within this period.
