To get ordained for a wedding, fill out a free online ordination form with a recognized ministry such as the Universal Life Church or American Marriage Ministries, then confirm your state accepts online ordination and complete any local officiant registration before the ceremony. The ordination itself takes about five minutes and costs nothing.1Universal Life Church. Become Ordained and Officiate a Wedding2American Marriage Ministries. How Much Does It Cost to Get Ordained to Officiate a Wedding The work that matters comes after you click submit.
Completing the Online Ordination
The Universal Life Church offers ordination that is completely free and done entirely online.1Universal Life Church. Become Ordained and Officiate a Wedding American Marriage Ministries provides free ordination to people of all backgrounds and beliefs.2American Marriage Ministries. How Much Does It Cost to Get Ordained to Officiate a Wedding You submit a short form with your legal name and contact information, and the ordination is effective immediately.
Use the exact name on your government-issued ID. Not a nickname, not a shortened version. If the name on your ordination credential does not match the name you write on the couple’s marriage license, a county clerk can reject the license. This single detail trips up more first-time officiants than any other.
Do You Need the Paper Credentials?
Ordination is free, but printed credential documents are not. A package with an ordination certificate and a letter of good standing typically runs $35 to $60.2American Marriage Ministries. How Much Does It Cost to Get Ordained to Officiate a Wedding The Universal Life Church sells similar items through its minister store.1Universal Life Church. Become Ordained and Officiate a Wedding
Whether you actually need them depends on where the wedding happens. Some county clerks want to see an ordination certificate or letter of good standing before accepting a signed license. Others ask for nothing beyond the license itself. Call the clerk’s office in the county where the ceremony will take place and ask what documentation they require from officiants. One phone call settles it.
Confirm Your State Recognizes Online Ordination
Marriage law is set by each state, not the federal government, so the rules shift at every border. Most states accept online ordination without any issues. Roughly a third require some form of officiant registration with a local clerk, county government, or secretary of state before you can sign a marriage license. The rest let you officiate on your credentials alone.
A few states have made trouble for online-ordained ministers specifically. Virginia is the clearest problem. The Virginia Supreme Court ruled decades ago that Universal Life Church ministers did not meet the state’s definition of clergy, and the issue remains unresolved. American Marriage Ministries acknowledges that ministers may encounter problems registering as a wedding officiant in Virginia and is currently pursuing legal action to resolve the situation.3American Marriage Ministries. Are Your Online Ordinations Valid in My State If you plan to officiate in Virginia, call the county clerk’s office directly before committing.
Pennsylvania has caused problems too. At least one county court held that ministers ordained online do not qualify under Pennsylvania’s marriage law unless they regularly preach to a congregation that meets at a physical place of worship. Purely online-ordained officiants performing ceremonies in Pennsylvania are on uncertain ground. New York requires all officiants performing ceremonies within New York City to register with the city clerk, and the state has its own history of case law questioning online ordination validity. In any of these three states, verify your situation with the local clerk long before the ceremony.
Registering With the Local Clerk
Where registration is required, you typically submit your ordination certificate and sometimes a letter of good standing to a county clerk or similar office. Some jurisdictions charge a small filing fee; many process registrations at no cost. Once the paperwork clears, you receive a registration number or written confirmation that you are authorized to perform marriages there.
Give yourself at least 30 days before the wedding. Processing times vary, and offices sometimes come back with questions or ask for additional documents. If the wedding is in a state where you don’t live, check whether that state has separate rules for non-resident officiants.
Your Legal Responsibilities at the Ceremony
The couple can write their own vows, include readings, or shape the ceremony however they like. Two legal elements have to happen, and both are on you.
First, facilitate the declaration of intent. Each person verbally confirms they want to marry the other. The traditional “Do you take this person” phrasing works, but no specific words are required. What matters is that both parties clearly and voluntarily express their intent. Second, make a pronouncement declaring the couple legally married. The wording is flexible, but you have to actually say it.
Most states also require one or two adult witnesses to be physically present and sign the license. Confirm the witness count with the county that issued the license. The officiant cannot serve as a witness, so make sure the couple has lined up someone else.
Signing and Returning the Marriage License
Signing the license at the ceremony is only half the job. The officiant is legally responsible for completing the license and returning it to the issuing office within a set deadline, typically five to ten days depending on the jurisdiction. Missing that deadline can delay the couple’s ability to prove they are legally married.
Fill in the date and location of the ceremony, your name and title, and the name of the organization that ordained you. Sign only in the officiant field. Do not use a stamp or any form of notarization unless the license specifically instructs it. After the witnesses sign, make a copy for your own records, then mail or hand-deliver the original to the county clerk or recorder. If you mail it, use a service that lets you track delivery. A lost license is your problem to resolve.
If Your Authorization Turns Out to Be Defective
If a marriage is later challenged because the officiant was not properly authorized, the outcome depends on state law. Many states protect couples who entered the marriage in good faith, treating the marriage as valid even when the officiant’s credentials were defective. Not every state recognizes this protection, and even where it exists, the couple may have to go through a legal process to formally validate the marriage. The reliable fix is prevention: confirm your ordination is recognized in the ceremony’s state, finish any required registration, and verify with the clerk that they will accept a license signed by you.
Taxes on Officiant Fees
If the couple pays you a fee or honorarium, that money is taxable income. The IRS states that all fees received for performing marriages are subject to income tax, whether you consider yourself a minister or a one-time officiant.4Internal Revenue Service. Topic No. 417, Earnings for Clergy You do not need to receive a 1099 to owe tax on the payment. A $200 cash gift from grateful newlyweds counts.
If officiating is not part of your regular job, report the income on Schedule C of your Form 1040 as self-employment income. You can deduct related expenses, such as credential documents or travel to the venue. If you officiate multiple weddings in a year, self-employment tax adds up quickly, so keep records of income and expenses from the first ceremony.4Internal Revenue Service. Topic No. 417, Earnings for Clergy