Marriage Ceremony Formalities by State
Who may solemnize a marriage, what ceremony and witnesses are required, and who signs and returns the certificate?
Jurisdictions
48 of 51 verified so far
Statutes checked
Every entry, oldest check October 4, 2026
Columns
9 per state
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What this survey covers
The table follows the steps between issuance of a marriage license and the filing of the ceremony record. It separates a person's authority to solemnize from what the parties must say, who must attend, who signs the certificate, and who must return it.
Why the columns differ
Washington RCW 26.04.070 requires the parties to assent or declare before the solemnizer and at least two attending witnesses. Its certificate section sets a thirty-day delivery period and supplies a form signed by the parties, witnesses, and solemnizer.
Florida § 741.07 includes ministers, other clergy, judicial officers, court clerks, and Florida notaries, and separately recognizes a Society of Friends ceremony. Under § 741.08, the solemnizer certifies the ceremony on the license and transmits it within ten days.
Texas Family Code § 2.206 instead gives the person who conducts the ceremony thirty days to subscribe and return the license to the issuing county clerk. These different duties make the return deadline a separate comparison column.
Scope boundaries
The survey reports statutory ceremony steps. It does not decide whether a specific officiant was authorized, whether a disputed ceremony created a valid marriage, or what a religious community's own rules require.
State by state
Every column answered the same way for each jurisdiction. Open a state for the full page, with the statute text and the date it was checked.
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| State | Who may solemnize | Appointment or registration route | License and ceremony timing | Required declaration or form | Attending witnesses | Religious or self-uniting route | Proxy or remote presence | Who signs the certificate | Return recipient and deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama verified 2026-10-04 | No officiant required; parties may select an officiant or presiding person for optional ceremony (§ 30-1-9.1(d)). |
No required ceremony-officiant appointment or registration under the document route (§ 30-1-9.1(d), (g)). |
No license or ceremony required; record signed document within 30 days of last party signature (§§ 30-1-9.1(c), (g); 22-9A-17(a)). |
No ceremony or vows required; each party's notarized affidavit declares statutory facts and voluntary entry (§ 30-1-9.1(b), (d)). |
No ceremony or attending witnesses required by the marriage-document provisions (§ 30-1-9.1(b), (d)). |
Optional civil or religious ceremony may be conducted by selected presiding person; ceremony has no validity effect (§ 30-1-9.1(d)). |
Both parties must sign their document and notarized affidavits; § 30-1-9.1 gives no separate proxy ceremony route. |
Both parties sign marriage document and provide notarized affidavits; no ceremony-officiant signature required (§ 30-1-9.1(b), (d)). |
Submit parties' forms, affidavits, and data to probate judge for recording within 30 days of last signature (§§ 30-1-9.1(c), (e); 22-9A-17(a)). |
| Alaska verified 2026-10-04 | Specified clergy and Salvation Army or congregational officers, marriage commissioners, judicial officers, elected public officers, and recognized religious ritual (§ 25.05.261(a)). |
Presiding judge may appoint suitable marriage commissioner by order with territorial jurisdiction; court issues certified order (§ 25.05.081). |
License authorizes ceremony anywhere in Alaska within three months; officiant determines parties match license (§§ 25.05.121, .271). |
No fixed words, but parties assent or declare before each other, solemnizer and competent witness that they take each other as spouses (§ 25.05.301). |
At least one competent witness attends; signing witness must be at least 18 and confirm each party intends to marry (§ 25.05.301). |
Ceremony may occur before or in religious organization according to its established ritual or form (§ 25.05.261(a)(3)). |
§ 25.05.301 requires parties' declaration in each other's, solemnizer's and witness's presence; no express proxy or remote route there. |
Solemnizer and attending adult witness sign original and copies; short-form certificates signed by both go to parties (§§ 25.05.301, .321). |
Solemnizer submits completed original certificate to local registrar within seven days after marriage (§ 25.05.321(a)). |
| Arizona verified 2026-10-04 | Licensed or ordained clergy, including religious-society authorized persons, and the listed state and federal judges or justices (§ 25-124). |
Authority is the clergy role or judicial office listed in § 25-124; that section states no separate one-day appointment. |
License before joining couple; ceremony before expiration, one year after issue (§§ 25-111, -121). |
Couple participates in ceremony conducted by and in presence of authorized solemnizer; statute prescribes no spoken formula (§ 25-125(A)). |
At least two witnesses age 18 or older participate in ceremony and sign license (§ 25-125(A), (B)). |
Religious society or sect may authorize ministers, elders, or others under its customs; ceremony still required (§§ 25-111(A), 25-124(B)). |
Ceremony provision requires couple's participation and solemnizer's presence; no express proxy or remote route there (§ 25-125(A)). |
Both spouses, two ceremony witnesses, and solemnizer sign the marriage license for recording (§ 25-125(B)). |
Solemnizer endorses act on license and returns signed license to superior court clerk within 30 days after ceremony (§§ 25-123(B), 25-125(B)). |
| California verified 2026-10-04 | Religious officials age 18+, listed judicial and elected officials, and civil-marriage commissioners (§§ 400–401); nonprofit religious official license route (§ 402). |
County clerk may appoint deputy civil-marriage commissioners; county may license qualifying nonprofit religious officials (§§ 401–402). |
Solemnizer must see license before ceremony; ordinary and confidential licenses expire 90 days after issuance (§§ 356, 421, 504). |
No prescribed form; parties declare to one another as spouses in physical presence of solemnizer and necessary witnesses (§ 420(a)). |
Ordinary certificate records one or two witness signatures; non-clergy religious-society form requires two (§§ 422(b), 307(a)). |
No-clergy religious society: parties endorse special form, two witnesses sign, and certificate returns within 10 days (§ 307). |
Physical-presence declaration; written proxy route for qualifying overseas Armed Forces member (§ 420(a)–(b)). |
Ordinary: solemnizer and one or two witnesses (§ 422); no-clergy: parties and two witnesses (§ 307); confidential: solemnizer completes (§ 506). |
Ordinary/non-clergy certificate to issuing county recorder; confidential license to issuing county clerk, each within 10 days (§§ 307, 423, 506). |
| Colorado verified 2026-10-04 | Judges, court magistrates, retired judges, empowered public officials, parties, or recognized religious/tribal mode (§ 14-2-109(1)). |
No general one-day appointment in listed routes; public official must already have solemnization power (§ 14-2-109(1)). |
License valid only in Colorado for no more than 35 days after issue; unused license returned for cancellation (§ 14-2-107). |
Section 14-2-109 allows party-led and religious/tribal modes without prescribed spoken words. |
Section 14-2-109 sets no general attendee-witness count or witness signature. |
Parties may solemnize themselves; recognized religious denomination or Indian nation/tribe mode also allowed (§ 14-2-109(1)). |
Written proxy for absent military member or supporting contractor/employee under residence, application, age, identity and consent conditions (§ 14-2-109(2)). |
Solemnizer, or party if no person acted alone, completes certificate; statute delegates form and names no witness signer (§§ 14-2-105(2), 14-2-109(1)). |
Solemnizer or party forwards certificate to county clerk and recorder within 63 days after ceremony; clerk registers it (§ 14-2-109(1), (3)). |
| Connecticut verified 2026-10-04 | Listed judges/retired judges, family support magistrates or referees, state referees, CT justices of peace, and ordained/licensed clergy (§ 46b-22(a)). |
Statute lists appointed CT justices of peace; P.A. 26-141 adds a 2027 manual-certification deadline for office qualification. |
Certified license from ceremony town; ceremony at least 48 hours after application and within 65 days after issue (§§ 46b-24, 46b-25 as amended Oct. 1, 2026). |
§ 46b-24(d) requires an authorized solemnizer's physical presence; no particular declaration words stated there. |
§ 46b-24(d) requires the solemnizer's physical presence; it states no number of other witnesses. |
Marriage following a denomination's forms and usages, including one witnessed by a duly constituted Baha'i Spiritual Assembly, is valid (§ 46b-22(a)). |
Ceremony conducted by and in the physical presence of an authorized solemnizer (§ 46b-24(d), as amended); no express proxy route stated. |
Person joining the couple certifies the marriage's fact, time, and place on the license certificate (§ 46b-34(a)). |
Person joining couple returns certificate to registrar of ceremony town before or during first week of next month (§ 46b-34(a)). |
| Delaware verified 2026-10-04 | Registered in-state or visiting clergy; listed current/former state and federal judges; county clerks of peace; municipal chief executive officers (§ 106(a)(2)). |
Clergy register online with a clerk of peace for statewide authority; county clerk may give written authorization to specified visiting judges or another county clerk for good cause (§ 106(a)(3), (b)). |
Produce license; obtain at least 24 hours before ceremony; valid 30 days, subject to clerk's good-cause shortening of wait or extension up to 180 days (§§ 106(a)(4), 107). |
Ceremony may follow a religious society's forms and usages or be entirely secular; § 106(a)(4) prescribes no fixed words. |
At least two reputable witnesses age 18 or older must attend and sign certificate (§ 106(a)(4)). |
Marriage may follow religious society forms and usages; license is delivered to society or qualified officer (§§ 106(a)(4), 107(b)). |
§ 106(a)(4) requires two witnesses present; no express ceremony proxy or remote route in cited chapter. |
Two adult witnesses sign certificate; license contains issuing authority's signature and performer's certification of ceremony and date/time (§§ 106(a)(4), 115(a)). |
Officiant returns certificate to issuing clerk of peace within 15 days; late return incurs $50 fee (§ 118(a)). |
| District of Columbia verified 2026-10-04 | Judges and retired judges; designated court clerks; religious and civil celebrants; temporary officiants; Council members; Mayor; or the parties (§ 46-406(b)). |
Clerk may authorize a temporary officiant for one marriage; authority ends on license filing; registration fee capped at $25 (§ 46-406(a)(4), (b-2)). |
License addressed to a particular authorized celebrant or witness; statutory waiting-period section repealed (§§ 46-409, 46-412). |
No fixed spoken declaration in the ceremony provisions; return coupon certifies the licensed parties were united in marriage (§§ 46-406, 46-412). |
No attending-witness number prescribed by the ceremony or return provisions (§§ 46-406, 46-412). |
A non-clergy religious society may use its own practice with an appointed person handling license and return; parties may solemnize (§ 46-406(b)(4), (9)). |
§§ 46-406 and 46-412 state no separate proxy or remote-ceremony procedure. |
Named celebrant or witness certifies the return coupon; a second coupon is supplied to the parties (§ 46-412). |
Return matching-number coupon to Superior Court Clerk in person or by mail within ten days of marriage (§ 46-412). |
| Florida verified 2026-10-04 | Regularly ordained ministers/elders and other ordained clergy; judicial officers, circuit-court clerks, and Florida notaries (§ 741.07(1)). |
Authority follows a listed religious, judicial, clerk, or Florida-notary role (§ 741.07(1)). |
Solemnizer requires license; usually effective 3 days after application without course certificates; valid 60 days after issuance (§§ 741.04(5), 741.041, 741.08). |
Solemnization sections name authorized persons and license duty but prescribe no particular words (§§ 741.07–741.08). |
Ordinary solemnization sections state no witness count; two witness affidavits are a fallback to prove a missing certificate (§§ 741.07–741.08, 741.10). |
Society of Friends ceremony may follow the society’s rites and customs; performing persons count as minister/elder (§ 741.07(2)). |
Cited solemnization sections address the authorized person and license, without specifying proxy or remote ceremony mechanics (§§ 741.07–741.08). |
Solemnizer makes certificate on license; cited section names no additional certificate signer (§ 741.08). |
Solemnizer sends certified license to issuing county court judge or circuit-court clerk within 10 days (§ 741.08). |
| Hawaii verified 2026-10-04 | Licensed ordained/authorized religious officer, clergy-free religious society, active/retired state or federal judge/justice/magistrate, or licensed civil performer age 18+ (§ 572-12). |
Department of health performer license required: standard one year or short-term 60 days; civil performer needs each party's prior written consent (§§ 572-11–12). |
Couple presents marriage license; it is effective for 30 days including issuance date, then void (§§ 572-6(a), 572-12). |
§§ 572-11–13 provide no prescribed words for the marriage rite; licensed performer or society solemnizes it. |
§§ 572-11–13 state no general numeric ceremony-witness requirement. |
Religious society without clergy may be licensed to solemnize under its own rules and customs (§ 572-12(a)(2)). |
§ 572-6 allows synchronous online license application; §§ 572-11–13 state no express proxy or remote ceremony route. |
§ 572-13 requires performer to report certificate facts on department-prescribed form but does not enumerate certificate signers. |
Performer reports ceremony to health department district agent where marriage occurs within three business days; parties may submit notarized affidavit if performer fails (§ 572-13(b)). |
| Idaho verified 2026-10-04 | Specified current/retired Idaho judges and magistrates; current/former governor, current lieutenant governor or mayor; current federal/tribal judge, tribally approved official, priest or minister (§ 32-303). |
§ 32-303 lists qualifying offices and clergy; it states no one-day appointment or state registration route. |
Solemnizer must first require presentation of marriage license; §§ 32-301–306 state no waiting period or license-expiration interval (§ 32-302). |
Parties declare before solemnizer that they take each other as husband and wife; no other ceremony form prescribed (§ 32-304). |
§ 32-304 requires declaration before the solemnizer, with no numeric witness command; § 32-402's prescribed certificate has two presence blanks. |
§ 32-303 includes priest or minister and a tribal judge or officially approved tribal official; §§ 32-301–306 state no separate party-led route. |
§ 32-304 requires the parties' declaration in the solemnizer's presence; it states no express proxy or remote procedure. |
Minister or officer executes license's certificate under hand and seal; prescribed form records ceremony place/date and persons present (§§ 32-401–402). |
Solemnizer returns executed license and certificate to issuing county recorder within 30 days after ceremony; recorder records within one month of receipt (§§ 32-402, 32-407). |
| Illinois verified 2026-10-04 | Listed judges, certain county clerks and public officials, current mayors/village presidents, and religious or tribal routes (750 ILCS 5/209(a)). |
Section 209 ties authority to the listed office or religious/tribal prescription; it gives no separate one-day appointment route (750 ILCS 5/209(a)). |
License effective one day after issue unless court orders immediate effect; expires 60 days after effective date; issued for a county (750 ILCS 5/207). |
Section 209 lists solemnization routes and certificate duty; it states no fixed declaration for the parties (750 ILCS 5/209(a)). |
Section 209 states no general attending-witness count; religious or tribal prescriptions may govern their ceremony (750 ILCS 5/209(a)). |
Marriage may follow religious-denomination or Indian Nation, Tribe or Native Group prescriptions; if no individual acted alone, both parties complete and forward certificate (750 ILCS 5/209(a)). |
Section 209 supplies solemnization and return rules without an express proxy or remote ceremony procedure (750 ILCS 5/209). |
Person solemnizing, or both parties if no individual acted alone, completes the prescribed certificate form; § 209 does not expressly state its signature fields (750 ILCS 5/202(b), 209(a)). |
Solemnizer, or both parties if no individual acted alone, forwards completed certificate to county clerk within ten days; clerk registers it (750 ILCS 5/209(a), 210). |
| Indiana verified 2026-10-04 | Clergy; judges; mayor, city/town clerk, circuit clerk, governor, lieutenant governor, legislator; named religious bodies/imam (§ 31-11-6-1). |
No separate one-day or registration step in listed solemnizer section (§ 31-11-6-1). |
Present license to authorized solemnizer; license expires 60 days after issue unless ceremony occurs within that period (§§ 31-11-4-10, -13). |
Solemnizer chapter lists authorized persons and religious rules; no statutory spoken formula there (§ 31-11-6-1). |
No general attendee-witness count or witness signature in solemnizer and certificate sections (§§ 31-11-6-1, 31-11-4-15 to -16). |
Friends Church, German Baptists, Bahai faith, and Latter Day Saints may solemnize under their rules; imam under Islamic rules (§ 31-11-6-1(a)). |
No express proxy or remote ceremony procedure in cited solemnizer and certificate sections (§§ 31-11-6-1, 31-11-4-15 to -16). |
Solemnizer completes original and duplicate, signing certificate with official designation; no party/witness signature line (§§ 31-11-4-15 to -16). |
Solemnizer gives original to couple; files duplicate plus license with issuing circuit court clerk within 30 days after marriage (§ 31-11-4-16). |
| Iowa verified 2026-10-04 | Supreme, appellate, district and listed associate/senior judges or magistrates; ordained or designated religious-faith leader (§ 595.10). |
Religious faith may ordain or designate a leader; § 595.10 lists no separate one-day appointment. |
Ordinary license valid after three days; judge may authorize earlier validation for emergency/extraordinary circumstances (§§ 595.3, 595.4). |
Marriage requires parties' consent; § 595.11 validates consensual nonstatutory solemnization, subject to its forfeiture rule. |
Certificate must be signed by ceremony witnesses; § 144.36(2) states no exact number. |
Unusual-mode denomination exempt from chapter's license and solemnization provisions; spouse may make return without cleric or magistrate (§§ 595.16–.17). |
No express proxy or remote procedure in the cited Chapter 595 ceremony and return provisions. |
Parties attest certificate information; performer and ceremony witnesses sign certificate (§ 144.36(1)–(2)). |
Performer returns certificate to issuing county registrar within 15 days; either spouse may return after ceremony without cleric/magistrate (§§ 595.13, .16; § 144.36(2)). |
| Kansas verified 2026-10-04 | Current ordained clergy/religious authority; specified denominational licentiate or bishop's appointee; current or retired court-of-record judge/justice; municipal judge (§ 23-2504(b)). |
A qualifying denominational licentiate or bishop's appointee may officiate; § 23-2504(b) states no one-day civil appointment or county credential filing. |
Ceremony after license issues; license issued at least third calendar day after application absent court-ordered emergency exception; expires after six months (§§ 23-2504(a), 23-2505(b), (f)). |
Both parties declare before officiant and witnesses that they take each other as husband and wife; party-led religious-custom route uses mutual declarations (§ 23-2504(a), (c)). |
Ordinary officiated ceremony: at least two competent witnesses over 18, other than officiant; proxy acceptance requires two witnesses able to view ceremony (§ 23-2504(a); Judicial Branch FAQ). |
Parties may marry without officiant through mutual declarations under either party's religious-society custom; Friends rites and Baha'i assembly route separately recognized (§§ 23-2504(c), 23-2516(a)–(b)). |
Judicial Branch says proxy marriage accepted if officiant and one party are in Kansas and two witnesses can view ceremony (Marriage License FAQ; § 23-2504(a)). |
Performer endorses certificate on license; Judicial Branch accepts electronic officiant and witness signatures (§ 23-2511; Marriage License FAQ). |
Performer returns endorsed license to issuing district court judge or clerk within 10 days; court accepts transmission by couple or officiant (§ 23-2511; Marriage License FAQ). |
| Kentucky verified 2026-10-04 | Ministers/priests in regular communion; listed judicial/county officials; qualifying religious society (§ 402.050(1)). |
Governor or county judge/executive may authorize specified justices of the peace/fiscal court commissioners (§ 402.050(1)(b)). |
License required before ceremony; valid 30 days including issue date (§§ 402.080, 402.105). |
Society route uses consent before assembled society; § 402.050 gives no general spoken formula. |
At least two people beyond parties and solemnizer present; certificate names two (§§ 402.050(2), 402.100(2)(a)). |
Ministerless society may solemnize at usual worship place by parties' consent before society if a party belongs (§ 402.050(1)(c)). |
Section 402.050(2) requires two other people present; no express proxy or remote route in that ceremony provision. |
Performer's printed name and dated signature; society clerk signs society return; certificate names two witnesses (§§ 402.100(2), 402.220). |
Solemnizer or society clerk returns license and signed certificate to issuing county clerk within one month (§ 402.220). |
| Louisiana verified 2026-10-04 | Registered adult clergy or Friends clerk; state judges and justices of the peace subject to territorial limits (§§ 9:202–204). |
Nonjudge officiant deposits lawful-name, denomination, address affidavit with principal-parish clerk; Orleans state registrar (§ 9:204). |
Officiant receives license first; ceremony after 24 hours unless waived, within 30 days of license issue (§§ 9:205, 235, 241–242). |
Parties express free consent to take each other as husband and wife at ceremony (Civ. Code art. 87). |
Two competent witnesses of full age present for ceremony (§ 9:244). |
Adult registered clergy or Friends clerk authorized by their religion may perform; no separate party-led route in § 9:202. |
Civ. Code art. 87 requires parties' free consent expressed at ceremony; no express proxy or remote route there. |
Parties, witnesses, and officiant sign; officiant signs triplicate certificate with time/place/date (§ 9:245). |
Officiant gives couple one copy and files two with issuing clerk within 10 days; § 9:254 names Orleans state vital records office (§§ 9:253–254). |
| Maine verified 2026-10-04 | Resident justice/judge, Maine Bar lawyer or licensed marriage officiant; specified clergy regardless of residence; nonresident with temporary certificate (§ 655(1)). |
Resident age-18+ marriage officiant license under 5 M.R.S. § 90-G; eligible nonresident may obtain couple-specific temporary certificate, ending at signing or 90 days (§ 655(1-A)). |
Parties deliver completed license to solemnizer; license void if unused within 90 days from filing intentions (§§ 652(3), 656(2)). |
Parties sign license certification statement; §§ 654–656 prescribe no particular spoken vow (§ 656(2)). |
At least two witnesses other than officiant must attend and sign license (§ 656(2)). |
Ordained minister, cleric serving religious body or person licensed to preach may solemnize; §§ 655–656 state no separate party-led procedure (§ 655(1)(B)). |
§ 656(2) requires solemnization in presence of at least two witnesses; §§ 654–656 state no express proxy or remote route. |
Both parties sign license certification; officiant and two witnesses sign after solemnization; then license becomes marriage certificate (§ 656(2)). |
Parties or solemnizer return license to State Registrar or issuing clerk within 15 working days after ceremony; later filing marked late (§ 654(2)). |
| Maryland verified 2026-10-04 | Religious-order/body official authorized by its rules; clerk, designated deputy clerk, or listed judge (§ 2-406(a)). |
No general one-day appointment; deputy clerk must be designated by circuit court clerk, and religious official authorized by body's rules (§ 2-406(a)). |
County-of-ceremony license; normally effective 6 a.m. second calendar day after issue; ceremony within six months after effective date (§§ 2-401, 2-403(a), 2-405(d), 2-406(b), (e)). |
County administrative judge sets form recited by clerk/deputy and parties; religious denominations follow own rules (§ 2-406(f)-(g)). |
No general attendee-witness count for ordinary ceremony; Friends certificate requires attestation by two ceremony overseers (§§ 2-403(b), 2-409(a)). |
Society of Friends ceremony has party signatures plus two overseers; couple returns its certificate (§§ 2-403(b)(2), 2-409(a)(2), (b)(2)). |
Cited ceremony and certificate sections supply no express proxy or remote ceremony procedure (§§ 2-406, 2-409). |
Ordinary certificate: officiant's name, signature, title; Friends certificate: both parties and two overseers (§§ 2-403(b), 2-409(a)). |
Officiant gives one certificate to couple and returns other to issuing clerk within five days; Friends couple returns other certificate within five days (§ 2-409(b)). |
| Massachusetts verified 2026-10-04 | Specified resident clergy, religious representatives, justices of the peace, authorized nonresidents, and governor-designated one-day person (§§ 38–39). |
Governor may designate another person for particular marriage/date/place; Secretary issues expiring certificate. Nonresident officiant needs separate authorization (§ 39). |
Certificate issued from third day after intention notice, unless exception; give it to solemnizer before ceremony; unused certificate returned within 60 days of notice (§§ 28, 30). |
Statutes authorize listed solemnizers and religious usages; no fixed spoken declaration appears in §§ 38–40. |
Solemnization and return provisions set no general attendee-witness count (§§ 38–40). |
Friends/Quaker meeting for worship under its usage; other church or religious organization may follow filed usage (§§ 38, 40). |
Solemnization provisions set no express proxy or remote ceremony route (§§ 38–40). |
Solemnizer or designated religious record keeper attests ceremony place and date by signature, title, and residence (§ 40). |
Solemnizer or designated religious record keeper returns certificate to issuing clerk or registrar by 10th day of month after ceremony month (§ 40). |
| Michigan verified 2026-10-04 | Listed judges, district magistrates, mayors, county clerks or designated staff, and qualifying Michigan or out-of-state religious practitioners (§ 551.7). |
County clerk may designate staff in a county over 1.5 million; another county clerk needs written authorization; religious authority follows § 551.7(i)–(j). |
Deliver license before ceremony; normally no delivery in first 3 days including application, with good-cause exception; solemnize within 33 days of application (§§ 551.101, 551.103a). |
No fixed form, but parties solemnly declare before officiant and witnesses that they take each other in marriage (§ 551.9). |
At least 2 besides officiant, present at ceremony and age 18 or older for license signatures (§§ 551.9, 551.103(2)). |
Friends, Quakers and other denominations with a distinctive solemnization mode may use their customary practice (§ 551.17). |
Parties declare in the officiant's and witnesses' presence; § 551.9 states no separate proxy or remote method. |
Couple, officiant, and 2 witnesses age 18 or older sign returned license; officiant certifies and enters witness names and residences (§§ 551.103(2), 551.104). |
Officiant gives duplicate to one party and returns original to issuing county clerk within 10 days (§ 551.104). |
| Minnesota verified 2026-10-04 | Individual age 21 or older registered as civil marriage officiant with a county local registrar (§ 517.04). |
Register with local registrar in a Minnesota county; registration county endorsed on each certificate (§ 517.04). |
Minnesota license before ceremony; ceremony in state; license valid six months; officiant verifies license and identities (§§ 517.06–.08). |
Both applicants declare, before distinct officiant and two witnesses, that each takes the other as spouse (§ 517.09, subd. 1). |
Two attending witnesses; distinct from officiant (§ 517.09, subd. 1); certificate signers at least 16 (§ 517.10). |
Section 517.09, subd. 1 requires an officiant distinct from applicants and witnesses; a religious officiant may use § 517.04 registration. |
Section 517.09, subd. 1 requires both applicants' declarations in the presence of a distinct officiant and two witnesses. |
Officiant, applicants using legal names after marriage, and at least two present witnesses age 16 or older (§ 517.10). |
Officiant files certificate with local registrar of license-issuing county within five days after ceremony (§ 517.10). |
| Mississippi verified 2026-10-04 | Ordained minister in good standing; authorized rabbi or other religious leader in good standing; listed appellate, circuit, chancery or county judge statewide; justice court judge or supervisor in own county (§ 93-1-17). |
§ 93-1-17 gives religious qualifications and offices; it states no one-day appointment or separate credential-filing route. |
License must issue before ceremony; couple produces it to solemnizer (§§ 93-1-15, 93-1-17). |
§§ 93-1-15, 93-1-17 and 93-1-19 require authorized solemnization but prescribe no words for the parties. |
The cited solemnization and statistical-record provisions state no attending-witness count or witness signature (§§ 93-1-17, 93-1-19; § 41-57-48). |
Pastor may marry members under society customs; society's clerk or keeper registers marriages and returns a certificate to circuit clerk (§ 93-1-19). |
§ 93-1-15 requires performance by or before an authorized solemnizer; cited provisions supply no express proxy or remote procedure. |
Parties sign the statistical record to certify their information; performer completes and signs its ceremony section (§ 41-57-48(2)–(3)). |
Performer returns completed statistical record to issuing circuit clerk within five days of ceremony; clerk forwards completed records monthly (§ 41-57-48(3)–(4)). |
| Missouri verified 2026-10-04 | Active/retired clergy in good standing with church or synagogue; judges including municipal judges; qualifying religious bodies (§ 451.100). |
No separate one-day appointment or registration step in the listed solemnizer categories (§ 451.100). |
License required before marriage and void 30 days after issuance (§ 451.040(1), (3)). |
No fixed party declaration in cited ceremony provisions; religious body follows its regulations and customs (§§ 451.080, 451.100). |
Witnesses to ceremony sign license; § 193.185(3) gives no numeric count. |
Religious society/institution/organization may solemnize under its customs when either party is a member (§ 451.100). |
Cited ceremony and report provisions set no express proxy or remote ceremony route (§§ 451.100, 193.185). |
Solemnizer certifies marriage and makes return on license; ceremony witnesses sign license; separate certificate delivered to couple (§§ 451.080, 451.110, 193.185(3)). |
Solemnizer returns license to issuing official; § 451.080(2): 15 days after issue; § 193.185(3): 15 days after ceremony. |
| Montana verified 2026-10-04 | Court-of-record judge; public official with authority; mayor, city judge, justice of the peace, authorized notary, tribal judge; recognized religious or tribal mode (§ 40-1-301(1)). |
Notary solemnization is subject to secretary of state rules; § 40-1-301 does not set out a separate one-day appointment (§ 1-5-630). |
Clerk issues license and certificate form; license effective on issuance and expires after 180 days (§§ 40-1-202, -212). |
§ 40-1-301 recognizes different modes without prescribing ceremony words; separate written declaration route has specified contents (§ 40-1-311(2)). |
§ 40-1-301 does not set a general ceremony headcount; written declaration must be attested by at least two witnesses (§ 40-1-311(3)). |
Recognized religious, Indian nation or tribe, or native-group mode; without solemnization, parties may file witnessed declaration (§§ 40-1-301(1), -311). |
Absent party may give written proxy authority if solemnizer is satisfied of inability to attend and consent; one party must meet military-duty or Montana-residence condition (§ 40-1-301(2), (4)). |
Solemnizer completes certificate form; if no individual acted alone, a party completes it; declaration is subscribed by parties and attested by two witnesses (§§ 40-1-301(1), -311(3)). |
Solemnizer, or party if none acted alone, forwards certificate to district court clerk; solemnizer faces forfeiture for failure to deliver within 30 days (§§ 40-1-301(1), -321(2)). |
| Nebraska verified 2026-10-04 | Judges, retired judges, clerk magistrates, retired clerk magistrates, and preachers authorized by church usage (§ 42-108). |
§ 42-108 ties preacher authority to church usage and states no state registration or one-day appointment step. |
Obtain Nebraska county-clerk license before ceremony; use it within one year after issuance (§ 42-104). |
Parties solemnly declare before officiant and witnesses that they take each other as husband and wife; no other form prescribed (§ 42-109). |
At least two witnesses besides the minister or magistrate must attend (§ 42-109). |
Religious society may marry its members by its rites; its clerk, keeper or presiding person sends the certificate to county clerk (§ 42-115). |
§ 42-109 requires declaration in the presence of officiant and attending witnesses; it states no proxy or remote procedure. |
On request, officiant gives each party a certificate under the officiant's hand naming at least two witnesses; § 42-108 requires witness names and residences on the filed return, without specifying their signatures (§§ 42-108, 42-110). |
Ceremony performer returns proceedings to issuing county clerk within 15 days; clerk records return, with § 42-112 allowing one month after receipt (§§ 42-108, 42-112). |
| Nevada verified 2026-10-04 | Listed judges, justices, commissioners/deputies, authorized mayors; certified clergy, notaries, marriage officiants, and assigned military chaplains (§§ 122.062, .080). |
Clerk certificate for clergy/notary/officiant; one-marriage written authorization; religious-official replacement up to 90 days (§ 122.062). |
License from any Nevada county clerk before ceremony; expires one year after issuance (§§ 122.040(1), (7), 122.080(1)). |
Parties declare before officiant and witness that they take each other as spouses; no particular form (§ 122.110(1)). |
At least one witness besides person performing ceremony (§ 122.110(2)). |
Authorized church/religious official may solemnize according to organization's usages after required permission (§§ 122.006, .062). |
§ 122.110(1) requires declaration in officiant's and witness's presence; no express proxy or remote route there. |
Certificate form provides for officiant's original signature and names of witnesses; copy given to couple (§ 122.120(1)–(3)). |
Officiant delivers original within 10 days to issuing-county clerk if county ordinance so provides; otherwise recorder (§ 122.130(1)). |
| New Hampshire verified 2026-10-04 | Commissioned justices of peace, specified state/federal judges, qualified resident clergy, parish minister from out of state, and special-license officiants (§§ 457:31–:32-b). |
SOS special licenses for out-of-state ministers/authorized officiants; $85 special marriage officiant registration authorizes one designated civil marriage (§§ 457:32, :32-b). |
Parties deliver town/city license to officiant before ceremony; license valid no more than 90 days from filing (§ 457:26). |
§§ 457:31–32-b define civil/religious solemnizers but prescribe no set words or declaration. |
Ceremony and marriage-record sections state no numeric witness requirement (§§ 457:31–32-b; 5-C:41). |
Resident rabbis and Friends/Quakers may solemnize in their customary way; resident unordained clergy may seek SOS license (§§ 457:31-a–b). |
Magistrate or minister of religion may not solemnize by proxy (§ 457:8); no express remote-ceremony route in §§ 457:31–32-b. |
Marriage license/certificate completed by both applicants, officiant and town/city clerk; officiant records and signs post-ceremony certification (§ 5-C:41(I), (XIV), (XVI)). |
Performer certifies fact of marriage and returns record by mail or in person to issuing town/city clerk within six days (§ 5-C:49(I)). |
| New Jersey verified 2026-10-04 | Specified federal, State, and municipal judges; county and municipal officers; clergy; certified civil celebrants; religious societies (§ 37:1-13). |
Civil celebrant needs Secretary of State certification after the statutory course and application; certificate must arrive before officiating (§ 37:1-13(b)). |
Present license before ceremony; normally issued after 72 hours and valid 30 days after issue; emergency court waiver of wait (§§ 37:1-4, -15). |
Marriage performed by or before authorized solemnizer; §§ 37:1-10 and -13 prescribe no fixed spoken formula. |
At least two must be present at the ceremony and sign the certificate with residences (§ 37:1-17). |
Religious society, institution, or organization may join the couple under its rules and customs (§ 37:1-13(a)). |
Overseas Armed Forces or National Guard member serving in conflict or war and unable to appear may use written attorney-in-fact proxy (§ 37:1-17.3). |
Solemnizer or religious society's legally authorized agent subscribes date and place; at least two present witnesses sign with residences (§ 37:1-17). |
Solemnizer sends certificate and license within 5 days to local registrar where ceremony occurs or county board of health clerk; proxy power of attorney accompanies them (§§ 37:1-17.1; 26:8-41). |
| New Mexico verified 2026-10-04 | Ordained clergy; authorized representative of federally recognized Indian nation, tribe or pueblo; active/retired state or federal judge, justice or magistrate (§ 40-1-2(B)–(C)). |
§ 40-1-2 ties authority to ordination, tribal authorization or judicial office; it states no one-day appointment or filing of clergy credentials. |
Couple first obtains New Mexico county-clerk license; solemnizer requires signed and sealed license before ceremony (§§ 40-1-10(A), 40-1-14). |
Parties' consent is essential; statute defines solemnization as joining them before witnesses by ceremony, without prescribed vows (§§ 40-1-1, 40-1-2(A)). |
Solemnization is before witnesses; prescribed certificate has two witness signature spaces, but § 40-1-2(A) gives no numeric minimum (§§ 40-1-2(A), 40-1-18). |
Religious society or federally recognized nation, tribe or pueblo may solemnize by its rites; secretary/authorized person transmits marriage transcript to county clerk (§ 40-1-3). |
Chapter 40 Article 1 supplies no express proxy or remote procedure; it defines a ceremony before witnesses (§ 40-1-2(A)). |
Prescribed form has officiant title/signature space, two witness lines, and both parties' signature lines (§§ 40-1-17, 40-1-18). |
Solemnizer certifies marriage to county clerk within 90 days of ceremony; license is filed in issuing county; religious/tribal secretary sends transcript (§§ 40-1-10(A), 40-1-15(A), 40-1-3). |
| New York verified 2026-10-04 | Listed clergy/Ethical Culture leaders, judges and public officials, designated tribal officials, municipal marriage officers, and licensed one-day officiants (§§ 11, 11-c–11-d). |
One-day license from couple’s town/city clerk for adult officiant; NYC registration for other authorized officiants; municipal marriage-officer appointment (§§ 11-b–11-d). |
Deliver license before ceremony; ordinarily wait 24 hours after issuance and solemnize within 60 days, subject to order and veteran-law exceptions (§§ 13, 13-b). |
No prescribed form; parties solemnly declare before officiant and attending witness(es) that they take each other as spouses (§ 12). |
At least one witness besides officiant for ordinary ceremony; written-contract route requires two signing witnesses (§§ 11(4), 12). |
Friends/Quakers and denominations with a particular solemnization mode follow their customary form; written-contract route also exists (§§ 11(4), 12). |
Ordinary declaration is in officiant’s and witness’s presence; proposed audio-video route remains in committee (§ 12; A1357). |
Statutory form bears solemnizer’s signature and witness lines; written contract is signed by both parties and two witnesses (§§ 11(4), 14). |
Solemnizer returns signed certificate and license to issuing town/city clerk within five days; contract route has judge forward both (§ 14). |
| North Carolina verified 2026-10-04 | Ordained or church-authorized minister or magistrate; recognized denomination or tribal mode also available (§ 51-1). |
Authority follows § 51-1's minister, magistrate, or recognized-ritual route; no separate one-day appointment is stated there (§ 51-1). |
Deliver issued license to solemnizer first; ceremony within 60 days of issue, anywhere in North Carolina (§§ 51-6, 51-16). |
Each party expresses present consent in the other's presence; minister or magistrate then declares them married, or recognized religious/tribal mode applies (§ 51-1). |
At least two attend the ceremony; both sign the certificate (§§ 51-6, 51-16). |
Recognized religious-denomination or federal/state-recognized tribal mode; federally recognized tribe may also license and solemnize under its own law (§§ 51-1, 51-3.2). |
Each party's consent must be expressed in the other's presence; § 51-1 does not prescribe a remote-ceremony method (§ 51-1). |
Solemnizing minister, magistrate, or other authorized person and two attending witnesses; witnesses add residence (§ 51-16). |
Solemnizer returns signed license and certificate to issuing register of deeds within 10 days; register records return within 10 more days (§§ 51-7, 51-16, 51-19). |
| North Dakota verified 2026-10-04 | Judges of record, municipal judges, county recorders or designated officials, authorized clergy and persons authorized by religious rituals (§ 14-03-09). |
§ 14-03-09 recognizes religious authorization and gives no separate temporary state appointment procedure. |
Parties produce regularly issued license dated no more than 60 days before marriage (§ 14-03-10). |
§§ 14-03-09 and -20 state no prescribed spoken words; solemnizer certifies the parties were joined. |
Two witnesses to the marriage sign the certificate (§ 14-03-20). |
Clergy authorized by recognized denominations or individual authorized by a religious persuasion's rituals may solemnize (§ 14-03-09). |
Cited ceremony and certificate provisions state no express proxy or remote-ceremony procedure (§§ 14-03-09, -10, -20). |
Two marriage witnesses and solemnizer sign certificate; it states each party's name before and after marriage (§ 14-03-20). |
Solemnizer returns original license/certificate to issuing official within five days; duplicate goes immediately to couple (§ 14-03-21). |
| Oklahoma verified 2026-10-04 | State judge or retired judge; church-authorized minister, priest, other ecclesiastical dignitary, or rabbi, at least 18 (43 O.S. § 7(A)). |
Judge files appointment order with resident county clerk; religious officiant certifies church or synagogue authority on certificate (§ 7(B)). |
License usable statewide; ceremony within 30 days after issue; officiant checks persons against license (§§ 5(D), 7(C), 20(A)). |
A formal ceremony is required; § 7(A) does not prescribe particular words. |
At least two competent adults present at the formal ceremony (§ 7(A)). |
Friends/Quakers, Baha'i spiritual assembly, or Latter Day Saints may use their practiced form; one selected person completes certificate (§§ 7(D), 8(A)(2)). |
§ 7(C) addresses persons presenting themselves; §§ 7–8 give no express proxy or remote procedure. |
Officiant signs; witnesses give names and addresses; spouses endorse post-marriage names (§§ 6(B), 8(A)–(C)). |
Completed license and certificate go to issuing court clerk within 30 days after license issue (§§ 8(D), 20(A)). |
| Oregon verified 2026-10-04 | Judicial officer, county clerk/deputy, authorized clergy or secular celebrant, or qualifying religious/secular organization (ORS 106.120(2)). |
Authority rests on office or organization authorization; ORS 106.120(2) states no general one-day appointment route. |
License effective three days after application signature unless waived; valid 60 days after effective date (ORS 106.077). |
Parties assent or declare before solemnizer and witnesses that they take each other as spouses; no particular form (ORS 106.150(1)). |
At least two present for parties' assent or declaration (ORS 106.150(1)). |
Religious or secular organization may solemnize by established ritual; presiding person returns record (ORS 106.150(2)). |
Current § 106.150 requires presence for assent; 2026 Oregon Laws ch. 20 adds limited military remote appearance Jan. 1, 2027. |
Solemnizer completes original application, license and record of marriage; ORS 106.170 does not list each form signer. |
Solemnizer delivers completed original form to issuing county clerk within five calendar days of ceremony (ORS 106.170). |
| Pennsylvania verified 2026-10-04 | Listed Pennsylvania and federal judges, qualifying current/former mayors, ministers, priests, rabbis, and religious organizations (§ 1503). |
Authority rests on listed office or religious status; a party-led religious ceremony uses the prior declaration in § 1502 (§§ 1502–1503). |
Obtain license before ceremony; valid at most 60 days after issue and usable in any Pennsylvania county (§§ 1301, 1310, 1503(c)). |
Party-led religious ceremony requires advance court declaration of no impediment; certificate states parties united themselves (§ 1502). |
Party-led ceremony certificate requires two witnesses present at solemnization; ordinary certificate form identifies the solemnizer (§§ 1501–1502, 1504(b)). |
Religious organization may follow its customs if at least one party is a member; without officiating clergy, parties use § 1502 declaration and certificates (§§ 1502–1503(b)). |
Chapter 15 addresses party-led ceremony and witnesses to its solemnization; it states no separate proxy or remote procedure (§§ 1502–1504). |
Ordinary original signed by solemnizer; duplicate by solemnizer or religious-organization member. Party-led originals and duplicates signed by both parties and attested by same two witnesses (§§ 1501–1502, 1504). |
Original stays with parties; signed duplicate returned to issuing court for recording within ten days, including party-led route (§ 1504). |
| Rhode Island verified 2026-10-04 | Ordained clergy or elders, listed judicial/court officers and former officers, New Shoreham wardens, and governor designees (§ 15-3-5). |
Governor may designate age-18+ person for one marriage on a specified date and place; certificate issued on fee payment within 21 days, expiring at solemnization (§ 15-3-5). |
Parties present license; solemnizer signs appended certificate before joining them; license valid for three months from issue (§§ 15-3-7, 15-2-8). |
§§ 15-3-5 to -8 prescribe no particular spoken words; solemnizer certifies the marriage under state law (§ 15-3-12(b)). |
At least two witnesses besides the officiant must be present (§ 15-3-8). |
Friends, Jewish-rite and local Baha’i spiritual-assembly marriages are recognized according to their rites and usages (§ 15-3-6). |
The cited ceremony provisions require two witnesses' presence and state no express proxy or remote route (§ 15-3-8). |
Solemnizer signs appended certificate before ceremony, then endorses and certifies form; §§ 15-3-7 and -12 do not specify witness signatures. |
Solemnizer completes and files License and Certificate of Marriage with issuing town or city clerk within 72 hours after marriage (§ 15-3-12(c)). |
| South Carolina verified 2026-10-04 | Ministers of the Gospel, Jewish rabbis, authorized oath-administering officers, qualifying Native American chief/spiritual leader (§ 20-1-20). |
Section 20-1-20 lists offices and religious categories; no appointment or registration step appears there. |
License procured first and delivered to person performing ceremony; § 20-1-210 states no use period. |
Section 20-1-20 authorizes performers but prescribes no specific declaration or form of words. |
Sections 20-1-20 and 20-1-330 state no general count of attending ceremony witnesses. |
Listed clergy and qualifying Native American chief/spiritual leader may perform; § 20-1-20 does not list party-led solemnization. |
Sections 20-1-20 and 20-1-210 address performer and license delivery; no express proxy or remote route is stated there. |
Performer fills out triplicate certificate; State Registrar prescribes form; §§ 20-1-310, -330 do not list its signers. |
Performer gives one copy to couple and returns two to issuing officer within 15 days; officer records and sends one onward (§§ 20-1-330, -340). |
| South Dakota verified 2026-10-04 | Supreme Court justice, circuit judge, magistrate, mayor, or person authorized by a church (§ 25-1-30). |
§ 25-1-30 recognizes church authorization and states no separate one-day state appointment or registration. |
License required before marriage; void unless solemnized within 90 days of issue (§§ 25-1-10, -24). |
Consent must be to a marriage commencing at once; it may be manifested in any form (§§ 25-1-2, -5). |
Before ceremony, solemnizer ascertains names and residences of the two witnesses (§ 25-1-32). |
Parties in a sect whose custom dispenses with an officiant return their marriage themselves within 30 days (§ 25-1-36). |
§§ 25-1-30 to -36 state no express proxy or remote-ceremony route. |
Department of Health prescribes license/record form; § 25-1-32 identifies two witnesses, but cited sections do not enumerate certificate signers (§§ 25-1-10, -32, -35). |
Officiant gives certificate to couple and returns license/record to county register of deeds within 10 days; party-led religious route returns within 30 days (§§ 25-1-35, -36). |
| Tennessee verified 2026-10-04 | Religious leaders over 18 with care of souls; listed judges, state/local officers, qualified legislators, notaries, and district attorneys general (§ 36-3-301(a)). |
No general one-day route in § 36-3-301; legislators and district attorneys general must file vital-records opt-in notice; online ordinations excluded (§ 36-3-301(a), (l), (n)). |
Present county-clerk license before ceremony; valid 30 days from issue (§ 36-3-103(a)). |
No fixed formula; each party declares before minister/officer acceptance of the other as husband and/or wife (§ 36-3-302(a)). |
No general attending-witness count in ceremony/certificate provisions; Quaker vows occur before congregation (§§ 36-3-301(b), 36-3-302 to -304). |
Quaker parties pledge vows to one another before congregation; congregation clerk or alternate handles officiant duties (§§ 36-3-301(b), 36-3-303(b)). |
Armed Forces member stationed abroad for combat/operation may join by video with commissioned-officer and officiant identity checks; other party in Tennessee (§ 36-3-302(b)). |
Solemnizer signs license endorsement and clerk-supplied certificate form; Quaker clerk or alternate assumes duty (§§ 36-3-303, 36-3-304). |
Solemnizer, or Quaker congregation clerk/alternate, returns signed license to county clerk within three days after marriage (§ 36-3-303). |
| Texas verified 2026-10-04 | Licensed or ordained Christian minister or priest, Jewish rabbi, authorized religious-organization officer, or current/former/retired federal or state judge (§ 2.202). |
Statutory authority follows the listed religious office or judicial status (§ 2.202(a)). |
Authorized person receives unexpired license; ordinarily wait 72 hours after issuance; license expires before day 90 without ceremony (§§ 2.201, 2.203–2.204). |
Ceremony section authorizes an authorized person to conduct the ceremony on receipt of an unexpired license; it states no words of assent (§ 2.203). |
The ceremony provision names the license and authorized person but states no witness count (§ 2.203). |
Religious route through a listed minister, priest, rabbi, or authorized organization officer (§ 2.202(a)(1)–(3)). |
Qualifying overseas Armed Forces member unable to attend may assent through a proxy named in the statutory affidavit (§ 2.203(b)). |
Person conducting the ceremony records date, county, and name and subscribes the license (§ 2.206(a)). |
Person conducting ceremony returns completed license to issuing county clerk by the 30th day after ceremony (§ 2.206(a)). |
| Utah verified 2026-10-04 | Religious-authorized adult, Native American spiritual advisor, listed state/local/federal officials and judges, legislators, and military chaplain (§ 81-2-305(1)). |
County clerk may use a willing designee; other authorized persons may not delegate solemnization (§§ 81-2-305(1)(l), (4), 17-70-302(18)). |
Utah county license; used in Utah within 32 days after issue or invalid (§ 81-2-302(1), (2), (5)). |
Each party willingly declares intent without duress; officiant pronounces them married (§ 81-2-302(4)). |
At least two people age 18+ witness declarations and pronouncement (§ 81-2-302(4)(e)). |
Religious-denomination-authorized adult or Native American spiritual advisor may officiate (§ 81-2-305(1)(a)–(b)). |
Officiant physically in Utah; if parties elsewhere, county warning posted and repeated verbatim; absent party affidavits (§§ 81-2-302(2), 81-2-303(5)). |
Officiant signs returned certificate stating date, place, and names of at least two witnesses; gives couple a separate certificate (§ 81-2-305(2), (5)). |
Officiant returns license and signed certificate to issuing county clerk within 30 days after solemnization (§ 81-2-305(5)(a)). |
| Vermont verified 2026-10-04 | Listed judges and judicial officers, justices of the peace, registered temporary officiants, and qualifying clergy (18 V.S.A. § 5144(a)). |
Secretary of State one-marriage temporary registration with form and $100 fee; certain out-of-state clergy need Probate Division authorization (§§ 5144(a)(2)(C), 5144a). |
Both parties sign license; one delivers it to authorized solemnizer within 60 days of issue; unsolemnized license then void (§§ 5131(b), 5145). |
No fixed spoken words in §§ 5131(b), 5144–5145; solemnizer certifies occurrence and date on license form (§ 5131(b)). |
No attending-witness number stated in chapter 105's ceremony and certificate provisions (§§ 5131, 5144–5145). |
Friends/Quakers, Christadelphian Ecclesia and Baha’i Faith may solemnize in their society's manner (§ 5144(b)). |
§§ 5131(b) and 5144–5145 prescribe no separate proxy or remote-ceremony procedure. |
Both parties sign the license before delivery; solemnizer completes, signs and certifies occurrence and date, making it the certificate (§ 5131(b)). |
Solemnizer returns certificate to issuing town clerk within ten days of marriage (§ 5131(c)). |
| Virginia verified 2026-10-04 | Court-authorized ministers; clerk-authorized persons; listed judges and current or former public officials; ministerless religious society route (§§ 20-23, -25, -26). |
Circuit court or clerk may order minister authority; circuit court clerk may authorize one or more other persons, with possible $500 bond (§§ 20-23, -25). |
Marriage must be licensed and solemnized; license authorizes ceremony for 60 days after issue (§§ 20-13, -14.1). |
Chapter 2 requires licensed solemnization but states no fixed spoken declaration in its ceremony provisions (§§ 20-13, -23, -25, -26). |
Chapter 2's solemnization provisions set no number of attending ceremony witnesses (§§ 20-13, -23, -25, -26). |
Members of a society without an ordained minister may marry as its practice prescribes; its chosen certifier must post $500 surety bond (§ 20-26). |
Chapter 2's ceremony provisions provide no express proxy or remote ceremony route (§§ 20-13, -23, -25, -26). |
Officiant completes the two certificates and certifies the facts of marriage; no witness signature is stated in the statutory filing rule (§§ 20-16; 32.1-267(C)). |
Officiant files duplicate record with officer who issued license within 5 days; issuing officer forwards filed records to State Registrar by 10th of next month (§ 32.1-267(C), (D)). |
| Washington verified 2026-10-04 | Listed active or retired judges and judicial officers, including tribal judges, and licensed or ordained ministers or similar religious officials (§ 26.04.050). |
Authority follows the judicial office or regular religious role listed in the statute (§ 26.04.050). |
License usable three days after application; void unless ceremony occurs within 60 days after issuance (§ 26.04.180). |
No particular form; each party assents or declares that they take the other as spouse before the solemnizer (§ 26.04.070). |
At least two attending witnesses must be present for the parties' declaration (§ 26.04.070). |
Established ritual of a religious organization or congregation; presiding, officiating, or recording person files its certificate (§ 26.04.120). |
Ordinary ceremony provision calls for the parties' declaration in the solemnizer's and witnesses' presence (§ 26.04.070). |
Statutory filing form bears signatures of parties, witnesses, and solemnizer (§ 26.04.090). |
Solemnizer delivers county and state filing certificates to issuing county auditor within 30 days (§ 26.04.090). |
| West Virginia verified 2026-10-04 | Registered religious representatives, family/circuit judges, Supreme Court of Appeals justices; resident active/senior Article III judges and federal magistrate judges (§§ 48-2-401, -406). |
Secretary of State orders religious-representative authorization upon fee and proof of age 18, organizational authority and regular communion; central registry (§ 48-2-402(a)–(b)). |
Ceremony must use county commission clerk's license within 60 days after issuance (§§ 48-2-101, -202(c)). |
Religious representative follows organization's rites and state law; judicial ritual is permissive, not prescribed vows (§§ 48-2-403–404). |
§ 48-2-404's optional judicial ritual mentions witnesses; §§ 48-2-401–404 state no general numeric attendance minimum. |
Minister, priest, rabbi or leader/representative of recognized spiritual assembly, church or religious organization may qualify; ceremony follows its rites (§§ 48-2-401–403). |
Ceremony provisions define a formal act and give no express proxy or remote process (§§ 48-2-401, -403–404). |
Solemnizer endorses retained license with fact, time and place of marriage; clerk records officiant's certification (§§ 48-2-202(a), -203(a)(3)). |
Solemnizer forwards original license to issuing county commission clerk before sixth day of month after ceremony (§ 48-2-202(b)). |
| Wisconsin verified 2026-10-04 | Continuing ordained clergy, qualifying licentiate/bishop appointee, judges/justices, court commissioners, municipal judges, or eligible parties themselves (§ 765.16(1m)). |
No general one-day appointment; denominational licentiate or bishop appointee must meet § 765.16(1m)(b); officiating person must be at least 18 (§ 765.16(2m)). |
Obtain county-clerk license first; ceremony authorized anywhere in Wisconsin within 60 days after issue (§§ 765.05, 765.12(2), 765.16(1m)). |
Mutual declarations that parties take one another as husband and wife; self-solemnizing parties declare under qualifying religious customs (§ 765.16(1m)). |
At least two competent adult witnesses besides officiant; one if party has listed active military, reserve, or National Guard service (§ 765.16(1m)); witnesses also required for self-solemnization (§ 765.30(3)(b)). |
Parties may solemnize themselves by mutual declarations under customs of religious society/denomination/sect to which either belongs (§ 765.16(1m)(c)). |
Section 765.16 requires declarations before officiant and witnesses; no express proxy or video ceremony route in the cited chapter. |
Chapter defines certificate to include ceremony signatures but does not name all signers in §§ 765.13–.14; county clerk signs license (§§ 765.002(3), 765.13). |
Officiant, or either party if self-solemnized, returns completed marriage document to register of deeds of any Wisconsin county within three days (§ 765.19). |
| Wyoming verified 2026-10-04 | District/circuit judges, district court commissioners, supreme court justices, magistrates, clergy, and qualified religious-rite persons (§ 20-1-106(a)). |
§ 20-1-106(a) names authorized categories; it states no temporary appointment or registration route. |
Obtain Wyoming county-clerk license before ceremony; it expires after one year if no marriage is solemnized (§ 20-1-103(a), (d)). |
No set form; parties solemnly declare before officiant and two witnesses that they take each other as husband and wife (§ 20-1-106(b)). |
At least two attend the declaration and sign the certificate (§§ 20-1-106(b), -107(a)). |
Religious society or assembly may use its rites; its clerk/keeper, or presiding person if none, transmits certificate (§ 20-1-110). |
§ 20-1-106(b) requires the parties' declaration in the officiant's and two witnesses' presence; no separate proxy or remote route stated. |
Officiant signs and gives a certificate to a party; attending witnesses sign; certificate names at least two witnesses (§ 20-1-107(a)). |
Officiant files record with license-issuing officer within ten days; religious-society record transmitter named separately (§§ 35-1-422(b), 20-1-110). |
This survey covers 48 of 51 jurisdictions so far; new states are verified and added continuously. A state missing here hasn't been verified yet. We don't publish unverified answers. Arkansas and Ohio are a separate case: no official statute text is publicly available to quote there.
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