How to Become an Ordained Minister in Michigan
If you haven't yet become ordained with the Universal Life Church, that is the first step. Anyone willing can become a legal minister of the ULC, one of the world's largest religious organizations. Online ordination is fast, easy, and completely free. Once you have your minister license, you'll be eligible to officiate a wedding. To become a minister, start by clicking the button below!
Congratulations, you're ready to officiate the wedding! If you need any assistance in this important task, we encourage you to utilize the tools below. Together these exclusive resources include everything you'll need to craft the perfect wedding ceremony for any couple. Created with our ministers in mind, they offer tips and helpful information for all aspects of performing a ceremony. Fun fact: many ULC ministers have become professional officiants using these tools as a guide!
Video Guide to Officiating a Wedding in Michigan
That was a lot to cover, good job! You're now fully prepared to preside at a Michigan marriage ceremony. Prefer video to text? Below you'll find a video walkthrough for performing a wedding in Michigan! In this video, we'll explain step-by-step how the process of officiating a wedding works and what you'll need to do to prepare.
Officiant Requirements in Michigan
The Michigan state flower, the Apple Blossom
Contact the County Clerk's office in the county where the ceremony will take place. Introduce yourself as a minister officiating a wedding, and ask them what documents they will need from you. They may ask to see a number of things, and be aware that these requirements vary from county to county. Rest assured that any materials or documents you might need are available in the Church Supplies section of our website.
Select your county to view contact information for each office:
How to Get a Michigan Marriage License
Once you've determined what you need, simply log in to your account and order the materials from our online catalog. One of our most popular items in Michigan is the Classic Wedding Kit. Although ministers are generally not required to register in the state of Michigan, it's possible the county clerk will ask you to present proof of your ordination before they will accept the legality of the ceremonies you've performed. As requested by the county clerks, please try to place your order well in advance to avoid complications. Keep in mind that the couple may also like to see your ordination credentials
How to Perform a Wedding
Licenses are issued by the County Clerk's office, and will be picked up by the couple. As a minister, it's your responsibility to know how marriage licenses work in Michigan and its individual counties. For example, if the couple plans to get an Oakland marriage license, you should double-check if there are any rules specific to Oakland County. In the state of Michigan, the license is valid for 30 to 33 days depending on the county. There is a mandatory 3-day waiting period between the time it is picked up and when the ceremony can be legally performed. Finally, the signed marriage license must be returned to the issuing office within 10 days of the ceremony.
Finalizing the Marriage
After you perform the ceremony, you will sign the marriage license along with the couple and their two witnesses. Your title is 'minister', the ceremony type is 'religious', and the denomination is 'non-denominational'. You will not be required to provide a license number. You may also wish to give the couple a commemorative gift, like a marriage certificate to mark their special day. Last thing: make sure the signed license gets resubmitted to the marriage office before the deadline!
Michigan Marriage Laws
Marriage laws in Michigan are primarily directed by Chapter 551 Michigan Compiled Laws. This section defines persons authorized to perform a marriage, which includes ordained ministers of the Universal Life Church, among other individuals. It is important to note that in Michigan the minister is required to keep an accurate record of all marriages solemnized in a book used for only that purpose. We've reproduced the relevant portion below:
551.7 Persons authorized to solemnize marriage; records; return of licenses and certificates; disposition of fees charged by mayor or county clerk. Sec. 7.
(1) Marriages may be solemnized by any of the following:
(i) A minister of the gospel or cleric or religious practitioner, anywhere in this state, if the minister or cleric or religious practitioner is ordained or authorized to solemnize marriages according to the usages of the denomination.
(j) A minister of the gospel or cleric or religious practitioner, anywhere in this state, if the minister or cleric or religious practitioner is not a resident of this state but is authorized to solemnize marriages under the laws of the state in which the minister or cleric or religious practitioner resides.
(2) A person authorized by this act to solemnize a marriage shall keep proper records and return licenses and certificates as required by section 4 of 1887 PA 128, MCL 551.104.
View the Michigan Statutes on the official government state website.
How Do you Legally Perform a Wedding in Michigan?
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