How to Become an Ordained Minister in Mississippi
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: How to Officiate a Wedding in Mississippi
When you break it down step-by-step, officiating a wedding in Mississippi isn't all that complicated. We realize that was a lot to read. We've also created a video guide explaining all aspects of performing a wedding in Mississippi. Give it a watch to learn what you'll need to do to prepare for the ceremony and how to ensure all the important boxes get checked!
Officiant Requirements in Mississippi
The Mississippi state flower, the Magnolia
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 Mississippi 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 Mississippi is the Ordination Kit. Although ministers are generally not required to register in the state of Mississippi, it's possible the county clerk will ask you to present some documented proof of your ordination before they will accept the legality of wedding 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 understand how marriage licenses work in Mississippi and its individual counties. For example, if the couple plans to get an Attala County marriage license, you should double-check if there are any rules specific to Attala County.
In the state of Mississippi, the license never expires. There is no mandatory waiting period between the time it is picked up and when the ceremony can be legally performed. Lastly, the signed marriage license must be returned to the issuing office as soon as possible.
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!
Mississippi Marriage Laws
Marriage laws in Mississippi are primarily directed by Title 93 Chapter 1 of the state code. This section defines persons authorized to perform a marriage in the State of Mississippi, which includes ordained ministers of the Universal Life Church, among other individuals. We've reproduced the relevant portion below:
Any minister of the gospel ordained according to the rules of his church or society, in good standing; any Rabbi or other spiritual leader of any other religious body authorized under the rules of such religious body to solemnize rites of matrimony and being in good standing; any judge of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, circuit court, chancery court or county court may solemnize the rites of matrimony between any persons anywhere within this state who shall produce a license granted as herein directed. Justice court judges and members of the boards of supervisors may likewise solemnize the rites of matrimony within their respective counties. Any marriages performed by a mayor of a municipality prior to March 14, 1994 are valid provided such marriages satisfy the requirements of Section 93-1-18.
View the Mississippi Statutes on the official government state website.
How Do you Legally Perform a Wedding in Mississippi?
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