How to Become an Ordained Minister in Missouri
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!
How to Officiate a Wedding in Missouri
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:
Officiant Requirements in Missouri
The Missouri state flower, the Hawthorn
Once you've determined what you need, simply log in to your account and order the materials from our online catalog. Based on the feedback we've received from our ministers in Missouri, we recommend ordering a Classic Wedding Kit. Although ministers are generally not required to register in this state, 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. The couple may also wish to see a copy of your ordination credentials. Please try to place your order well in advance to avoid complications
How to Get a Missouri Marriage License
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 Missouri and its individual counties. For example, if the couple plans to get a Clay County marriage license, you should double-check if there are any rules specific to Clay County. In the state of Missouri, the license is valid for 30 days. There is no mandatory 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 15 days of the ceremony.
How to Perform a Wedding
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!
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!
Video Walkthrough: Performing a Wedding in Missouri
And now you've reached the end! Hopefully you're feeling prepared to officiate in Missouri. We get it – that was a lot of text to absorb. Did you know we have a full video series on how to get ordained to officiate a wedding in each state? Check out the video guide for performing a wedding in Missouri below!
Missouri Marriage Laws
Marriage laws in Missouri are primarily directed by Section 100 of Chapter 451 of the state code. This section defines persons authorized to perform a marriage in the State of Missouri, which includes ordained ministers of the Universal Life Church, among other individuals. We've reproduced the relevant portion below:
451.100. Marriages may be solemnized by any clergyman, either active or retired, who is in good standing with any church or synagogue in this state. Marriages may also be solemnized, without compensation, by any judge, including a municipal judge. Marriages may also be solemnized by a religious society, religious institution, or religious organization of this state, according to the regulations and customs of the society, institution or organization, when either party to the marriage to be solemnized is a member of such society, institution or organization.
View the Missouri Statutes on the official government state website.
How Do you Legally Perform a Wedding in Missouri?
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