How to Become an Ordained Minister in Nebraska
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 Nebraska
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 Nebraska
The Nebraska state flower, the Goldenrod
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 Nebraska is the 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. Please try to place your order well in advance to avoid complications. Keep in mind, the couple may also want to see a copy of your ministry credentials prior to the ceremony.
How to Get a Nebraska 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 Nebraska and its individual counties. For example, if the couple plans to get a Douglas County marriage license, you should double-check if there are any rules specific to Douglas County. In the state of Nebraska, the license is valid for one year. There is no mandatory waiting period before 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 Guide to Officiating a Wedding in Nebraska
Congrats – you've made it through the entire Nebraska wedding guide! Prefer video to text? Below you'll find a video walkthrough for performing a wedding in Nebraska! 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.
Nebraska Marriage Laws
Marriage laws in Nebraska are primarily directed by Chapter 42 Section 108 of the state code. This section defines persons authorized to perform a marriage in the State of Nebraska, which includes ordained ministers of the Universal Life Church, among other individuals. We've reproduced the relevant portion below:
42-108 Marriage ceremony; who may perform; return; contents. Every judge, retired judge, or clerk magistrate, and every preacher of the gospel authorized by the usages of the church to which he or she belongs to solemnize marriages, may perform the marriage ceremony in this state.
View the Nebraska Statutes on the official government state website.
How Do you Legally Perform a Wedding in Nebraska?
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