Eligibility to Perform a Wedding in New York
Who qualifies for this single, one-off marriage license? According to the bill signed into law by Governor Hochul, any layperson, regardless of clergy status, can perform one wedding ceremony in New York without being a county judge or holding ordination. Traditionally, New York law has recognized two categories of individuals authorized to perform weddings: religious ministers and magistrates.
“Minister” is defined as someone who holds some power within a recognized religious group such as the Universal Life Church. On the other hand, “magistrate” refers to a judge. Below is the applicable legal text:
N.Y. Dom. Law § 11 No marriage shall be valid unless solemnized by either:
A clergyman or minister of any religion, or by the senior leader, or any of the other leaders, of The Society for Ethical Culture in the city of New York, having its principal office in the borough of Manhattan, or by the leader of The Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture, having its principal office in the borough of Brooklyn of the city of New York, or of the Westchester Ethical Society, having its principal office in Westchester county, or of the Ethical Culture Society of Long Island, having its principal office in Nassau county, or of the Riverdale-Yonkers Ethical Society having its principal office in Bronx county, or by the leader of any other Ethical Culture Society affiliated with the American Ethical Union; provided that no clergyman or minister as defined in section two of the religious corporations law, or Society for Ethical Culture leader shall be required to solemnize any marriage when acting in his or her capacity under this subdivision.
1-a. A refusal by a clergyman or minister as defined in section two of the religious corporations law, or Society for Ethical Culture leader to solemnize any marriage under this subdivision shall not create a civil claim or cause of action or result in any state or local government action to penalize, withhold benefits or discriminate against such clergyman or minister.
The term "clergyman" or "minister" when used in this article, shall include those defined in section two of the religious corporations law. The word "magistrate, " when so used, includes any person referred to in the second or third subdivision.
"The designation of 'minister' is granted to any person who has applied for ordination through the ULC, entitling them to legally officiate weddings in New York and beyond. The Universal Life Church is non-denominational and has ordained some 20 million individuals globally, including thousands right there in the state of New York. Ordination is a free, online process that can be completed by anyone who feels so-called within minutes. If you haven’t already, you can start that process below."
As for New York’s new law, a one-day marriage officiant license is also available, expanding those authorized individuals to include temporary officiants licensed under this provision. The complete guidelines for the single-ceremony officiant license are attached below.
§ 11-d. One-day marriage officiant license.
A town or city clerk shall issue a one-day marriage officiant license upon request. Such one-day marriage officiant shall have the authority to solemnize a marriage which shall be valid if performed in accordance with other provisions of law. Nothing herein contained shall nullify the authority of other persons authorized to solemnize marriages.
Such one-day marriage officiant shall be eighteen years of age or over and need not be a resident of the town or city to which they apply or a resident of the state. A one-day marriage officiant shall have the authority to solemnize a marriage anywhere in the state.
An applicant for a one-day marriage officiant license must apply for such license in the same town or city clerk's office as the couple to be married. Such applicant shall not be required to personally appear.
A town or city clerk shall be entitled to a fee of twenty-five dollars for issuing a one-day marriage officiant license. Such license shall be issued only after payment of such fee and submission of a completed application form.
The application form shall require the following information of the applicant: name, date of birth, address, email address and telephone number. The application form shall also require the following information of the parties to be married: names, dates of birth, and addresses as they appear on the application for a marriage license.
Such license shall only be valid for the parties to be married as stated on the application and shall expire upon the earlier of either completion of such solemnization or the expiration of the marriage license.
One-day marriage officiants shall be exempt from registration as required pursuant to section eleven-b of this article.
Obtaining Your “Officiant-for-a-Day” License
To apply for the one-day marriage officiant license, you must contact the specific office responsible for issuing marriage licenses, usually the Town or City Clerk's Office where the wedding is taking place. Aspiring wedding officiants should always apply to the appropriate office in the actual location where the wedding will occur.
Residency in New York may not be a requirement, and in-person application submission may not always be necessary. While application requirements may vary across counties, applicants generally need to provide relevant details about the ceremony such as the date and location, and specific personal details about themselves, like name, date of birth, and home address.
Cost of Being a One-Time New York Wedding Officiant
Applying for this single-day wedding officiant status incurs a significant fee: the one-time license comes out to $25! This is a mandatory charge that is applicable statewide. This cost can be paid to the city clerk's office and may be settled using the office's accepted payment methods. In certain locations, additional fees may apply when using your credit card.
When the officiant application is approved by the clerk's office, an email confirmation will be sent, although the process could run two weeks or even longer, according to some applicants' experiences. Once the officiant receives the go-ahead, they may proceed with conducting the wedding.
One-Day Officiant License vs. Becoming Ordained Online
Becoming ordained online remains the favored method among New Yorkers hoping to officiate weddings for their loved ones. How does obtaining New York’s “officiant-for-a-day” license measure up to becoming ordained online? There are several crucial differences to consider.
Expiration Dates
The obvious distinction is that New York's “officiant-for-a-day” license is valid only for one wedding. Should you plan to officiate multiple ceremonies, you will need to repeat your entire application from start to finish, including the waiting period, and pay $25 dollars each time.
While this may not be a problem if you intend to officiate only one wedding, we advise caution because our own ULC officiants initially obtained ordination after being asked to perform one ceremony, but later went on to perform more weddings.
Indeed, some of them have gone on to conduct many ceremonies, from multiple weddings to vow renewals and beyond. In contrast, becoming ordained online through Universal Life Church (ULC) is good for life and allows for an unlimited number of weddings. If there is even a slight chance you may officiate any additional weddings, obtaining online ordination is likely the better choice.
Associated License Costs
The next significant difference is the cost. New York's one-time wedding officiant designation carries a $25 fee, whereas becoming ordained through ULC is entirely free. Immediately after becoming a ULC minister online, you will receive an exclusive account on our site and access to a digital copy of your ordination certificate you can view at any time. Hard copies of your ordination certificate are also available through our online minister supplies shop, although purchasing them is optional.
Regardless of whether you opt to purchase official paperwork, your ordination will always remain valid through ULC. However, please note that specific locations in the state of New York state may require confirmation of your ordination status to perform a wedding ceremony. To learn all the rules and regulations of officiating a wedding in your area, please refer to our handy New York state wedding officiant guide.
Depending on the location where you plan to officiate ceremonies in the state of New York, you might be required to pick up certain legal paperwork or other credentials from our online web store. We offer convenient packages that give you everything you need, including all the necessary info, minister training guides, and officiant supplies and merchandise to officiate multiple weddings and other ceremonies throughout New York.
Application Approval Times
Lastly, there are considerations regarding lengthy wait times and confusing application deadlines. New York’s one-day officiant application must be submitted 30 days ahead of the wedding. Yet, the approval process can take up to 23 days, which means applicants may not receive notification of their acceptance until just seven days before the wedding. This scenario could be alarming and may require couples to search for a last-minute replacement should the application be denied for any reason.
However, becoming ordained with ULC provides almost instant confirmation, with an email confirming successful ordination sent immediately after sign-up. This swift confirmation offers immediate assurance that you are legally able to officiate wedding ceremonies. Universal Life Church prioritizes this prompt response because we hold strong convictions that everyone should be able to be ordained and guide their own spiritual journey - a right that far too many were denied for far too long.
Officiating a New York Wedding
Regardless of whether you are preparing for your own wedding or have been tasked with performing a wedding in New York, it is crucial to know the pluses and minuses of each option for obtaining authorization. If you determine that online ordination works best for you, get started by clicking below to begin the process.
No matter the route you choose, either of these accessible pathways permit an engaged couple to select a friend or family member they love to officiate their big day. Ultimately, that is the most important thing.
Speaking of the ceremony – if you’re tasked with preparing a script and feeling like you might need some pointers or inspiration, don’t forget to check out our wedding ceremony scripts resource center.