- ULC Ordination Recognized: Yes
- Minister Registration Required: No
- State Residency: Irrelevant
- Minimum Age to Officiate: 18
- Marriage License Waiting Period: None
- Marriage License Validity Period: 30 days
- Marriage License Return Period: By Expiration
- Documents Recommended: Classic Wedding Kit, Letter of Good Standing
How to Become an Ordained Minister in Alabama
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 Alabama
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:
Bullock County
217 Prairie St N, Room 103
Union Springs, AL 36089
(334) 738-2250
Bullock County website »
Butler County
700 Court Square
Greenville, AL 36037
(334) 382-3221
(334) 382-0385
Butler County website »
Calhoun County
1702 Noble Street, Suite 102
Anniston, AL 36201
(256) 241-2825
(256) 231-1728
Calhoun County website »
Chambers County
2 South LaFayette Street
LaFayette, AL 36862
(334) 864-4380
Chambers County website »
Cherokee County
260 Cedar Bluff Road, Suite 101
Centre, AL
(256) 927-3363
(256) 927-3363
Cherokee County website »
Choctaw County
117 S Mullberry Street Room 10
Butler, AL
(334) 613-5300
(334) 240-3097
Choctaw County website »
Clarke County
114 Court Street
Grove Hill, AL 36451
(251) 275-3251
(251) 275-8427
Clarke County website »
Cleburne County
120 Vickery Street, Ste. 101
Heflin, AL 36264
(256) 463-5655
(256) 463-1044
Cleburne County website »
Colbert County
201 North Main Street
Tuscumbia, AL 35674
(256) 314-5820
(256) 386-8547
Colbert County website »
Conecuh County
111 Court Street
Evergreen, AL
(251) 578-1221
(251) 578-7034
Conecuh County website »
Covington County
1K N. Court Square
Andalusia, AL 36420
(334) 428-2520
(334) 428-2531
Covington County website »
DeKalb County
300 Grand Avenue S.W., Suite 100
Fort Payne, AL 35967
(256) 845-8510
DeKalb County website »
Elmore County
100 E. Commerce Street, Suite 100
Wetumpka, AL 36092
(334) 567-1140 Ext. 5084
Elmore County website »
Etowah County
800 Forrest Ave, Suite 122
Gadsden, AL 35901
(256) 549-5340
(256) 549-1149
Etowah County website »
Jackson County
102 E Laurel St, Room 307
Scottsboro, AL 35768
(256) 574-9290
Jackson County website »
Lauderdale County
200 South Court Street
Florence, AL 35630
(256) 760-5804
Lauderdale County website »
Lawrence County
14451 Market St, Suite 130
Moulton, AL 35650
(256) 974-2439
Lawrence County website »
Limestone County
100 South Clinton Street, Suite D
Athens, AL 35611
(256) 233-6427
Limestone County website »
Macon County
101 Rosa Parks Plaza, Suite 208
Tuskegee, AL 36083
(334) 724-2611
Macon County website »
Madison County
100 North Side Square, Room 101
Huntsville, AL 35801
(256) 532-3330
Madison County website »
Marion County
132 Military St. S, Room 204
Hamilton, AL 35570
(205) 921-2471
Marion County website »
Marshall County
425 Gunter Avenue, Suite 110
Guntersville, AL 35976
(256) 571-7764
Marshall County website »
Monroe County
65 North Alabama Ave. Room 220
Monroeville, AL 36460
(251) 743-2283
Monroe County website »
Montgomery County
101 S. Lawrence Street, 2nd Floor
Montgomery, AL 36104
(334) 832-1235
Montgomery County website »
Perry County
Courthouse Square
300 Washington St.
Marion, AL 36756
(334) 683-2200
Perry County website »
Pickens County
50 Courthouse Sq, Room 106
Carrollton, AL 35477
(205) 367-2010
Pickens County website »
Talladega County
1 Court Square, First Floor
Talladega, AL 35160
(256) 362-4175
Talladega County website »
Tallapoosa County
125 North Broadnax Street
Dadeville, AL
(256) 825-4266
Tallapoosa County website »
Walker County
Courthouse Annex II
1900 Third Ave South
Jasper, AL 35501
(205) 384-7291
Walker County website »

What Do You Need to Perform a Wedding in Alabama
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 Alabama we recommend ordering a Classic Wedding Kit. Although ministers are generally not required to register in the state of Alabama, it's possible the couple and 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.
How to Get a Alabama 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 Alabama and its individual counties. For example, if the couple plans to get a Jefferson County marriage license, you should double-check if there are any rules specific to Jefferson County. In the state of Alabama, the license is valid for 30 days. There is no mandatory waiting period before the ceremony can be held. Finally, the signed marriage license must be returned to the issuing office before the expiration date.
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. 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, and witnesses are not required. 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!
Alabama Marriage Laws
Marriage laws in Alabama are primarily directed by Chapter 1 of Title 30 of the state code. This section defines persons authorized to perform a marriage in the State of Alabama, which includes ordained ministers of the Universal Life Church, among other individuals. We've reproduced the relevant portion below: (DATABASE)
Alabama Code - Section 30-1-7: PERSONS AUTHORIZED TO SOLEMNIZE MARRIAGES
(a) Generally. Marriages may be solemnized by any licensed minister of the gospel in regular communion with the Christian church or society of which the minister is a member; by an active or retired judge of the Supreme Court, Court of Criminal Appeals, Court of Civil Appeals, any circuit court, or any district court within this state; by a judge of any federal court; or by an active or retired judge of probate.
(b) Pastor of religious society; clerk of society to maintain register of marriages; register, etc., deemed presumptive evidence of fact. Marriage may also be solemnized by the pastor of any religious society according to the rules ordained or custom established by such society. The clerk or keeper of the minutes of each society shall keep a register and enter therein a particular account of all marriages solemnized by the society, which register, or a sworn copy thereof, is presumptive evidence of the fact.
(c) Quakers, Mennonites, or other religious societies. The people called Mennonites, Quakers, or any other Christian society having similar rules or regulations, may solemnize marriage according to their forms by consent of the parties, published and declared before the congregation assembled for public worship.
- See more at: http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/alcode/30/1/30-1-7#sthash.AFDc8iQ9.dpuf