Kentucky Wedding Laws
Planning to tie the knot in Kentucky? You have lots of scenic and historic venues to choose from. From charming picturesque barns to Churchill Downs, the Bluegrass State has much to offer for the soon-to-be-wed. But before you race to book your big day, you should know the state’s marriage laws. With this helpful guide from the Universal Life Church, you’ll learn how to apply for a Kentucky marriage license. We also explain requirements for your ceremony, officiant, and other details. You’ll cross the finish line with confidence, knowing your marriage is legal and valid.
How to Become a Wedding Officiant in Kentucky
- Min. Age of Minister:
- Age 18
- Residency:
- Not Required
- Document(s) Required:
- Varies by County
- Online Ordination Recognized:
- Yes
- Relevant Office of Registration:
- County Clerk
- Latest Document(s) Submission Date Allowed:
- Varies by County
- Minister I.D. # Issued:
- No
Both religious clergy and secular officials may solemnize weddings in Kentucky. Secular officiants include currently serving and retired justices and judges. Ordained clergy must be in regular communion and good standing with their religious organizations.
Universal Life Church ministers are considered religious actors. Therefore, they’re permitted to perform marriages in Kentucky. Officiants do not have to register with any government office. However, ULC ministers should have their credentials and letters of good standing just in case they’re asked to present them. Also, officiants do not need to be Kentucky residents to solemnize weddings within the state.
§ 402.050
(1) Marriage shall be solemnized only by: (a) Ministers of the gospel or priests of any denomination in regular communion with any religious society; (b) Justices and judges of the Court of Justice, retired justices and judges of the Court of Justice except those removed for cause or convicted of a felony, county judges/executive, and such justices of the peace and fiscal court commissioners as the Governor or the county judge/executive authorizes; or (c) A religious society that has no officiating minister or priest and whose usage is to solemnize marriage at the usual place of worship and by consent given in the presence of the society, if either party belongs to the society. (2) At least two (2) persons, in addition to the parties and the person solemnizing the marriage, shall be present at every marriage.
Getting Married in Kentucky
- Marriage By Proxy Allowed:
- No
- Minister Required to be Present:
- Yes
- Number of Witnesses Required:
- 2
- Min. Age of Witnesses:
- 18
- Couple's Consent Required:
- Yes
- Pronouncement Required:
- Yes
Like many states, Kentucky has a few specific requirements for wedding ceremonies. First, an authorized minister must perform the ceremony. The officiant, the couple, and two adult witnesses must be physically present. Proxy marriages are not legal in the state of Kentucky.
While couples can personalize their wedding ceremonies, the vows must contain certain language to make the marriage legally binding. Each half of the couple must formally declare consent to marrying the other. The marriage is officially solemnized once the officiant pronounces the couple as legally married.
§ 402.220
The person solemnizing the marriage or the clerk of the religious society before which it was solemnized shall within one (1) month return the license to the county clerk of the county in which it was issued, with a certificate of the marriage over his signature, giving the date and place of celebration and the names of at least two (2) of the persons present.
§ 402.050
(2) At least two (2) persons, in addition to the parties and the person solemnizing the marriage, shall be present at every marriage.
How to Get a Kentucky Marriage License
- Who Picks Up License:
- The Couple
- Where License is Valid:
- Any County in Kentucky
- Marriage License Pick-Up:
- In Person Only
- Cost of License:
- $36.00
- Accepted I.D. Types:
- Government Issued ID
- Proof of Divorce Required (If Applicable):
- Varies by County
- Blood Test Required:
- No
To get married in Kentucky, you must obtain a marriage license. You and your spouse-to-be will need to visit a county clerk’s office to apply for your license. There are no residency requirements to marry within the state. Also, you may obtain your license in one county and marry in another.
When applying for a license, both of you must bring proper documentation. This includes a valid government-issued photo ID such as a driver’s license, state ID, or passport. Depending on the county, you may need additional documents such as divorce decrees from prior marriages. License fees vary by county, but they usually range between $35 and $50.
§ 402.080
No marriage shall be solemnized without a license therefor. The license shall be issued by the clerk of the county in which the female resides at the time, unless the female is eighteen (18) years of age or over or a widow, and the license is issued on her application in person or by writing signed by her, in which case it may be issued by any county clerk.
Applying For a Marriage License in Kentucky
- ULC-Officiated Ceremony Type:
- Religious
- Mandatory Waiting Period:
- None
- License Valid For:
- 30 Days
- License Must Be Submitted:
- By Expiration
Once a Kentucky marriage license has been issued, it is valid for 30 days. Before it expires, your license must have all fields completed and be returned to the office of the issuing county clerk.
§ 402.105 A marriage license shall be valid for thirty (30) days, including the date it is issued, and after that time it shall be invalid.
§ 402.110 The form of marriage license prescribed in KRS 402.100 shall be uniform throughout this state, and every license blank shall contain the identical words and figures provided in the form prescribed by that section. In issuing the license the clerk shall deliver it in its entirety to the licensee. The clerk shall see to it that every blank space required to be filled by the applicants is so filled before delivering it to the licensee.
Kentucky Marriage Requirements
- Min. Age of Couple:
- Age 18 or Age 16 with Guardian Consent
- Residency:
- Not Required
- Min. Distance of Kin Allowed:
- Second Cousins
- Marriage Equality:
- Yes
Almost anyone aged 18 or older can get married in Kentucky. There are a few exceptions, however. Those judged to be mentally disabled by a court cannot marry. If you have a former spouse that’s still living, you must have obtained an official divorce. You also cannot marry anyone closer to you than a second cousin, whether by whole or half-blood.
Kentucky has different rules for minors who want to marry. Those aged 16 or 17 must get written consent from a parent or legal guardian. Minors age 15 or younger may marry only if they are pregnant. Even then, they must obtain permission from a judge.
State laws previously prohibited same-sex couples from getting married. These statutes were rendered obsolete by the Obergefell v. Hodges Supreme Court decision on June 26, 2015.
§402.020 Other prohibited marriages.
(1) Marriage is prohibited and void:
(a) With a person who has been adjudged mentally disabled by a court of
competent jurisdiction;
(b) Where there is a husband or wife living, from whom the person marrying has
not been divorced;
(c) When not solemnized or contracted in the presence of an authorized person or
society;
(d) Between members of the same sex;
(e) Between more than two (2) persons; and
(f) Except as provided in KRS 402.210, with a person who at the time of
marriage is under eighteen (18) years of age.
§ 402.010
(1) No marriage shall be contracted between persons who are nearer of kin to each other by consanguinity, whether of the whole or half-blood, than second cousins. (2) Marriages prohibited by subsection (1) of this section are incestuous and void.
Finalizing the Union
- Officiant's Title on Marriage License:
- Minister
- Church/Ordaining Body:
- Universal Life Church Ministries
- Address of Church:
- Minister's Home Address
Once a wedding ceremony is over, the officiant’s work is almost done. Completing the marriage certificate is the last step. The minister must fill in the ceremony’s date, the couple’s names, and the names of the two witnesses. The certificate must also bear the name, title, and religious society of the officiant. ULC ministers should use “Universal Life Church” as their ordaining body. Finally, the minister must return the certificate to the issuing clerk before its 30-day expiration.
§ 402.230
The certificate shall be filed in the county clerk's office. The county clerk shall keep in a record book a fair register of the parties' names, the person by whom, or the religious society by which, the marriage was solemnized, the date when the marriage was solemnized, and shall keep an index to the book in which the register is made.