- ULC Ordination Recognized: Yes
- Minister Registration Required: No
- State Residency: Irrelevant
- Minimum Age to Officiate: 18
- Marriage License Waiting Period: 3 days
- Marriage License Validity Period: Varies by County
- Marriage License Return Period: 10 days
- Documents Recommended: Classic Wedding Kit
How to Become an Ordained Minister in Michigan
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 Michigan
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:
Alcona County
106 5th Street
Harrisville, MI 48740
(989) 724-9410
(989) 724-9419
Alcona County website »
Alger County
101 Court Street
Munising, MI 49862
(906) 387-2076
(906) 387-2156
Alger County website »
Allegan County
113 Chestnut Street
Allegan, MI
(269) 673-0400
(269) 673-0490
Allegan County website »
Alpena County
720 W. Chisholm Street, Suite 2
Alpena, MI 49707
(989) 354-9520
(989) 354-9644
Alpena County website »
Arenac County
120 N Grove Street
Standish, MI 48658
(989) 846-4626
(989) 846-9194
Arenac County website »
Baraga County
2 S. Main St.
L’Anse, MI 49946
(906) 524-6100 ext 698
(906) 524-6432
Baraga County website »
Bay County
515 Center Avenue, Ste. 101
Bay City, MI
(989) 895-4280
(989) 895-4284
Bay County website »
Branch County
31 Division Street
Coldwater, MI 49036
(517) 279-4306
(517) 278-5627
Branch County website »
Charlevoix County
301 State St
Charlevoix, MI
(231) 547-7200
(231) 547-7217
Charlevoix County website »
Chippewa County
319 Court Street
Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49793
(906) 635-6300
Chippewa County website »
Clare County
225 W. Main St.
Harrison, MI 48625
(989) 539-7131
(989) 539-6616
Clare County website »
Clinton County
100 E State Street, Suite 2600
St. Johns, MI 48879
(989) 224-5140
(989) 224-5102
Clinton County website »
Delta County
310 Ludington Street
Escanaba, MI 49829
(906) 789-5100
(906) 789-5196
Delta County website »
Dickinson County
705 South Stevenson Avenue
Iron Mountain, MI 49801
(906) 774-0988
Dickinson County website »
Gogebic County
200 N. Moore Street
Bessemer, MI 49911
(906) 663-4518
(906) 663-4660
Gogebic County website »
Grand Traverse County
400 Boardman Ave., Ste. 101
Traverse City, MI 49684
(231) 922-4760
(231) 922-4794
Grand Traverse County website »
Gratiot County
214 East Center Street
Ithaca, MI 48847
(989) 875-5215
(989) 875-5254
Gratiot County website »
Hillsdale County
29 N Howell Street, Room 1
Hillsdale, MI 49242
(517) 437-3391
(517) 437-3392
Hillsdale County website »
Houghton County
401 E. Houghton Ave.
Houghton, MI
(906) 482-1150
(906) 483-0364
Houghton County website »
Huron County
250 East Huron Avenue, Room 201
Bad Axe, MI 48413
(989) 269-9942
(989) 269-6160
Huron County website »
Ingham County
341 S. Jefferson
Mason, MI 48854
(517) 676-7201
(517) 676-7254
Ingham County website »
Jackson County
312 S. Jackson Street
Jackson, MI
(517) 788-4265
(517) 788-4601
Jackson County website »
Kalamazoo County
201 W. Kalamazoo Ave. 1st Floor
Kalamazoo, MI
(269) 383-8840
Kalamazoo County website »
Kalkaska County
605 N. Birch Street
Kalkaska, MI
(231) 258-3349
(231) 258-3337
Kalkaska County website »
Kent County
300 Monroe Avenue NW
Grand Rapids, MI
(616) 632-7640
(616) 632-7645
Kent County website »
Keweenaw County
5095 4th Street
Eagle River, MI
(906) 337-2229
(906) 337-2253
Keweenaw County website »
Lake County
800 Tenth St, Suite 200
Baldwin, MI 49304
(231) 745-2725
(231) 745-8632
Lake County website »
Lapeer County
255 Clay Street
Lapeer, MI 48446
(810) 667-0356
(810) 667-0362
Lapeer County website »
Leelanau County
8527 E Government Center Dr, Room 103
Suttons Bay, MI 49682
(231) 256-9824
Leelanau County website »
Livingston County
200 E Grand River Ave
Howell, MI 48843
(517) 546-0500
(517) 546-4354
Livingston County website »
Luce County
407 West Harrie St.
Newberry, MI 49868
(906) 293-5521
(906) 293-5553
Luce County website »
Mackinac County
100 S. Marley, Rm 10
St. Ignace, MI 49781
(906) 643-7300
(906) 643-7302
Mackinac County website »
Marquette County
234 W. Baraga Ave.
Marquette, MI
(906) 225-8330
(906) 228-1572
Marquette County website »
Mason County
304 E. Ludington Avenue
Ludington, MI
(231) 843-8202
(231) 843-1972
Mason County website »
Mecosta County
400 Elm Street
Big Rapids, MI 49307
(231) 592-0783
(231) 592-0193
Mecosta County website »
Missaukee County
111 South Canal, PO Box 800
Lake City, MI
(231) 839-4967
(231) 839-3684
Missaukee County website »
Muskegon County
990 Terrace Street, 1st Floor
Muskegon, MI 49442
(231) 724-6221
(231) 724-6262
Muskegon County website »
Newaygo County
1087 Newell St.
White Cloud, MI 49349
(231) 689-7235
(231) 689-7241
Newaygo County website »
Oakland County
1200 N. Telegraph Rd, Bldg 12E
Pontiac, MI 48341
(248) 858-0581
Oakland County website »
Ogemaw County
806 West Houghton Ave. Suite 101
West Branch, MI 48661
(989) 345-0215
(989) 345-7223
Ogemaw County website »
Osceola County
301 W. Upton Ave.
Reed City, MI
(231) 832-3261
(231) 832-6149
Osceola County website »
Otsego County
225 West Main St.
Gaylord, MI 49735
(989) 731-7500
(989) 731-7519
Otsego County website »
Ottawa County
12220 Fillmore Street, Room 130
West Olive, MI 49460
(616) 994-4531
Ottawa County website »
Presque Isle County
151 E. Huron Ave.
Rogers City, MI 49779
(989) 734-3288
(989) 734-7635
Presque Isle County website »
Roscommon County
500 Lake Street
Roscommon, MI
(989) 275-5923
(989) 275-8640
Roscommon County website »
Saginaw County
111 S. Michigan Avenue, Room 101
Saginaw, MI 48602
(989) 790-5251
Saginaw County website »
Sanilac County
60 W. Sanilac, Room 203
Sandusky, MI 48471
(810) 648-3212
(810) 648-5466
Sanilac County website »
Schoolcraft County
300 Walnut Street, Room 164
Manistique, MI
(906) 341-3618
Schoolcraft County website »
Shiawassee County
208 North Shiawassee Street, 2nd Floor
Corunna, MI 48817
(989) 743-2242
(989) 743-2241
Shiawassee County website »
St. Clair County
201 McMorran Blvd. Room 1100
Port Huron, MI 48060
(810) 985-2200
(810) 985-4796
St. Clair County website »
St. Joseph County
125 W. Main St.
Centreville, MI
(269) 467-5500
(269) 467-5628
St. Joseph County website »
Washtenaw County
200 North Main Street, Suite 100
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
(734) 222-6720
Washtenaw County website »
Wayne County
2 Woodward Avenue, Rooms 201 & 207
Detroit, MI 48226
(313) 224-6262
Wayne County website »

What Do You Need to Perform a Wedding in Michigan
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 Michigan is the Classic Wedding Kit. Although ministers are generally not required to register in the state of Michigan, 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. As requested by the county clerks, please try to place your order well in advance to avoid complications. Keep in mind that the couple may also like to see your ordination credentials
How to Get a Michigan 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 know how marriage licenses work in Michigan and its individual counties. For example, if the couple plans to get an Oakland marriage license, you should double-check if there are any rules specific to Oakland County. In the state of Michigan, the license is valid for 30 to 33 days depending on the county. There is a mandatory 3-day 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 10 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. 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!
Michigan Marriage Laws
Marriage laws in Michigan are primarily directed by Chapter 551 Michigan Compiled Laws. This section defines persons authorized to perform a marriage, which includes ordained ministers of the Universal Life Church, among other individuals. It is important to note that in Michigan the minister is required to keep an accurate record of all marriages solemnized in a book used for only that purpose. We've reproduced the relevant portion below:
551.7 Persons authorized to solemnize marriage; records; return of licenses and certificates; disposition of fees charged by mayor or county clerk. Sec. 7.
(1) Marriages may be solemnized by any of the following:
(i) A minister of the gospel or cleric or religious practitioner, anywhere in this state, if the minister or cleric or religious practitioner is ordained or authorized to solemnize marriages according to the usages of the denomination.
(j) A minister of the gospel or cleric or religious practitioner, anywhere in this state, if the minister or cleric or religious practitioner is not a resident of this state but is authorized to solemnize marriages under the laws of the state in which the minister or cleric or religious practitioner resides.
(2) A person authorized by this act to solemnize a marriage shall keep proper records and return licenses and certificates as required by section 4 of 1887 PA 128, MCL 551.104.