- ULC Ordination Recognized: Yes
- Minister Registration Required: Yes
- State Residency: Irrelevant
- Minimum Age to Officiate: 21
- Marriage License Waiting Period: 0 days
- Marriage License Validity Period: 6 months
- Marriage License Return Period: 5 days
- Documents Recommended: Classic Wedding Kit, Letter of Good Standing
How to Become an Ordained Minister in Minnesota
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 Minnesota
In Minnesota, ministers are required to register before they are eligible to legally solemnize marriages. To do this, 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:
Beltrami County
701 Minnesota Ave NW, 1st Floor
Bemidji, MN 56601
(218) 759-4174
Beltrami County website »
Big Stone County
20 Second St SE Suite 106
Ortonville, MN 56278
(320) 839-6390
(320) 839-6394
Big Stone County website »
Blue Earth County
204 S. 5th Street
Mankato, MN
(507) 304-4284
(507) 304-4344
Blue Earth County website »
Carlton County
301 Walnut Avenue
Carlton, MN 55718
(218) 384-9156
(218) 384-9157
Carlton County website »
Chippewa County
629 North Eleventh Street, Suite 4
Montevideo, MN 56265
(320) 269-9431
(320) 269-7168
Chippewa County website »
Chisago County
313 N. Main St.
Center City, MN
(651) 257-1300
(651) 213-8876
Chisago County website »
Clearwater County
213 Main Avenue North, Dept. 207
Bagley, MN
(218) 694-6129
(218) 694-6179
Clearwater County website »
Cook County
411 W. 2nd Street
Grand Marais, MN 55604
(218) 387-3660
(218) 387-3043
Cook County website »
Cottonwood County
900 3rd Avenue
Windom, MN 56101
(507) 831-1458
(507) 831-3675
Cottonwood County website »
Crow Wing County
Land Services br> 322 Laurel St, Suite 15
Brainerd, MN 56401
(218) 824-1010
(218) 824-1126
Crow Wing County website »
Dodge County
22 East 6th Street
Mantorville, MN
(507) 635-6250
(507) 635-6265
Dodge County website »
Douglas County
305 8th Ave W
Alexandria, MN 56308
(320) 762-3877
(320) 762-2389
Douglas County website »
Freeborn County
411 South Broadway
Albert Lea, MN 56007
(507) 377-5130
(507) 377-5265
Freeborn County website »
Grant County
10 2nd St. NE
Elbow Lake, MN 56531
(218) 685-8255
(218) 685-4178
Grant County website »
Hennepin County
6125 Shingle Creek Pkwy
Brooklyn Center, MN 55430
(612) 348-8240
Hennepin County website »
Houston County
304 S Marshall St, Room 111
Caledonia, MN 55921
(507) 725-5813
(507) 725-2647
Houston County website »
Hubbard County
301 Court Avenue
Park Rapids, MN
(218) 732-4348
(218) 732-3645
Hubbard County website »
Kanabec County
18 North Vine Street Suite 261B
Mora, MN
(320) 679-6466
(320) 679-6431
Kanabec County website »
Kandiyohi County
400 Benson Ave SW
Willmar, MN
(320) 231-6223
(320) 231-6284
Kandiyohi County website »
Kittson County
410 5th Street S Suite 202
Hallock, MN
(218) 843-2842
(218) 843-2538
Kittson County website »
Koochiching County
715 4th Street
International Falls, MN
(218) 283-6290
Koochiching County website »
Lac qui Parle County
600 - 6th Street, Suite 4
Madison, MN 56256
(320) 598-3724
(320) 598-3125
Lac qui Parle County website »
Lake of the Woods County
206 SE 8th Avenue
Baudette, MN 56623
(218) 634-1902
Lake of the Woods County website »
Le Sueur County
88 South Park Avenue
Le Center, MN 56057
(507) 357-2251
(507) 357-8609
Le Sueur County website »
Lincoln County
319 N. Rebecca
Ivanhoe, MN 56142
(507) 694-1019
(507) 694-1362
Lincoln County website »
Lyon County
607 West Main Street
Marshall, MN 56258
(507) 537-6722
(507) 537-7988
Lyon County website »
Mahnomen County
311 North Main Street
Mahnomen, MN 56557
(218) 935-5528
(218) 936-5656
Mahnomen County website »
Marshall County
208 E Colvin Ave, Suite 7
Warren, MN 56762
(218) 745-4801
(218) 745-5013
Marshall County website »
Meeker County
325 Sibley Avenue N, 4th Level
Litchfield, MN 55355
(320) 693-5345
(320) 693-5217
Meeker County website »
Mille Lacs County
635 2nd Street SE, 2nd Floor
Milaca, MN 56363
(320) 983-8236
(320) 983-8388
Mille Lacs County website »
Mower County
201 1st Street NE, Suite 7
Austin, MN 55912
(507) 437-9535
(507) 434-2646
Mower County website »
Murray County
2500 28th Street
Slayton, MN 56172
(507) 836-1156
(507) 836-6114
Murray County website »
Nobles County
315 Tenth Street
Worthington, MN 56187
(507) 295-5268
(507) 372-8235
Nobles County website »
Pennington County
101 Main Avenue North
Thief River Falls, MN 56701
(218) 683-7027
(218) 683-7026
Pennington County website »
Pine County
635 Northridge Dr. NW, Suite 250
Pine City, MN 55063
(320) 591-1642
Pine County website »
Pipestone County
416 S. Hiawatha AVE
Pipestone, MN
(507) 825-1135
(507) 825-6767
Pipestone County website »
Polk County
612 North Broadway Room 225
Crookston, MN 56716
(218) 281-3464
(218) 281-1636
Polk County website »
Red Lake County
124 Langevin Ave 2nd floor
Red Lake Falls, MN
(218) 253-2997
Red Lake County website »
Redwood County
403 S. Mill Street
Redwood Falls, MN 56283
(507) 637-4032
(507) 637-4064
Redwood County website »
Rock County
204 E. Brown Street
Luverne, MN 56156
(507) 283-5022
(507) 283-1343
Rock County website »
Roseau County
606 5th Ave SW, Room 140
Roseau, MN
(218) 463-1215
(218) 463-4102
Roseau County website »
Sherburne County
13880 Business Center Dr NW, Suite 100
Elk River, MN 55330
(763) 765-4420
(763) 765-3271
Sherburne County website »
Stearns County
705 Courthouse Square, Room 130
St. Cloud, MN 56303
(320) 656-6540
Stearns County website »
Steele County
630 Florence Avenue, PO Box 890
Owatonna, MN
(507) 444-7490
(507) 444-7470
Steele County website »
Swift County
301 14th St N, P.O. Box 207
Benson, MN
(320) 843‑3544
(320) 843‑2275
Swift County website »
Todd County
215 1st Avenue South, Suite 203
Long Prairie, MN 56347
(320) 732-4428
Todd County website »
Wadena County
415 S Jefferson Street
Wadena, MN
(218) 631-7622
(218) 897-2033
Wadena County website »
Wilkin County
300 5th St. S.
Breckenridge, MN 56520
(218) 643-7112
(218) 643-7169
Wilkin County website »
Winona County
177 Main Street
Winona, MN 55987
(507) 457-6340
(507) 454-9397
Winona County website »
Yellow Medicine County
180 8th Ave
Granite Falls, MN
(320) 564-3132
Yellow Medicine County website »

What Do You Need to Perform a Wedding in Minnesota
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 Minnesota, we recommend getting both a Classic Wedding Kit and a Letter of Good Standing to ensure a smooth registration process. Keep in mind that the couple may also like to see your credentials. As requested by the county clerks, please place your order well in advance of the wedding to avoid complications.
How to Get a Minnesota 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 Minnesota and its individual counties. For example, if the couple plans to get a Benton County marriage license, you should double-check the rules specific to Benton County. In the state of Minnesota, the license is valid for six months. The previous mandatory 5 day waiting period has been eliminated. After the license is picked up, the ceremony can be legally performed. The signed marriage license must be returned to the issuing office within 5 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 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!
Minnesota Marriage Laws
Marriage laws in Minnesota are primarily directed by Chapter 517-519A of the state code. This section defines persons authorized to perform a marriage in the State of Minnesota, which includes ordained ministers of the Universal Life Church, among other individuals. We've reproduced the relevant portion below:
517.04 Solemnization Marriages may be solemnized throughout the state by a judge of a court of record, a retired judge of a court of record, a court administrator, a retired court administrator with the approval of the chief judge of the judicial district, a former court commissioner who is employed by the court system or is acting pursuant to an order of the chief judge of the commissioner's judicial district, the residential school administrators of the Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf and the Minnesota State Academy for the Blind, a licensed or ordained minister of any religious denomination, or by any mode recognized in section 517.18. 517.05 Credentials of minister Ministers of any religious denomination, before they are authorized to solemnize a marriage, shall file a copy of their credentials of license or ordination with the court administrator of the district court of a county in this state, who shall record the same and give a certificate thereof. The place where the credentials are recorded shall be endorsed upon and recorded with each certificate of marriage granted by a minister.