- 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: 6 months
- Marriage License Return Period: 30 days
- Documents Recommended: Classic Wedding Kit
How to Become an Ordained Minister in Montana
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 Montana
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:
Beaverhead County
2 South Pacific St., Suite 5
Dillon, MT 59725
(406) 683-3725
(406) 683-3769
Beaverhead County website »
Big Horn County
121 West 3rd St, Room 221
Hardin, MT 59034
(406) 665-9750
(406) 665-9755
Big Horn County website »
Carbon County
102 N. Broadway
Red Lodge, MT 59068
(406) 446-1225
(406) 446-0103
Carbon County website »
Cascade County
415 2nd Avenue North #200, 200A
Great Falls, MT
(406) 454-6780
(406) 454-6907
Cascade County website »
Custer County
1010 Main Street
Miles City, MT 59301
(406) 874-3328
(406) 874-3451
Custer County website »
Deer Lodge County
800 Main Street, 2nd Floor
Anaconda, MT 59711
(406) 563-4040
Deer Lodge County website »
Fergus County
712 W Main, Suite 303
Lewistown, MT 59457
(406) 535-5026
(406) 535-6076
Fergus County website »
Flathead County
920 South Main, Suite 300
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 758-5870
Flathead County website »
Gallatin County
615 South 16th Ave, Room 302
Bozeman, MT 59715
(406) 582-2165
Gallatin County website »
Glacier County
512 East Main Street
Cut Bank, MT 59427
(406) 873-3609
(406) 873-5627
Glacier County website »
Jefferson County
201 W Centennial Ave
Boulder, MT 59632
(406) 225-4041
(406) 225-4042
Jefferson County website »
Judith Basin County
91 Third Street North, 3rd Floor
Stanford, MT 59479
(406) 566-2277
Judith Basin County website »
Lewis and Clark County
228 Broadway
Helena, MT 59601
(406) 447-8216
(406) 447-8275
Lewis and Clark County website »
Madison County
100 W Wallace St.
Virginia City, MT
(406) 843-4230
(406) 843-5207
Madison County website »
Meagher County
15 W. Main
White Sulphur Springs, MT
(406) 547-3030
(406) 547-3836
Meagher County website »
Mineral County
300 River Street, Third Floor
Superior, MT 59872
(406) 822-3538
Mineral County website »
Musselshell County
506 Main Street
Roundup, MT 59072
(406) 323-1413
(406) 323-1710
Musselshell County website »
Park County
414 East Callender St, Room 106
Livingston, MT 59047
(406) 222-4125
Park County website »
Petroleum County
302 East Main, Post Office Box 226
Winnett, MT
(406) 429-5311
(406) 429-6328
Petroleum County website »
Powder River County
119 North Park Avenue
Broadus, MT
(406) 436-2320
(406) 436-2325
Powder River County website »
Powell County
409 Missouri Ave., Suite 203
Deer Lodge, MT 59722
(406) 846-9786
(406) 846-3891
Powell County website »
Prairie County
217 West Park Street
Terry, MT 59349
(406) 635-5575
(406) 635-5576
Prairie County website »
Ravalli County
205 Bedford Street, Suite D
Hamilton, MT 59840
(406) 375-6710
(406) 375-6721
Ravalli County website »
Richland County
300 12th Ave. NW, Suite 6
Sidney, MT
(406) 433-2815
(406) 433-4021
Richland County website »
Roosevelt County
400 2nd Avenue South
Wolf Point, MT 59201
(406) 653-6266
(406) 653-6203
Roosevelt County website »
Sheridan County
100 W Laurel Ave
Plentywood, MT
(406) 765-3403
(406) 765-2609
Sheridan County website »
Silver Bow County
Courthouse
155 W. Granite St., Room 313
Butte, MT 59701
(406) 497-6350
Silver Bow County website »
Stillwater County
400 East 3rd Avenue North, 3rd Floor
Columbus, MT 59019
(406) 322-8030
Stillwater County website »
Sweet Grass County
200 West 1st Avenue
Big Timber, MT 59011
(406) 932-5154
(406) 932-5433
Sweet Grass County website »
Teton County
1 Main Avenue South
Choteau, MT 59422
(406) 466-2909
(406) 466-2910
Teton County website »
Treasure County
1200 Main Street
Forsyth, MT 59327
(406) 342-5547
(406) 342-5445
Treasure County website »
Valley County
501 Court Square, Room 2
Glasgow, MT 59230
(406) 228-6220
(406) 228-9027
Valley County website »
Wheatland County
201 A Avenue Northwest
Harlowton, MT 59036
(406) 632-4893
(406) 632-4873
Wheatland County website »
Yellowstone County
217 N. 27th Street, Room 702
Billings, MT 59107
(406) 256-2851
(406) 256-2995
Yellowstone County website »

What Do You Need to Perform a Wedding in Montana
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 Montana, we recommend ordering a Classic Wedding Kit. Although ministers are generally not required to register in the state of Montana, it's possible the county clerk will ask you to present proof of your ordination before they will allow you to officiate ceremonies. Keep in mind that the couple may also like to see your ordination credentials. Please try to place your order well in advance of the wedding to avoid complications.
How to Get a Montana 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 Montana and its individual counties. For example, if the couple plans to get a Yellowstone County marriage license for example, you should double-check if there are any rules specific to Yellowstone County. In the state of Montana, the license is valid for six months. There is no mandatory 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 30 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!
Montana Marriage Laws
Marriage laws in Montana are primarily directed by Chapter 1 of Title 40 of the state code. This section defines persons authorized to perform a marriage in the State of Montana, which includes ordained ministers of the Universal Life Church, among other individuals. We've reproduced the relevant portion below:
40-1-301. Solemnization and registration.
(1) A marriage may be solemnized by a judge of a court of record, by a public official whose powers include solemnization of marriages, by a mayor, city judge, or justice of the peace, by a tribal judge, or in accordance with any mode of solemnization recognized by any religious denomination, Indian nation or tribe, or native group. Either the person solemnizing the marriage or, if no individual acting alone solemnized the marriage, a party to the marriage shall complete the marriage certificate form and forward it to the clerk of the district court.
(2) If a party to a marriage is unable to be present at the solemnization, the party may authorize in writing a third person to act as proxy. If the person solemnizing the marriage is satisfied that the absent party is unable to be present and has consented to the marriage, the person may solemnize the marriage by proxy. If the person solemnizing the marriage is not satisfied, the parties may petition the district court for an order permitting the marriage to be solemnized by proxy.
(3) The solemnization of the marriage is not invalidated by the fact that the person solemnizing the marriage was not legally qualified to solemnize it if either party to the marriage believed that person to be qualified.
(4) One party to a proxy marriage must be a member of the armed forces of the United States on federal active duty or a resident of Montana at the time of application for a license and certificate pursuant to 40-1-202. One party or a legal representative shall appear before the clerk of court and pay the marriage license fee. For the purposes of this subsection, residency must be determined in accordance with 1-1-215.