- ULC Ordination Recognized: Yes
- Minister Registration Required: Sometimes
- State Residency: Irrelevant
- Minimum Age to Officiate: 18
- Marriage License Waiting Period: None
- Marriage License Validity Period: 20 Days
- Marriage License Return Period: By Expiration
- Documents Recommended: Letter of Good Standing
How to Become an Ordained Minister in South Dakota
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 South Dakota
Contact the Register of Deed'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:
Bon Homme County
300 W. 18th Ave., Second Floor
Tyndall, SD 57066
(605) 589-4217
Bon Homme County website »
Brookings County
520 Third Street Suite 120
Brookings, SD
(605) 696-8240
(605) 696-8245
Brookings County website »
Brule County
300 S. Courtland St, Ste 110
Chamberlain, SD
(605) 234-4434
(605) 234-4434
Brule County website »
Buffalo County
112 Osman Avenue
Gann Valley, SD 57341
(605) 293-3239
(605) 293-3240
Buffalo County website »
Campbell County
111 2nd Street NE
Mound City, SD 57464
(605) 955-3536
(605) 955-3580
Campbell County website »
Charles Mix County
400 Main Street
Lake Andes, SD 57356
(605) 487-7141
(605) 487-7221
Charles Mix County website »
Corson County
108 1st St. E.
McIntosh, SD 57641
(605) 273-4395
(605) 273-4233
Corson County website »
Custer County
420 Mt Rushmore Rd
Custer, SD 57730
(605) 673-8171
(605) 673-8148
Custer County website »
Davison County
200 East 4th Ave.
Mitchell, SD 57301
(605) 995-8616
(605) 995-8648
Davison County website »
Day County
711 W. 1st St., Ste. 202
Webster, SD 57274
(605) 345-9506
(605) 345-9507
Day County website »
Dewey County
710 C Street
Timber Lake, SD 57656
(605) 865-3566
(605) 865-3641
Dewey County website »
Edmunds County
210 2nd Ave.
Ipswich, SD 57451
(605) 426-6431
(605) 426-6164
Edmunds County website »
Fall River County
906 N. River St.
Hot Springs, SD 57747
(605) 745-5139
(605) 745-3708
Fall River County website »
Faulk County
110 9th Ave. South
Faulkton, SD 57438
(605) 598-6223
(605) 598-6252
Faulk County website »
Gregory County
221 E. 8th Street
Burke, SD 57523
(605) 775-2665
(605) 775-2965
Gregory County website »
Haakon County
140 South Howard
Phillip, SD 57567
(605) 859-2627
(605) 859-2257
Haakon County website »
Hamlin County
300 4th St, 2nd Floor - SW Corner
Hayti, SD 57241
(605) 783-3206
(605) 783-3201
Hamlin County website »
Hanson County
720 5th St.
Alexandria, SD 57311
(605) 239-4446
(605) 239-9446
Hanson County website »
Harding County
410 Ramsland Street
Buffalo, SD 57720
(605) 375-3321
(605) 375-3432
Harding County website »
Hughes County
104 E. Capitol Ave.
Pierre, SD 57501
(605) 773-7495
(605) 773-7479
Hughes County website »
Hyde County
412 Commerical S.E.
Highmore, SD 57345
(605) 852-2517
(605) 852-2767
Hyde County website »
Jackson County
700 Main Street
Kadoka, SD 57543
(605) 837-2420
(605) 837-2120
Jackson County website »
Kingsbury County
202 2nd St. SE
De Smet, SD 57231
(605) 854-3591
(605) 854-3833
Kingsbury County website »
Lawrence County
90 Sherman Street
Deadwood, SD 57732
(605) 578-3930
(605) 722-6212
Lawrence County website »
Lincoln County
104 N. Main Street Suite 130
Canton, SD
(605) 764-5661
(605) 764-6623
Lincoln County website »
Marshall County
911 Vander Horck
Britton, SD
(605) 448-5213
(605) 448-5201
Marshall County website »
McPherson County
706 Main St
Leola, SD 57456
(605) 439-3151
(605) 439-3151
McPherson County website »
Meade County
1300 Sherman Street, Suite 138
Sturgis, SD 57785
(605) 347-2356
(605) 720-6619
Meade County website »
Mellette County
South First and McKinley Street
White River, SD
(605) 259-3230
(605) 259-3030
Mellette County website »
Miner County
401 N. Main St. At Park Ave.
Howard, SD
(605) 772-5621
(605) 772-2138
Miner County website »
Oglala Lakota County
906 N. River St.
Hot Springs, SD 57747
(605) 745-5139
(605) 745-3708
Oglala Lakota County website »
Pennington County
130 Kansas City St., Suite 210
Rapid City, SD
(605) 394-2177
Pennington County website »
Roberts County
411 2nd Ave East, Suite #5
Sisseton, SD 57262
(605) 698-7152
(605) 698-4277
Roberts County website »
Spink County
210 E 7th Avenue, Suite 8
Redfield SD, SD
(605) 472-4588
(605) 472-5014
Spink County website »
Stanley County
Courthouse, 08 E 2 Avenue
Fort Pierre, SD
(605) 223-7786
(605) 223-7788
Stanley County website »
Todd County
200 E. Third Street
Winner, SD 57580
(605) 842-2266
(605) 842-2267
Todd County website »
Union County
209 E Main St, Suite 210
Elk Point, SD 57025
(605) 356-2191
(605) 356-3047
Union County website »
Walworth County
4304 4th Ave
Selby, SD 57472
(605) 649-7057
(605) 649-7867
Walworth County website »
Yankton County
321 W. Third St., Suite 205
Yankton, SD 57078
(605) 260-4400 ext 5
(605) 668-9682
Yankton County website »
Ziebach County
Main Street - Courthouse
Dupree, SD
(605) 365-5165
(605) 365-5652
Ziebach County website »

What Do You Need to Perform a Wedding in South Dakota
Once you've determined what you need, simply log in to your account and order the materials from our online catalog. It's possible that you will be asked to present proof of ordination, and you don't want to be caught off-guard. Because ministers are sometimes required to register in the state of South Carolina, we advise ordering a Ordination Kit and a Letter of Good Standing. Also keep in mind that the couple may like to see your credentials. Please try to place your order well in advance of the wedding to avoid complications.
How to Get a South Dakota Marriage License
Licenses are issued by the Register of Deed's office, and will be picked up by the couple. As a minister, it's your responsibility to understand how marriage licenses work in South Dakota and its individual counties. For example, if the couple plans to get a Yankton County marriage license, you should double-check if there are any rules specific to Yankton County.
In the state of South Dakota, the license is valid for 20 days. There is no waiting period between the time it is picked up, and when the ceremony can be legally performed. Lastly, the signed marriage license must be returned to the issuing office by 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!
South Dakota Marriage Laws
Marriage laws in South Dakota are primarily directed by Chapter 1 of Title 25 of the state code. This section defines persons authorized to perform a marriage in the State of South Dakota, which includes ordained ministers of the Universal Life Church, among other individuals. We've reproduced the relevant portion below:
25-1-30. Persons authorized to solemnize marriages. Marriage may be solemnized by a justice of the Supreme Court, a judge of the circuit court, a magistrate, a mayor, either within or without the corporate limits of the municipality from which the mayor was elected, or any person authorized by a church to solemnize marriages.