Utah Wedding Laws

Written and updated for precision by the Utah marriage law research team at GetOrdained™ on January 15, 2023

Each state in the US has its own unique characteristics, features and laws, and Utah is no exception, especially when it comes to marriage. Ministers and couples need to know all the details to ensure that the marriage is legally compliant. The Universal Life Church Ministries supports you and the happy couple by making sense of the law and laying out the steps in a convenient, easy-to-use guide.

How to Become a Wedding Officiant in Utah

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:: After Ceremony
Minister I.D. # Issued:: No

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Persons allowed to solemnize marriages in the state of Utah include:

Secular state governors
Mayors
Other politicians
Judges
Religious ministers or spiritual leaders, including indigenous spiritual advisors

Any officiating minister must be at least 18 years, which also happens to be the minimum age for online ordainment by the Universal Life Church. There are no requirements regarding the state of residence, gender or religious belief, or affiliation to become an ordained minister with the ULC. We strongly recommend that ULC ministers order the Classic Wedding Package. This package provides you with the credentials and documentation necessary for proving eligibility as an officiant to the courts in Utah.

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Utah Code § 30-1-6. Who may solemnize marriages -- Certificate.

(1) Except for a county clerk, or a county clerk's designee, as provided below, the following individuals may solemnize a marriage at that individual's discretion:

(a) an individual 18 years old or older who is authorized by a religious denomination to solemnize a marriage;

(b) Native American spiritual advisors;

(d) the lieutenant governor;

(e) mayors of municipalities or county executives;

(f) a justice, judge, or commissioner of a court of record;

(g) a judge of a court not of record of the state;

(h) judges or magistrates of the United States;

(i) the county clerk of any county in the state or the county clerk's designee as authorized by Section 17-20-4;

(j) the president of the Senate;

(k) the speaker of the House of Representatives; or

(l) a judge or magistrate who holds office in Utah when retired, under rules set by the Supreme Court.

(2) An individual authorized under Subsection (1) who solemnizes a marriage shall give to the couple married a certificate of marriage that shows the:

(a) name of the county from which the license is issued; and

(b) date of the license's issuance.

(3) As used in this section:

(a) "Judge or magistrate of the United States" means:

(i) a justice of the United States Supreme Court;

(ii) a judge of a court of appeals;

(iii) a judge of a district court;

(iv) a judge of any court created by an act of Congress the judges of which are entitled to hold office during good behavior;

(v) a judge of a bankruptcy court;

(vi) a judge of a tax court; or

(vii) a United States magistrate.

(b)

(i) "Native American spiritual advisor" means a person who:

(A) leads, instructs, or facilitates a Native American religious ceremony or service or provides religious counseling; and

(B) is recognized as a spiritual advisor by a federally recognized Native American tribe.

(ii) "Native American spiritual advisor" includes a sweat lodge leader, medicine person, traditional religious practitioner, or holy man or woman.

(4) Except as provided in Section 17-20-4, and notwithstanding any other provision in law, no individual authorized under Subsection (1) to solemnize a marriage may delegate or deputize another individual to perform the function of solemnizing a marriage.

Getting Married in Utah

Marriage By Proxy Allowed:: No
Minister Required to be Present:: Yes
Number of Witnesses Required:: 2
Min. Age of Witnesses:: 18 Years
Couple's Consent Required:: Yes
Pronouncement Required:: Yes

In the state of Utah, both members of the couple as well as the officiating minister and at least two witnesses over the age of 18 must be physically present for a legal marriage ceremony. Virtual weddings are not legally recognized as of now.

A couple looking to marry can structure the wedding ceremony according to personal preferences, but the state requires that each person officially consent to marry during the occasion. This usually occurs with the wedded persons agreeing, in turn, to be married. The officiant should also publicly declare that the couple is officially married as part of the ceremony.

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How to Get a Utah Marriage License

Who Picks Up License:: The Couple
Where License is Valid:: Any County in Utah
Marriage License Pick-Up:: In Person Only
Cost of License:: Varies by County
Accepted I.D. Types:: Standard Government Issued
Proof of Divorce Required (If Applicable):: No
Blood Test Required:: No

Anyone that wants to say “I do” in the Beehive State needs to secure a marriage license from the applicable county clerk. The fee varies from county to county, but you can expect to pay anywhere from $35 to $80.

A government-issued ID will be required as proof of identity and residence. No proof of divorce or blood tests are required; however, couples should expect to provide a written affidavit affirming that there is no lawful reason to prevent the marriage. It is incumbent upon you to fully investigate to make a determination of potential reasons to not go forward as false statements will be viewed as perjury by the state of Utah.

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Applying For a Marriage License in Utah

ULC-Officiated Ceremony Type:: Religious
Mandatory Waiting Period:: None
License Valid For:: 32 Days
License Must Be Submitted:: Within 30 Days of Ceremony

Marriage licenses are available in Utah for use in ceremonies that are either religious, civil or cultural, as per the couple’s preferences. As a Universal Life Church-ordained minister, you are considered to be a religious actor in the eyes of the state.

Applicants must secure a marriage license, which expires after 30 days. They also have the option of getting married on the same day of procurement. Within this same time period, the officiating minister must fill out and sign the license and return it to the same county office of issuance. The minister must also fill out the time and location of the marriage ceremony, and it must also be signed with the names of at least two witnesses. Failure to return the license within 30 days is considered a violation of state law.

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Utah 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

To tie the knot in the Beehive State, couples must be at least 18 years old. Minors no younger than 16 can marry with the authorization of a parent, legal guardian or a juvenile court.

Marriage within the state of Utah is open to residents and nonresidents, including same-sex couples. Divorced couples, on the other hand, cannot be married in the state. Other unions including ancestors and descendants, siblings and stepsiblings as well as first cousins are also not allowed. First cousins can marry if they are over the age of 65, or over 55 and can provide proof of their sterility to the district county court where they intend to marry.

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Utah Code § 30-1-1. Incestuous marriages void.

(1) The following marriages are incestuous and void from the beginning, whether the relationship is legitimate or illegitimate:

(a) marriages between parents and children;

(b) marriages between ancestors and descendants of every degree;

(d) marriages between:

(i) uncles and nieces or nephews; or

(ii) aunts and nieces or nephews;

(e) marriages between first cousins, except as provided in Subsection (2); or

(f) marriages between any individuals related to each other within and not including the fifth degree of consanguinity computed according to the rules of the civil law, except as provided in Subsection (2).

(2) First cousins may marry under the following circumstances:

(a) both parties are 65 years of age or older; or

(b) if both parties are 55 years of age or older, upon a finding by the district court, located in the district in which either party resides, that either party is unable to reproduce.

Utah Code § 30-1-2. Marriages prohibited and void.

(1) The following marriages are prohibited and declared void:

(a) when there is a spouse living, from whom the individual marrying has not been divorced;

(b) except as provided in Subsection (2), when an applicant is under 18 years old; and

(c) between a divorced individual and any individual other than the one from whom the divorce was secured until the divorce decree becomes absolute, and, if an appeal is taken, until after the affirmance of the decree.

(2) A marriage of an individual under 18 years old is not void if the individual:

(a) is 16 or 17 years old and obtains consent from a parent or guardian and juvenile court authorization in accordance with Section 30-1-9; or

(b) lawfully marries before May 14, 2019.

Finalizing the Union

Officiant's Title on Marriage License:: Minister
Church/Ordaining Body:: Universal Life Church Ministries
Address of Church:: Minister's Home Address

After the wedding ceremony has concluded, the officiant is expected to complete the portions of the marriage license that apply. You’re expected to provide a title and the applicable body of ordination, which would be “minister” and “Universal Life Church Ministries” respectively. ULC ministers should provide their home residence if the license indicates that a church location should be supplied. Once completely filled out and signed, you should send both the marriage certificate and license to the county clerk of issuance in the next 30 days. If you fail to get this done, you will be in violation and potential face a fine.

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