The following information came from a book entitled: Marriage Licensing Laws:A State by State Guide, by Roger E. Kessinger. It was published in 1990 by Kessinger Publishing Co.; P.O. Box 8933, Boise, ID 83707.
A word of caution, the information I gathered may not be accurate or may no longer be accurate. Accordingly I would suggest double checking all information with local authorities. In most jurisdictions, illegally performing a marriage ceremony is a misdemeanor and may result in a fine of up to one-hundred dollars and up to ninety days in jail. So please, double-check.
The following information is categorized by name of state, the office to be contacted for information, the paragraphs relevant to performing the solemnization of matrimony and any special requirements. Unless any special requirements are listed, it is usually any ordained minister, priest, or rabbi of any religious denomination in good standing and over eighteen years old.
|
ALABAMA |
Judge of Probate Court |
30-1-7 |
. |
|
ALASKA |
Vital Statistics Office |
25.05.171 |
Must be a resident |
|
ARIZONA |
Clerk of Superior Court |
25.124 |
May need to be licensed |
|
ARKANSAS |
County Clerk’s Office |
9.11.213 |
. |
|
CALIFORNIA |
County Clerk’s Office |
4205 |
. |
|
COLORADO |
County Clerk’s Office |
. | . |
|
CONNECTICUT |
Registrar of Vital Statistics |
465-22 |
. |
|
DELAWARE |
County Clerk of Peace |
106 |
Must register name and place of residence with registrar as in Section 3121 of Title 16 |
|
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA |
Clerk of Superior Court |
30-106 |
Must be authorized by Judge of Superior Court |
|
FLORIDA |
Judge or Clerk of County Court |
741.07 |
. |
|
GEORGIA |
Judge or Clerk of Probate court |
. | . |
|
HAWAII |
State Health Department |
572.11 - .12 |
Must obtain license from state department of health |
|
IDAHO |
County Recorder’s Office |
. | . |
|
ILLINOIS |
. | . | . |
|
INDIANA |
Clerk of Circuit, Superior, or Juvenile Court |
31-7-5-1 |
. |
|
IOWA |
Clerk of Court |
595.10 |
. |
|
KANSAS |
Clerk or judge of District Court |
23.104a - b |
If resident, must file credentials with judge of district court. If non-resident must file credentials with judge of district court where marriage is to take place. |
|
KENTUCKY |
County Clerk’s Office |
402.050 - 060 |
Must obtain license from county judge of county of residence, or if not a resident must obtain dispensation from county judge |
|
LOUISIANA |
State Registrar of Vital Records, Judges of City Courts, Clerks of Court |
202 - 4 |
Must register with court of parish stating name, denomination, and address |
|
MAINE |
City Clerk’s Office |
121 |
. |
|
MARYLAND |
Clerk of Circuit Court |
2.406 |
. |
|
MASSACHUSETTS |
Clerk or Registrar of any city |
38 - 40 |
Must register with state secretary |
|
MICHIGAN |
County Clerk’s office |
551.7 |
Must be able to perform weddings in state of residence |
|
MINNESOTA |
Clerk of District Court |
517.04 - 05 |
Must register with court administrator |
|
MISSISSIPPI |
County Clerk’s office |
. | . |
|
MISSOURI |
Recorder of Deeds |
451.100 |
. |
|
MONTANA |
Clerk of District Court |
40.1.301 |
. |
|
NEBRASKA |
County Clerk’s office |
42.108 |
. |
|
NEVADA |
County Clerk’s office |
122.062 |
Must register with county clerk |
|
NEW HAMPSHIRE |
Town Clerk’s Office |
457:31 |
Must be a state resident |
|
NEW JERSEY |
Clerk of City / Registrar of Vital Statistics |
37.1 -13 |
. |
|
NEW MEXICO |
County Clerk |
40.1.2 |
. |
|
NEW YORK |
Town or City Clerk |
11 |
New York is a big mess of laws, therefore, I don’t know |
|
NORTH CAROLINA |
Register of Deeds |
51.1 |
. |
|
NORTH DAKOTA |
County Judge |
14.03.09 |
Might require registering / licensing. Look into North Dakota State Laws chapters 10-24 through 10-28 |
|
OHIO |
County Probate Court |
3101.08 |
Must register with Secretary of State |
|
OKLAHOMA |
Office of County Clerk |
7 |
Must register with clerk of county court |
|
OREGON |
Office of County Clerk |
106.120 |
Must register with County Clerk |
|
PENNSYLVANIA |
Office of County Clerk |
1.13 |
. |
|
RHODE ISLAND |
Office of City Clerk |
15.3.5 |
. |
|
SOUTH CAROLINA |
Office of Probate Judge |
20.1.20 |
. |
|
SOUTH DAKOTA |
Office of County Register of Deeds |
25.1.30 |
. |
|
TENNESSEE |
Office of County Clerk |
36.3.301 |
. |
|
TEXAS |
Office of County Clerk |
1.83 |
. |
|
UTAH |
Office of County Clerk |
30-1-6 |
. |
|
VERMONT |
Office of City Clerk |
5144 |
If non-resident, must obtain permission from a probate judge |
|
VIRGINIA |
Office of City Clerk |
. |
Have to be licensed |
|
WASHINGTON |
Office of County Auditor |
26.04.050 |
. |
|
WEST VIRGINIA |
Office of County Clerk |
48.1.12 – 12a |
Have to be licensed, maybe bonded for $1500 |
|
WISCONSIN |
Office of County Clerk |
765.16 |
If not a resident, will require a letter of sponsorship from a fellow clergyman who is a resident |
|
WYOMING |
Office of County Clerk |
20.1.106 |
May need license |