How to Register and Perform a Wedding By State
If you are either planning to be married or have been asked to perform a wedding ceremony in Hawaii, you've come to the right page. Ordained ministers with Open Ministry have successfully performed thousands of legal marriages in Hawaii and around the world!
The information provided below is designed to walk you through the most common steps to become a minister and perform a wedding ceremony in Hawaii.
Step 1 - How to Become Ordained
How to become an Ordained Minister in Hawaii
Ordination is completely free and can be completed in less than a few hours. Thousands of ministers have registered to perform marriages in Hawaii and other states each year!
If you haven't already, you should get ordained online with Open Ministry.
Get started today by clicking on the link below!
Step 2 - Contact The County Clerk
How to Register to Officiate a Marriage in Hawaii
Next, you should contact the office of your local marriage authority (typically your county clerk) in Hawaii. Let them know that you are a minister of Open Ministry in California, and ask what they will require of you to officiate a legal marriage in Hawaii.
When speaking with the county clerk; it can be helpful to use the following phrases.
- What agency or department issues marriage licenses in your county and how may I contact them?
- I am an ordained minister with a church in California and I would like to register as a wedding Officiant in your county to perform and solemnize weddings.
- I have my Letter of Good Standing and/or Ordination Credential as proof of my ministry and ordination.
- What additional documentation is required for me to register as a wedding Officiant in your county?
Step 3 - Getting Licensed to Perform the Marriage
License to perform a wedding in Hawaii
After you've contacted your marriage authority, you should visit our bookstore to purchase your official credentials and any required documentation (See Hawaii State Statutes for More Specific Requirements )
When registering in Hawaii you may be asked to display proof of your ordination to the county clerk's before they will accept the marriage license as having been legally solemnized. We typically advise ministers of Hawaii to get a Complete Minister Package for Hawaii which includes your Letter of Good Standing.
Having your ordination credentials will also provide peace-of-mind to any couple that you intend to marry. Additionally, we recommend that you have at least 4 weeks between the date of the wedding ceremony and your order, to ensure that you receive all of your materials in time to register.
It is important to note that some county clerks in Hawaii may require wedding officiants to attach a statement avowing some of the elements in the marriage license upon submission, including the following:
- The time and location at which the wedding took place
- The names and places of residence of all official witnesses
- The religious organization in which the officiant is ordained
- The printed name and address of the officiant
Please note that, when filling out a marriage license, that Hawaii State may request you use the title "Minister" or "Reverend". The County Clerks may also require you enter your denomination, you can use "Non-Denominational". Failing to state a denomination may result in rejection and could require a duplicate marriage license.
Hawaii
If you are or have been asked to perform a wedding in Hawaii. The county clerk will require you to have the Letter of Good Standing for Hawaii.
572-12 By whom solemnized
A license to solemnize marriages may be issued to, and the marriage rite may be performed and solemnized by any minister, priest, or officer of any religious denomination or society who has been ordained or is authorized to solemnize marriages according to the usages of such denomination or society, or any religious society not having clergy but providing solemnization in accordance with the rules and customs of that society, or any justice or judge or magistrate, active or retired, of a state or federal court in the State, upon presentation to such person or society of a license to marry, as prescribed by this chapter. Such person or society may receive the price stipulated by the parties or the gratification tendered.
Division 1: Government - Title 31: Family - Chapter 572: Marriage - Part 1: Requisites, Procedures
[CC 1859, §1285; RL 1925, §2950; am L 1929, c 104, §6; RL 1935, §4640; RL 1945, §12361; RL 1955, §323-12; HRS §572-12; am L 1969, c 19, §2; am L 1974, c 15, §1]
572-11 Marriage ceremony; license to solemnize
It shall not be lawful for any person to perform the marriage ceremony within the State without first obtaining from the department of health a license to solemnize marriages.
Division 1: Government - Title 31: Family - Chapter 572: Marriage - Part 1: Requisites, Procedures
[CC 1859, §1283; RL 1925, §2949; am L 1929, c 104, §5; RL 1935, §4639; RL 1945, §12360; RL 1955, §323-11; am L Sp 1959 2d, c 1, §19; HRS §572-11; am L 1969, c 19, §1]
572-13 Record of solemnization; marriages, reported by whom; certified copies
(a) Recordkeeping. Every person authorized to solemnize marriage shall make and preserve a record of every marriage by the person solemnized, comprising the names of the man and woman married, their place of residence, and the date of their marriage.
Every person authorized to solemnize marriage, who neglects to keep a record of any marriage by the person solemnized shall be fined $50.
(b) Marriages, reported by whom. It shall be the duty of every person, legally authorized to perform the marriage ceremony, to report within three business days every marriage ceremony, performed by the person, to the agent of the department of health in the district in which the marriage takes place setting forth all facts required to be stated in a standard certificate of marriage, the form and contents of which shall be prescribed by the department of health.
(c) Certified copies of certificate of marriage. The department of health shall deliver one certified copy of the certificate of marriage or the contents or any part thereof as provided in section 338-13 to the persons married. The certificate shall be prima facie evidence of the fact of marriage in any proceeding in any court.
The department of health shall upon request, furnish to any applicant additional certified copies of the certificate of marriage or any part thereof.
Copies of the contents of any certificate on file in the department, certified by the department shall be considered for all purposes the same as the original.
The department may prescribe reasonable fees, if any, to be paid for certified copies of certificates.
Division 1: Government - Title 31: Family - Chapter 572: Marriage - Part 1: Requisites, Procedures
[L 1864, p 21; am L 1903, c 8, §2; am L 1911, c 23, §1; RL 1925, §2951; RL 1935, §4641; RL 1945, §12362; RL 1955, §323-13; HRS §572-13; am L 1974, c 31, §2; am L 1978, c 49, §2; am L 1981, c 202, §2; gen ch 1985]
572-13.5 Revocation or suspension of licenses to solemnize
Any license to solemnize marriages issued pursuant to section 572-12 may be revoked or suspended by the department of health, if the holder of the license has failed to comply with the applicable provisions of this chapter or of the rules of the department of health.
Division 1: Government - Title 31: Family - Chapter 572: Marriage - Part 1: Requisites, Procedures
[L 1981, c 202, §3]