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 Ohio, you've come to the right page. Ordained ministers with Open Ministry have successfully performed thousands of legal marriages in Ohio 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 Ohio.
Step 1 - How to Become Ordained
How to become an Ordained Minister in Ohio
Ordination is completely free and can be completed in less than a few hours. Thousands of ministers have registered to perform marriages in Ohio 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 Ohio
Next, you should contact the office of your local marriage authority (typically your county clerk) in Ohio. 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 Ohio.
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 Ohio
After you've contacted your marriage authority, you should visit our bookstore to purchase your official credentials and any required documentation (See Ohio State Statutes for More Specific Requirements )
When registering in Ohio 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 Ohio to get a Complete Minister Package for Ohio 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 Ohio 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 Ohio 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.
Ohio
3101.08 Who may solemnize marriages
An ordained or licensed minister of any religious society or congregation within this state who is licensed to solemnize marriages, a judge of a county court in accordance with section 1907.18 of the Revised Code, a judge of a municipal court in accordance with section 1901.14 of the Revised Code, a probate judge in accordance with section 2101.27 of the Revised Code, the mayor of a municipal corporation in any county in which such municipal corporation wholly or partly lies, the superintendent of the state school for the deaf, or any religious society in conformity with the rules of its church, may join together as husband and wife any persons who are not prohibited by law from being joined in marriage.
Title XXXI: Domestic Relations - Children - Chapter 3031: Marriage
Effective Date: 04-11-1991
3101.10 License to solemnize marriages
A minister upon producing to the secretary of state, credentials of the minister's being a regularly ordained or licensed minister of any religious society or congregation, shall be entitled to receive from the secretary of state a license authorizing the minister to solemnize marriages in this state so long as the minister continues as a regular minister in that society or congregation. A minister shall produce for inspection the minister's license to solemnize marriages upon demand of any party to a marriage at which the minister officiates or proposes to officiate or upon demand of any probate judge.
Amended by 129th General Assembly File No. 52, SB 124, § 1, eff. 1/13/2012.
Effective Date: 06-04-1976
Title XXXI: Domestic Relations - Children - Chapter 3031: Marriage
3101.11 Recording license to solemnize marriages
The secretary of state shall enter the name of a minister licensed to solemnize marriages upon a record kept in the office of the secretary of state.
Effective Date: 06-04-1976
Title XXXI: Domestic Relations - Children - Chapter 3031: Marriage
3101.12 Evidence of recording
When the name of a minister licensed to solemnize marriages is entered upon the record by the secretary of state, such record and the license issued under section 3101.10 of the Revised Code shall be evidence that such minister is authorized to solemnize marriages in this state.
Effective Date: 06-04-1976
Title XXXI: Domestic Relations - Children - Chapter 3031: Marriage