Getting started with Marriage Information for Utah
Before you plan to perform a wedding in Utah, it is important to understand the state's legal requirements.
To get started, check out the information provided below for getting ordained and registering as a wedding officiant in Utah.
If you have questions, please go to our helpful FAQ. For more information or support, please visit our contact us page.
Step 1: Become Ordained for Utah
To get ordained and become a minister to perform ceremonies in Utah, start by completing our ordination application.
Once you have completed the application for ordination you will be sent an email that confirms your ordination. Our ordinations for Utah are completely free, granted to you for life and can be completed in less than a day. More than half a million people just like you, have registered and received their license to perform weddings.
If you have not completed the application, you can get ordained for free and start your journey as an authorized minister in Utah with Open Ministry by using the button below!
Step 2: Contact The Utah County Clerk
Next, contact the office of your local marriage authority (typically your county clerk in Utah). Let them know that you are an ordained minister with Open Ministry in California, and ask them what information they require of you, to officiate a marriage in Utah.
Clerks and governing agencies may require you to present them with a physical copy of your ordination record to register we offer packages which include bundled items at a discount.
When speaking with the Utah county clerk it can be helpful to use the following phrases:
- I am an ordained minister with a church ministry in California.
- I would like to register as a wedding Officiant in your county to perform and solemnize weddings.
- What agency or department issues marriage licenses in your county and how may I contact them?
- I have my Letter of Good Standing and Ordination Credential as proof of my ministry and ordination for Utah.
- Do you require any additional documentation for me to register as a wedding officiant in Utah?
Step 3: Register with the Utah Clerk
After you've contacted the marriage authority in Utah, we recommend that you visit the bookstore to get your official credentials for your records, presentation or registration.
See Utah State Statutes for More specific Requirements
When registering as an officiant in Utah, you may be asked to display proof of your ordination to the Utah county clerk's office before they will accept the marriage license as having been solemnized. We generally advise ministers of Utah to get a Complete Membership Package for Utah which includes a Letter of Good Standing (the live signed and notarized physical copy of your good standing with our ministry) an Ordination Credential, Minister Wallet Card and much more.
Having physical copies of your credentials provides peace of mind for couples and others that you intend to marry. Additionally, we recommend you give yourself at least 4 weeks between the date of the wedding ceremony and your credential request to ensure that you receive all of your materials to register in time.
Please note, that any state or county can impose different requirements;
this may include other nominal fees and additional paperwork that may need to
be completed before the ceremony can take place.
It is important to note that some county clerks in Utah may require wedding
officiants to attach a statement which asserts 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
When filling out the Utah marriage license, Utah state or the clerk may
request you use the title "Minister" or "Reverend".
The clerk may also require you enter your denomination, you can use
"Non-Denominational" or your practicing denomination. Failing to
state a denomination may result in rejection and could require a duplicate
marriage license.
Step 4: Perform the Ceremony
Before you perform a wedding in Utah, be sure that the couple has picked up their Utah state issued marriage license from the appropriate office. Once you have completed the steps listed, you are ready to perform the wedding!
Officiating a wedding in Utah can be a great and wonderful experience. Work with the couple to determine the proper ceremony format and any details they wish to have. For ideas and inspiration check out our sample ceremony scripts.
We recommend that new ministers who are going to be performing a wedding in Utah, or who have questions about the ceremony read over our Officiant Guide.
Step 5: Submit the Utah Marriage License
Utah marriage licenses are valid for a set number of days, and there may be a waiting period between when the couple receives the marriage license in Utah and when the ceremony may be legally performed in Utah.
This information is generally written on the license and must be followed to ensure the ceremony is recorded properly by Utah.
Please note that the signed marriage license for Utah must be returned to the issuing office in Utah state, before the time limit is reached. You can check the marriage license for the exact dates.
After the ceremony, you will need to return the completed and signed marriage license to the Utah states issuing office. This is essential for the marriage to be legally recorded. In most cases there is an address listed on the marriage license, use that to mail it back to the governing agency so that it can be recorded by the Utah.
If you have any questions about the returning of the license, contact the Utah agency that issued it for more information.
Utah State Minister & Marriage Statutes
30-1-6 Who may solemnize marriages -- Certificate
(1) Marriages may be solemnized by the following persons only:
(a) ministers, rabbis, or priests of any religious denomination who are:
(i) in regular communion with any religious society; and
(ii) 18 years of age or older;
(b) Native American spiritual advisors;
(c) the governor;
(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, if the clerk chooses to solemnize marriages;
(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) A person 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) (I) leads, instructs, or facilitates a Native American religious ceremony or service; or
(II) 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) Notwithstanding any other provision in law, no person authorized under Subsection (1) to solemnize a marriage may delegate or deputize another person to perform the function of solemnizing a marriage, except that only employees of the office responsible for the issuance of marriage licenses may be deputized.
Title 30: Husband and Wife - Chapter 1: Marriage
Amended by Chapter 132, 2010 General Session