What are the requirements to officiate a wedding in California?

California Wedding Officiants In California any priest, minister, or rabbi of any religious denomination, of the age of 18 years or over may perform marriages. — Ministers must complete the marriage license and return it to the county clerk within 4 days after the marriage.

How do you get a license to marry someone in California?

Apply for a Marriage License

Choose your married name, if you plan to change your name.
Apply for a marriage license from the Santa Clara County Clerk-Recorder’s Office.
Give the marriage license to the person who will perform your marriage ceremony.
Return the signed license to the Clerk-Recorder’s Office.

How does an officiant file a marriage license in California?

Your officiant will file it with the county on your behalf, and the county will mail it back to you within a few weeks to confirm that everything is official.

How do I get my wedding officiant license?

Go to an online non-denominational ministry’s website, such as The Universal Life Church Ministries or Open Ministry. Click on “Get Ordained” or something to that effect. Fill out the form. Pay the nominal online ordination fee, if any.

How can I legally officiate a wedding in California?

California Family Code section 400(a) allows “[a] priest, minister, rabbi, or authorized person of any religious denomination” to solemnize a marriage….Getting Ordained Online

Free (or as close to free as possible)
Easy.
No requirement that the person being ordained ascribe to specific religious beliefs.

Is AMM ordination legit?

Is free online ordination really legitimate? American Marriage Ministries is an IRS Certified 501c3 Non-Profit Charity, and all of our ordinations are protected by the First Amendment’s religious non-establishment clause. What’s more, AMM maintains corporate registrations in all states where it is required.

Can anyone officiate a wedding in California?

California Regulations: Section 400-402 of the California Family Code states that any “authorized person of any religious denomination” may officiate a wedding, including those who have received authorization via the Internet from religious groups.

Do you need an officiant to get married in California?

Family Code, Section 401 contains no requirement that a deputized commissioner of civil marriages is a California resident. Out-of-state or out-of-country priests, ministers, or clergy persons may perform marriages in California if they are ordained or invested by a denomination.

Can a friend officiate my wedding?

A: The quick answer to that is yes; it is possible to have a friend of family member perform your marriage ceremony once they have been legally ordained to do so. Getting ordination can be as simple as filling out an online form from a ministry that will ordain anyone who wants to solemnize weddings.

Can you officiate your own wedding in California?

So, can a wedding officiant marry themselves? No. A wedding officiant cannot marry themselves. When you are serving in the capacity of a wedding officiant and signing a marriage license you are swearing that the couple you are marrying is completing the marriage license in accordance with the law.