Who can officiate weddings in Ohio? Here’s how to make sure your wedding is legal
Cooler weather, beautiful foliage, and wedding bells.
That’s right. Fall is not just for pumpkin spice lattes, spooky decorations and football. It’s also for lovely fall weddings.
If you’re tying the knot soon, there are of course many things on the checklist like venue, food and let’s not forget the dress.
However, let’s not forget one of the most important parts of a wedding: the officiant.
The officiant is the person that speaks during the ceremony, telling the love story of the couple and perhaps a few silly stories and maybe even incorporating some religious elements.
The officiant ultimately marries the couple and makes the union legal in the state that the wedding takes place.
But can just anyone officiate a wedding in Ohio? How do you know if the union is truly legal?
Here’s what to know about officiants in Ohio:
Who can perform a marriage ceremony in Ohio?
According to Ohio Laws & Administrative Rules: “An ordained or licensed minister of any religious society or congregation within this state who is licensed to solemnize marriages” or any judge can join together a couple in marriage.
How can you be sure your marriage is legal?
Once your officiant is a minister and is ordained, they are legal.
This means once they perform the ceremony, your marriage is legally binding.
However, there is one last step that the ordained minister, or in this case, your officiant, must complete: the officiant and the couple together must complete a certificate of marriage.
When all parties sign it, the minister must return it to the courts within 30 days after the marriage. When finished, a copy of the completed certificate will be sent to the couple.
Probate court in Youngstown:
More questions? Comment below or email me at cmadden@mcclatchy.com
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This story was originally published October 3, 2023 at 12:57 PM.
