What Utah requires to perform marriages
To legally perform marriages in Utah, you must be ordained or registered as a religious official, or you must be a judge, justice of the peace, or county clerk. Utah does not recognize self-ordination or online ordinations from organizations with no physical presence in the state. The state treats marriage officiants as either clergy (which requires affiliation with a recognized religious organization) or civil officials (which requires election or appointment to a government position).
If you are already a member of clergy in an established religion—such as a pastor, rabbi, imam, or priest—you can perform marriages in Utah as long as your religious organization is recognized. If you want to become an officiant through ordination, you will need to work with a specific religious denomination or organization that has standing in Utah.
Utah does not have a separate "wedding officiant" license or credential for non-clergy. You cannot straightforward pay a fee and become authorized to perform marriages. Your path depends on whether you are pursuing this through religion or through government service.
Key Takeaways
- Utah recognizes only ordained clergy from established religions and government officials (judges, justices of the peace, county clerks) as legal marriage officiants.
- If you are clergy, your religious organization must be recognized by the state; online ordinations from organizations without physical presence do not may have access to.
- To become a justice of the peace in Utah, you must be elected or appointed by your county, and the process and requirements vary by county.
- Religious ordination through an established denomination is the most common path for people who want to perform marriages without holding government office.
- Once ordained or appointed, you must file the marriage license with the county clerk within a set timeframe after the ceremony.
Becoming ordained through a religious organization
If you belong to a religious faith, the first step is to contact the leadership of your denomination or congregation. Different religions have different paths to ordination. Some denominations ordain people after formal seminary training; others ordain based on community recognition or a shorter educational program. You will need to ask your religious leader what steps your specific faith requires.
Once you are ordained, you should register with your county clerk's office before performing any marriages. Bring documentation of your ordination—this might be an ordination certificate, a letter from your religious organization, or a record of your status as clergy. The county clerk will keep this on file so that marriage licenses you sign are recognized as valid.
Some religions do not use the word "ordination" but instead recognize people as authorized to perform religious ceremonies. If your faith uses a different term, explain your role to the county clerk and provide whatever documentation your religion issues. The key is that a recognized religious organization must confirm your standing.
Becoming a justice of the peace or county official
If you want to perform marriages through government appointment rather than religious ordination, you can become a justice of the peace or work toward a position as a county clerk or deputy clerk. These are elected or appointed positions, and the process varies by county.
To become a justice of the peace in Utah, you must first meet your county's basic requirements, which typically include being a Utah resident, being at least 18 years old, and having no felony convictions. Some counties require you to pass a background check. You then run for election in your precinct or are appointed by the county commission, depending on your county's system.
Contact your county clerk's office or county commission to learn the specific process in your county. Some counties hold elections for justice of the peace positions; others fill them by appointment. The timeline and requirements are not uniform across Utah.
Registering your ordination with the county clerk
Before you perform your first marriage, you must register with the county clerk in the county where you plan to perform the ceremony. Bring your ordination documentation and complete any registration form the clerk requires. Utah law does not mandate a statewide registry, so each county maintains its own records of authorized officiants.
If you perform marriages in multiple counties, you may need to register in each one. Call ahead to ask what documentation the clerk needs and whether there is a registration form. Some counties ask for a copy of your ordination certificate; others ask for a letter from your religious organization on letterhead.
Registration is free and takes only a few minutes. The county clerk uses this information to verify that you were authorized to sign the marriage license when the couple files it after the ceremony.
Understanding Utah's marriage license and filing requirements
Once you are registered as an officiant, couples will obtain a marriage license from the county clerk before the ceremony. You do not issue the license; the couple does. Your role is to perform the ceremony and then sign the license as the authorized officiant.
After the ceremony, the couple or you must return the signed license to the county clerk within a specific timeframe—usually within a few days. The license must be filed in the county where it was issued. If you do not file it or the couple does not file it, the marriage is not legally recorded, even though the ceremony took place.
Make sure you understand your county's filing important date and whether you or the couple is responsible for returning the license. Some officiants file all licenses themselves; others ask the couple to do it. Clarify this before the ceremony so there is no confusion.
What to do if you are not yet ordained or appointed
If you are not currently a member of clergy and do not hold a government position, you have two realistic paths: join a religious organization and pursue ordination through them, or run for or seek appointment to a justice of the peace position in your county.
There is no shortcut or alternative credential in Utah. You cannot become a "wedding officiant" by taking a class, paying a fee, or completing an online program. Utah's law is strict about who can perform marriages legally.
If you are interested in ordination, research denominations in your area and contact their leadership. If you are interested in becoming a justice of the peace, contact your county clerk or county commission to learn about elections or appointments in your precinct.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I perform marriages in Utah if I am ordained online?
No. Utah does not recognize ordinations from online-only organizations or organizations without a physical presence in the state. Your ordination must come from an established religious denomination or organization that has real standing in Utah. Contact your county clerk if you are unsure whether your ordination will be accepted.
Do I need to be a Utah resident to become an officiant?
If you want to become a justice of the peace, yes—you must be a Utah resident. If you are ordained clergy from an established religion, you do not have to be a resident to perform a marriage in Utah, but you should still register with the county clerk before the ceremony.
What happens if I perform a marriage without being registered?
The marriage may not be legally valid. Even if the ceremony takes place, if you are not registered as an authorized officiant, the county clerk may refuse to file the license or may question its validity. Always register before performing any marriages.
Can I perform marriages in any county in Utah, or only my home county?
You can perform marriages in any county in Utah, but you should register with the county clerk in each county where you plan to perform ceremonies. Registration is free and takes only a few minutes per county.
How much does it cost to become an officiant in Utah?
There is no state fee to register as an ordained officiant. If you pursue ordination through a religious organization, that organization may charge a fee for training or ordination, but that varies by denomination. If you run for justice of the peace, there may be filing fees for the election, which also vary by county.