Marriage, performance of

Required State License(s): None Further Information:

To perform marriage ceremonies a person should be an ordained minister, magistrate (a civil officer with power to administer and enforce law -- Justice of the Peace), mayor of a Michigan city or a judge.

An ordained minister of the gospel recognized by a church may perform marriages whether or not the church has filed a charter with the State of Michigan, Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Corporation Division or an elected government official. To determine if a church has filed a charter, telephone: (517) 241-6470.

Contact the Department of Community Health, Vital Statistics at (517) 335-8714 for statistics on the number of marriages. 

When forming a religious organization, there is a tax guide available from the IRS, publication "tax Guide For Churches and Other Religious Organizations; Publication 1828 Catalog Number 21096G; address: IRS, Freedom of Information Reading Room, P.O. Box 795, Ben Franklin Station, Washington, D.C. 20044; telephone: (800) 829-3676.

Many churches are required to have a "Church Copyright License." For further information about this license call (800) 234-2446. Marriage licenses are obtained at the county clerk's office.

Revised: 12/2002