NY’s one-day marriage officiant license awaits final approval from Governor

Updates on New York's one-day marriage officiant designation legislation 

 

 

 

 

Legislation creating a new one-day marriage officiant license has passed both New York State houses and is on its way to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s desk for final approval. 

 

If signed into law, the new one-day wedding officiant designation will allow lay individuals to pay a small fee for the authority to perform a single wedding in the state. 

 

Update: What to Know About New York's New One-Day Marriage Officiant License

 

Currently, only ordained ministers and other clergy, along with specific government officials, are authorized to perform weddings in New York. The new one-day license will not affect the rights of ordained ministers who wish to perform marriage there.

 

(AMM Ministers are authorized to solemnize marriage in New York, and your ordination never expires. Get ordained for free with American Marriage Ministries here.)

 

AMM reached out to NY Assemblywoman Sandy Galef’s team, who confirmed the license is only one final step away from becoming law. This is exciting news for Galef, who sponsored the bill in the Assembly (A06300), as well as Senator Alessandra Biaggi, sponsor to a twin bill in the State Senate (S00739A). Similar legislation has been introduced in several previous sessions but has failed to pass. 

 

As we await news from the Governor’s office, here’s what you need to know about NY’s proposed one-day marriage officiant designation. 

 

 

• Who will be eligible for a one-day marriage officiant designation? 

 

Individuals who are over the age of 18 will be able to apply to officiate a wedding in New York, regardless of their state of residency. 

 

 

• What will the one-day officiant application process look like? 

 

Applications will be processed by the NY Secretary of State and must be submitted at least 30 days before the wedding date. Applicants will be told whether or not their application has been accepted no later than 7 days before the wedding. At the time of writing, the cost of the license has not yet been announced. 

 

Applicants will need to provide valid ID, personal information about the couple they’re marrying (names, birth dates, etc.), as well as the exact location and date of the wedding ceremony. 

 

 

• How soon will New York’s one-day license be available? 

 

This legislation becomes effective 90 days after it’s signed by Gov. Hochul. This means that a one-day license could become available in just a few months, in time for New York’s colorful Fall wedding season.

 

 

How will this affect ministers that got ordained online?

 

Online ordained ministers may still officiate weddings in New York State under the same authorization granted to all other religious leaders as defined under the states law. Online ordination will also remain the only free option,making it an affordable alternative to the one-day officiant designation, since anyone can get ordained for free online here at theamm.org. 

 

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Read previous articles on this topic:
 

• NY is one step closer to approving one-day wedding officiants
• New York considers one-day marriage officiant designation

Browse all Articles about New York State. 

 

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Get ordained in New York!
 
How to Become a Wedding Officiant in New York

 

Friends and family members can already perform wedding ceremonies in New York if they’ve been ordained. Get ordained online with AMM to get started.

 

 
 

 

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