Wedding Officiants: Tips for Calling the County Clerk's Office (Especially if You're Nervous!)

Nervous about calling your county clerk to register as a wedding officiant? Not sure what to ask about the marriage license? We're here to help.

 

It can be intimidating to call the clerk's office as a first-time wedding officiant! What do you say? How do you say it? And what if the clerk tells you to submit more paperwork before officiating a wedding? It's a lot to think about!

 

But talking to a city or county clerk is much easier than it seems at first. Clerks are there to help you (for the most part, we explain more below). And as a new wedding officiant, it's important to get comfortable talking to them. After all, clerks have the most up-to-date information on how to fill out and file a marriage license! 

 

With that in mind, we put together a few suggestions to make that first phone call as stress-free as possible. 

 

How to Call the Clerk's Office as a First-Time Wedding Officiant

 

1. Plan ahead and get your documents in order

 

Do a little homework before you pick up the phone to call the clerk's office. Taking time to prepare will make the rest of the phone conversation easier.

 

• First, make sure you’ve been ordained online and have received an email confirming your ordination. 

 

• Next, find out if new ministers must register with a local office before they perform a wedding. Click the link below to see if minister registration is required in your location. (Check the location where the ceremony will take place.)

 

► Weddings By State: Minister Registration by State

 

Note: Check the rules in the county where the wedding venue is located, which may be different than where you live in. If you’re performing a wedding in a different state, you must check the registration requirements in the state where the wedding will take place. Click the link below for more help with this step.

 

► Find out what county your wedding venue is in: How to Find Out What County a Wedding Venue is In -- Marriage License Tips

 

• Then, order any minister credentials you need for registration. These credentials generally include a Certificate of Ordination and a Letter of Good Standing, which provide proof that you are an ordained minister. These materials can be ordered from the AMM Store by clicking the link below.

 

► Order needed Minister Credentials in the AMM Store

 

• Once you have all of your required paperwork in hand, you’ll be ready to speak confidently with the clerk!

 

 

2. Call the right County Clerk's Office

 

This one sounds obvious, but you might be surprised! Different states, and sometimes different counties, have different rules for performing a wedding and returning a marriage license.  That’s why it’s so important to call the correct county office. Double check that you are calling the county where the wedding will take place. 

 

Once you know the correct county clerk's office to call, a quick internet search will help you find their phone number. Use a simple internet search that includes "name of county + state + marriage license"

 

► Head here to find out what county the wedding venue is in, and which office to call: How to Find Out What County a Wedding Venue is In -- Marriage License Tips. 

 

 

What county is the wedding venue in?

 

 

3. “Hello, I’m an ordained minister and I’m hoping you can help with...”

 

Ok, it's time to talk to the clerk! You did your homework and now it's time to get answers to any questions you have. 

 

When someone answers: Introduce yourself as an ordained minister and wedding officiant. Then, ask any questions you have about the legal aspects of performing a wedding. Don’t worry, they’ve heard it all before! 

 

It's as simple as that.

 

If you’re still nervous, picture this: 

 

Here at AMM, county clerks remind us of adorable, aloof cats. Yes, cats. There’s a chance that the clerk you talk to will sound grumpy, rushed, or in need of a strong cup of coffee. But that’s why we love them: they are doing important work with limited resources.

 

(And luckily, clerks are much more helpful than actual cats.)

 

 

County clerks are much more helpful than actual cats.

(No offense to this hard worker.)

 

 

4. Ask these important questions

 

Here are a few common questions to help you start the conversation: 

 

• "How do I register as a minister to perform a wedding?" 

 

You've already looked this up, but it's important to confirm this with the clerk directly. Make a list of any additional paperwork to complete.

 

• "Who returns the completed marriage license after the wedding ceremony?"

 

Depending on where you are, you or the couple getting married will need to return the marriage license. Each location has its own requirements for returning a license by mail, in-person, or electronically. Ask for the specifics!

 

• "When should the completed marriage license be returned? 

 

The date by which a marriage license must be returned is called the "return date." Each state has a different return date, so confirm this with the clerk. 

 

► See the Return Date for your location here: What are the Marriage License Waiting Period, Expiration, and Return Dates?

 

 

Get ordained with AMM before you call the county clerk's office.

 

 

Trouble Shooting: What to do if a county clerk says that your online ordination isn’t valid

 

We’ve heard reports of county clerks in certain states telling ministers that their online ordinations aren’t valid or accepted. Unfortunately, these particular clerks are not here to help you, and they may even give you information that (intentionally) contradicts the current laws in their state or county.

 

We realize that this spread of misinformation can be confusing and frustrating. We’re always here to help you better understand your rights as an AMM Minister. 

 

Here’s what you need to know: Ordination through American Marriage Ministries is recognized in the entire United States and its territories (except Virginia). In the past, lawmakers in some states (like New York, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee) have tried to make it difficult or impossible for online-ordained ministers to perform weddings. Some clerks in those areas still try to refuse the credentials of online-ordained ministers. 

 

If you encounter this situation, contact us right away so that we can help you: AMM Contact Information

 

Our team works closely with marriage bureaus and government offices across the country to ensure that the rights of our ministers are upheld.
 

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More Tips for First-Time Wedding Officiants

 

• Attention Couples: Read this before you visit the clerk’s office for your marriage license!

 

• ...So What Does a Wedding Officiant Really Do?

 

• Filling out a Marriage License: What religious denomination do I write down if I’m an atheist?

 

• State-by-state marriage waiting periods should be part of your wedding plan

 

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