Asked to officiate a wedding in New York? Check out these 10 must-know officiant registration facts before officiating a wedding in New York. We cover all the important things you need to know to officiate a legal wedding. 65,079 New York AMM Ministers and counting!
En EspañolLast Updated: October 5th, 2023
The facts below cover all the important aspects of what requirements you need to meet to be able to legally officiate a wedding ceremony in New York.
This is the relevant exerpt from the Laws of New York § 11.
" 1. A clergyman or minister of any religion, or by the senior leader, or any of the other leaders, of The Society for Ethical Culture in the city of New York, having its principal office in the borough of Manhattan, or by the leader of The Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture, having its principal office in the borough of Brooklyn of the city of New York, or of the Westchester Ethical Society, having its principal office in Westchester county, or of the Ethical Culture Society of Long Island, having its principal office in Nassau county, or of the Riverdale-Yonkers Ethical Society having its principal office in Bronx county, or by the leader of any other Ethical Culture Society affiliated with the American Ethical Union. "
Basically, this means that as long as you are ordained through any church, you can officiate weddings.
Yes. All online ordained ministers, including those ordained through AMM are recognized in New York.
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Depends. You are required to register as an officiant with the New York City New York City Clerk Marriage Bureau before you officiate a wedding. Outside of NYC, you need to check with the local city or town clerk.
The New York City Clerk Marriage Bureau in New York is responsible for officiant registration.
All Wedding Officiants in New York must be at least 18 years old.
No. Your state or country of residence is irrelevant to the officiant registration process in New York.
Contact Local Office. All Wedding Officiants in NYC must complete the Marriage Officiant Registration or Online Marriage Officiant Registration Application. Outside of New York City, you will have to check with the local Town or City Clerk.
Depends on where. In NYC you are required to submit an official copy of your Ministry Credentials to the New York City Clerk Marriage Bureau. Outside of NYC it is up to the Town or City Clerk.
It will cost you about $15 to register as a wedding officiant in New York.
For a more detailed guide on how to complete the officiant registration process in New York, check out our New York Officiant Registration page by clicking the button below.
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