How to get Ordained in Idaho to Officiate
Written and reviewed by the wedding law liaison team at the Universal Life Church.
Welcome to the Idaho marriage laws guide. Officiating a wedding is a great honor, but overseeing a wedding also comes with a good deal of responsibility - which is why we've created this page to provide instruction to both couples and ministers. In order to ensure that everything goes smoothly on the big day, we encourage you to follow the guide below. Among other things, it will explain how to become a wedding minister, how to marry someone, and how to make sure the ceremony is legal in Idaho.
Here are the basic steps one must follow to officiate a wedding:
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Getting Ordained in Idaho
Becoming a marriage officiant with the Universal Life Church is easier than you might expect. Our online ordination process is straightforward, quick, and completely free. Once you have your minister license in hand, officiating a wedding is right around the corner! Legally licensed ministers of the ULC perform countless marriages in Idaho each year. Click the button below to get started.
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How Do You Perform a Wedding in Idaho
First, you'll need to contact the marriage licensing office in the county where the wedding will occur. Call them up and introduce yourself as a minister. Ask the officials what documents they'll need to see from you (they may request that you provide a number of items verifying your ordination status). Be aware, too, that these requirements can vary from county to county within Idaho. Any documents or materials you might require are available in the Minister Store here on our site.
Select a county to see contact information for each office:
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Idaho Wedding Officiant Requirements
Once you've determined what documents you need, simply visit our website, sign in to your account, and place an order via our online catalog. In general, ministers are not required to register in Idaho. That being said, it's not uncommon for the county clerk to ask for proof of your ordination before giving the "go-ahead" to perform marriage ceremonies. One of our more popular items in Idaho is the Classic Wedding Set, and most ministers choose to add a Official Letter of Good Standing for good measure.
Having physical credentials on hand makes dealing with marriage officials a breeze. It also gives the couple peace of mind to know that the wedding minister has all their official documents, such as the ordination certificate, just in case. As requested by county clerks in Idaho, make sure to order your materials at least a few weeks in advance of the ceremony.
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How to Get an Idaho Marriage License
Idaho's Top Wedding Venue
The Loft Reception CenterIn Idaho, marriage licenses are issued by the county clerk's office. Although it is the couple's job to pick up the license, ministers should have a solid understanding of the rules governing marriage licenses in Idaho and its individual counties. Let's say the couple is planning to get an Ada County marriage license, for example. As the minister, you ought to double-check if there are any specific rules for weddings in Ada County that the couple might not be aware of.
In Idaho, marriage licenses are valid for 1 year and there is no mandatory waiting period after the license has been issued. Once the ceremony has been completed, the signed marriage license must be returned to the issuing office within 30 days.
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How Do You Officiate a Wedding?
Once all the paperwork is in order, you're ready to perform the wedding! If you need any guidance in this area, don't hesitate to utilize the tools found below. These carefully-tailored resources provide helpful tips and information on all aspects of performing a wedding ceremony. Constructed with our wedding officiants in mind, they contain everything you'll need to plan the perfect ceremony. Many ULC ministers have used these same resources for guidance when becoming professional officiants!
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Signing the Marriage License in Idaho
Now there's just one final step - but it's an important one! After performing the wedding, you must sign the marriage license (along with the couple, of course). Your official title will be "Minister"; for ceremony type, list "Religious"; for denomination, write "Non-Denominational".
If it asks for address of ministry, list your personal ministry or home address. Do not put the address of ULC headquarters. Lastly, remember that the signed license must be turned in to the marriage office before the deadline passes!
Idaho Marriage Laws
Idaho marriage laws are governed by Title 32 of the state statutes. This section explains who is legally authorized to officiate weddings in the State of Idaho. Among those with authorization are ordained ministers of the Universal Life Church. The relevant section is displayed below:
Universal Citation: ID Code § 32-401 (2019) 32-401. MARRIAGE LICENSE — CONTENTS. The county recorder of any county in this state shall have authority to issue marriage licenses to any parties applying for the same who may be entitled under the laws of this state to contract matrimony, authorizing the marriage of such parties, which licenses shall be substantially in the following form:
View the Idaho Statutes on the official government state website.
Is it Legal For You to Perform a Idaho Wedding?
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