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Making
it Legal
Handfastings.org does not verify the
accuracy of the details stated in our officiant listing, nor
do we vouch for the value of the goods or services presented here. We do not endorse any one path or
religion. As with all contacts and
financial dealings, we encourage you to use caution and wisdom in your dealings
with strangers.
When searching for an officiant for
your special day, we strongly suggest that you interview her or him thoroughly,
check with your state (or other local government if outside the
Certain states and cities do not recognize all
churches and temples. If you would like
your marriage to be legally recognized, please research your officiant and
their affiliation before making your choice.
HOW TO BECOME LEGALLY ORDAINED
I have been receiving many emails with questions regarding legal ordination. Whether you just want to perform your best
friend’s wedding ceremony, or if you are interested in making a career out of
handfasting couples, there are several steps you must go through in order to
become fully legally ordained.
First, you must be sponsored by a
There are many Pagan temples & organizations that offer this. For some of
them, you have to study with them for a certain amount of time to become a High
Priest/ess, and for others, all you have to do is
sign up with them online [I do not “promote” one over the other – but you can
do a search just by typing in keywords into a search engine].
The next step after you become sponsored / ordained is to become legal. You
take your information down to your local City Clerk and register with your
City/State. In some instances, you may only be able to perform legal ceremonies
within the City or County in which you register. Even when you are registered
as clergy with your Temple/Church/Coven/Circle/etc., you must follow up with
state laws. Some states require a Letter of Good Standing by your religious
representative or other requirements. Check with your local government.
Once you perform the wedding/handfasting ceremony, you must have the couple
sign a legal contract along with witnesses’ signatures (the couple has to go
fill out a separate marriage license on their own and give it to you for this
purpose), you mail it off, and the couple gets their marriage certificate in
the mail several weeks later! In some states, couples can legally marry
themselves without a minister or witnesses, although the couple does have to
get a license from their city or state clerk to do so. Some religions even have
a separate contract that must be signed by the couple, but it is not a legally
binding
Remember, it is a two-step process: 1. Sponsorship, and 2. Legal registration
(if your State, County, or government requires it – some do not).
Good luck, and please let Handfastings.org know when you become “official”!
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