Can my friend or relative be my officiant?

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This can be a tricky question. We understand that it is important to have friends and loved ones a big part of your big day – but your marriage needs to be valid in the eyes of the government at the same time!

Just because someone was ordained over the internet does not necessarily mean that every state or local government will recognize any marriage performed by that individual. In fact, in most counties, it is your responsibility to ensure that the person officiating your wedding is legitimate.

In the state of Pennsylvania, as a general rule, persons qualified to marry couples and sign a marriage certificate are:

  • A current justice
  • A former retired justice that meets specific criteria
  • A mayor
  • A former mayor or government official that meets specific criteria
  • A clergy member of any religion as long as at least one of the persons is a member of the society, institution or organization, according to the rules and customs of the society, institution or organization.

This issue has been through the court system with contradictory results. According to legalclarity.org, the safest bet to ensure that your marriage will be legally recognized and secure is to stick to persons clearly authorized under state law to solemnize the marriage in the state of Pennsylvania.

Fortunately, when you get married at Saint Miriam you will know that your officiant is legit! Click here to learn more.
Heading is the Clerk of Courts and Clerk of Orphans' Court for the Court of Common Pleas, 43rd Judicial District of Pennsylvania In two Pennsylvania Counties there are Two Contrasting Rulings About Marriages Performed by Person Ordained over the Internet. 1. On September 7, 2008 the Court of Common Please of York County rendered an opinion that persons ordained over the the internet are not persons who may legally marry individuals in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The case filed in the office og Prothonotary of York County Prothonotary. 2. December 3, 2008 ruling by Judge C. Theordore Fritsch Jr. of the Court of Common Pleas of Bucks County, a marriage performed by an internet-ordained minister has been declared valid. The case filed in the office of the Prothonotary of Bucks County to No. 08-1620-29-1. The opinion should be available from the Bucks County Prothonotary. These rulings directly contradict each other that internet-ordained marriages are valid or invalid. Although these rulings are only binding in their respective counties, the decisions present questions of the validity of marriages performed by ministers ordained on the internet.

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