Welcome to the Maryland marriage laws guide. Officiating a wedding is a tremendous honor, but presiding also comes with a lot of responsibility - which is why we decided to create a page providing guidance to couples and ministers alike. To make sure everything goes smoothly on the big day, we recommend following the guide below. It will explain how to become a wedding minister, how to marry someone, and how to make sure the ceremony is legal in Maryland. Here are the basic steps one must follow to officiate a wedding:
Becoming a marriage officiant with the Universal Life Church is easier than you might think. Our online ordination process is straightforward, fast, and completely free. Once you have your minister license in hand, officiating a wedding is right around the bend! In fact, legally licensed ministers of the ULC preside over countless marriage ceremonies in Maryland each year. Click the button to get started.
For starters, you'll need to contact the marriage licensing office in the county where the wedding will take place. Identify yourself as a minister and inquire about what documents the officials will need to see from you. Be aware, however, that these requirements often vary from county to county; marriage officials may ask for a number of items to verify your ordination status. Any documents or materials you might need are available via the Minister Store here on our site. Select a county to see contact information for each office:
Locate Contact30 Washington Street
Cumberland, MD 21502 (301) 777-5923
8 Church Circle
Annapolis, MD 21401 (410) 222-1397
County Courts Building
401 Bosley Avenue
Towson, MD 21204 (410) 887-2607
175 Main Street
Prince Frederick, MD 20678 (410) 535-1600
109 Market Street
Denton, MD 21629 (410) 479-1811
55 N. Court Street
Westminster, MD 21157 (410) 386-8710
129 E. Main Street
Elkton, MD 21921 (410) 996-1021
200 Charles Street
La Plata, MD 20646 (301) 932-3201
100 North Calvert St., Rm. 628
Baltimore, MD 21202 (410) 333-3780
206 High Street
Cambridge, MD 21613 (410) 228-0481
100 W. Patrick Street
Frederick, MD 21701 (301) 600-1976
203 S. 4th Street, Room 109
Oakland, MD 21550 (301) 334-1937
7 West Courtland Street
Bel Air, MD 21014 (410) 638-3489
6095 Marshalee Drive, Suite 120
Elkridge, MD 21075 (410) 313-5850
103 N. Cross Street
Chestertown, MD 21620 (410) 778-7460
50 Maryland Avenue
Rockville, MD (240) 777-9460
14701 Gov. Oden Bowie Drive
Upper Marlboro, MD 20772 (301) 952-3331
200 N. Commerce Street
Centreville, MD 21617 (410) 758-1773
30512 Prince William Street
Princess Anne, MD 21853 (410) 845-4840
41605 Courthouse Drive
Leonardtown, MD 20650 (301) 475-7844
11 North Washington Street, Suite 16
Easton, MD 21601 (410) 822-2611
24 Summit Avenue
Hagerstown, MD 21740 (301) 733-8660
101 North Division Street, Room 105
Salisbury, MD 21801 (410) 543-6551
One West Market Street, Room 104
Snow Hill, MD 21863 (410) 632-5500
Once you've spoken with county officials, simply visit our website, sign in to your account, and place an order for whatever materials you need. In case you were curious, most ministers in Maryland choose to order Classic Wedding Set. In general, ministers are not required to register in Maryland. However, it's not uncommon for a county clerk to ask for proof of your ordination before giving the "go-ahead" to perform marriage ceremonies. Plus, it gives the couple peace of mind to know that their wedding minister has all the official documents, like thee ordination certificate, on hand. As requested by county officials, please order your materials well in advance of the ceremony.
In Maryland, marriage licenses are issued by the county clerk's office. Although it is the couple's job to pick up the license, the minister should have a thorough understanding of the rules governing marriage licenses in Maryland and its individual counties. Let's say the couple is planning to get a Montgomery County marriage license, for example. As the minister, you should double-check if there are any specific rules for getting married in Montgomery County that the couple might not be aware of. In Maryland, marriage licenses are valid for 180 days. There is a mandatory 2-day waiting period - this means that the couple must wait a minimum of 2 days after receiving the license before a ceremony can legally be performed. Once the ceremony has been completed, the signed marriage license must be returned before the expiration date.
Maryland's Top Wedding Venue
Milton Ridge
With all the paperwork is in order, you'll be ready to perform the wedding! If you need any guidance in this area, don't hesitate to consult the resources linked below. These pages offer helpful tips and advice on all aspects of performing a wedding ceremony. Constructed with our wedding officiants in mind, they've got everything you'll need for carrying out the perfect ceremony. In fact, many ULC ministers have used these resources as a guide when becoming full-time professional officiants!
Maryland marriage laws are governed by Title 2 of the state code. This section explains who is legally authorized to officiate weddings in the State of Maryland. Among those with authorization are ordained ministers of the Universal Life Church. The relevant section is displayed below:
Universal Citation: MD Fam L Code § 2-401 (2019) (a) An individual may not marry in this State without a license issued by the clerk for the county in which the marriage is performed.
(b) Any individual who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine of $100. View the Maryland Statutes on the official government state website.
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