Welcome! If you've come to this page it's a good bet that either you're planning to get married, or you're planning to become a wedding officiant to perform a marriage ceremony in Maryland. Ministers ordained through the Universal Life Church have performed thousands of legal marriages in Maryland. Below you will find sections explaining how to become ordained, how to marry someone, and how to ensure the ceremony is legal. Regardless of where you are located, there are some basic steps you will need to follow to officiate a wedding:
How to Officiate a WeddingFor more specific information about performing a wedding in certain parts of Maryland, choose a location above.
Maryland Ordination Facts ULC Ordination Recognized: Yes Minister Registration Required: No State Residency: Irrelevant Minimum Age to Officiate: 18 Maryland Marriage License Facts Marriage License Waiting Period: 2 Days Marriage License Validity Period: 180 Days Marriage License Return Period: Before Expiration Documents Recommended: Classic Wedding KitIf you haven't yet become ordained with the Universal Life Church, that is the first step. Anyone willing can become a legal minister of the ULC, one of the world's largest religious organizations. Online ordination is fast, easy, and completely free. Once you have your minister license, you'll be eligible to officiate a wedding. To become a minister, start by clicking the button below!
Congratulations, you're ready to officiate the wedding! If you need any assistance in this important task, we encourage you to utilize the tools below. Together these exclusive resources include everything you'll need to craft the perfect wedding ceremony for any couple. Created with our ministers in mind, they offer tips and helpful information for all aspects of performing a ceremony. Fun fact: many ULC ministers have become professional officiants using these tools as a guide!
All right, you're now a certified expert in performing Maryland weddings! We get it – that was a lot of text to absorb. Did you know we have a full video series on how to get ordained to officiate a wedding in each state? Check out the video guide for performing a wedding in Maryland below!
Locate ContactSelect the county you'd like to contact from the dropdown menu above to see their office's information.
30 Washington Street
Cumberland, MD 21502
8 Church Circle
Annapolis, MD 21401
County Courts Building
401 Bosley Avenue
Towson, MD 21204
175 Main Street
Prince Frederick, MD 20678
109 Market Street
Denton, MD 21629
55 N. Court Street
Westminster, MD 21157
129 E. Main Street
Elkton, MD 21921
200 Charles Street
La Plata, MD 20646
100 North Calvert St., Rm. 628
Baltimore, MD 21202
206 High Street
Cambridge, MD 21613
100 W. Patrick Street
Frederick, MD 21701
203 S. 4th Street, Room 109
Oakland, MD 21550
7 West Courtland Street
Bel Air, MD 21014
6095 Marshalee Drive, Suite 120
Elkridge, MD 21075
103 N. Cross Street
Chestertown, MD 21620
50 Maryland Avenue
Rockville, MD
14701 Gov. Oden Bowie Drive
Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
200 N. Commerce Street
Centreville, MD 21617
30512 Prince William Street
Princess Anne, MD 21853
41605 Courthouse Drive
Leonardtown, MD 20650
11 North Washington Street, Suite 16
Easton, MD 21601
24 Summit Avenue
Hagerstown, MD 21740
101 North Division Street, Room 105
Salisbury, MD 21801
One West Market Street, Room 104
Snow Hill, MD 21863
The Maryland state flower, the Black-Eyed Susan
Contact the Circuit Court Clerk's office in the county where the ceremony will take place. Introduce yourself as a minister officiating a wedding, and ask them what documents they will need from you. They may ask to see a number of things, and be aware that these requirements vary from county to county. Rest assured that any materials or documents you might need are available in the Church Supplies section of our website.
Select your county to view contact information for each office:
Once you've determined what you need, simply log in to your account and order the materials from our online catalog. Based on the feedback we've received from our ministers in Maryland, we recommend ordering a Classic Wedding Kit. Although ministers are generally not required to register in Maryland, there's always a possibility that the county clerk will ask you to present proof of your ordination. Keep in mind that the couple may also like to see your ordination credentials. Please remember to place your order well in advance of the wedding to avoid complications.
Licenses are issued by the Circuit Court Clerk's office, and will be picked up by the couple. As a minister, it's your responsibility to understand how marriage licenses work in Maryland and its individual counties. For example, if the couple plans to get a Montgomery County marriage license, you should double-check if there are any rules specific to Montgomery County.
In the state of Maryland, the license is valid for 180 days. There is a mandatory 2-day waiting period between the time it is picked up, and when the ceremony can be legally performed. Finally, the signed marriage license must be returned to the issuing office before it expires.
How to Perform a Wedding
