Officiant Responsibilities
Authority to Perform Marriages
Marriage officiants typically fall into one of the following categories:- Individuals authorized by a religious denomination (including online ordinations),
- Specific public office holders (such as judges and mayors),
- Individuals designated by a County Clerk.
Utah law does not require officiants to register with the state or county. On the Officiant Submission, use the title that clearly indicates your authority to solemnize marriages (Designee, Minister, Judge, Bishop, etc.). (Utah Code § 81-2-305)
Request Designation from County Clerk
Utah law allows the County Clerk to authorize individuals to perform a marriage ceremony for a couple who has a valid marriage license.
If you've been asked to officiate a ceremony but are not already authorized, you can request designation from our office.
BECOME AN OFFICIANTRequirements for a Valid Ceremony
To solemnize a valid marriage in Utah, the following conditions must be met:
Authority
The officiant must be at least 18 years of age and duly authorized to solemnize a legal marriage within the State of Utah based on religious authority, civil office, or designation by the county clerk.
Location
The marriage license must be used within the State of Utah. The officiant must be physically present in Utah at the time of the ceremony. The city and county listed as the ceremony location must reflect the officiant's physical location.
For remote appearance ceremonies, the officiant's location establishes jurisdiction. The ceremony must be hosted by an officiant physically present in Utah.
Declaration of Intent
Each party must willingly declare their intent to enter into the marriage through a statement or affirmative answer.
For example:- One spouse may state: “I, Chris, take you Taylor, to be my spouse,”
- Or the officiant may ask: “Taylor, do you take Chris to be your spouse?” with a response such as “Yes” or “I do.”
Witnesses
The ceremony must be solemnized in the presence of two witnesses who are each at least 18 years of age. The witnesses must observe both parties' declaration of intent and the officiant's pronouncement of marriage. Their names must be entered in the Officiant Submission, but they are not required to sign the certificate.
Remote Appearance Requirements
For ceremonies conducted by remote appearance (Utah Code §81-2-302, §81-2-305):
- The officiant, couple, and both witnesses must be able to see and hear one another and be seen and heard by one another during the ceremony.
- The officiant's physical location must be listed as the ceremony location.
- Utah law requires the following warning for marriages solemnized through online remote appearance. The officiant must repeat this warning verbatim immediately before the ceremony. The warning only needs to be stated in one language.
Officiant Submission & Returning the License
Utah County uses a digital marriage license system. Instead of completing a paper certificate and returning a paper license, officiants must complete the online Officiant Submission using the unique link provided by the couple.
You will:- Enter required information about yourself as an officiant
- Enter details about the ceremony, including the names of two witnesses,
- Digitally sign the submission,
- Submit the certificate of marriage electronically.
Completing the online submission fulfills all legal requirements to return the marriage license to the county with a certificate of marriage.
By law, the submission must be completed within 30 days of the ceremony. Failure to submit within 30 days is an infraction.
If you knowingly or intentionally make a false statement on the Officiant Submission (digital certificate of marriage), you are guilty of perjury.
Once submitted, you will receive a confirmation email, and your responsibilities as an officiant are complete.
License Expiration Rules
A Utah marriage license:- Has no waiting period,
- Must be used within 32 days of issuance.
If the license expires before the marriage is solemnized, the couple must apply for and receive a new license.
Using a marriage license past its expiration date is a violation of Utah law.
Marriages Prohibited by Law
Minimum Age Requirements
The standard minimum age for marriage in Utah is 18.
Individuals who are 16 or 17 years old may marry only with both parental consent and judicial consent. They must apply for their marriage license in person.
No individual under the age of 16 may legally marry.
An officiant who knowingly solemnizes the marriage of a minor without the required consent is guilty of a third-degree felony.
Other Prohibited Marriages
An officiant who knowingly solemnizes a marriage that is prohibited by law (including incestuous or bigamous marriages) is guilty of a class A misdemeanor.
It is also a third-degree felony to use a Utah County marriage license contrary to Utah law. This includes, but is not limited to:- Using a license outside the State of Utah,
- Using a license past its expiration date,
- Solemnizing a marriage without proper authority,
- Solemnizing a marriage involving a minor without required consent.
Helpful Information
- Submit the Officiant Submission as soon as possible following the ceremony. The couple will receive their digital marriage certificate within minutes of submission, and a paper copy will be mailed the next business day.
- If information appears incorrect in the Officiant Submission, do not finalize it. Contact the marriage license office to make corrections. Once finalized, edits require the couple to order an error correction for $10.
- The Officiant Worksheet is an optional tool to help collect necessary information before submission. It does not need to be returned to the county.
- When asked for your title, enter the title that provides your authority to perform the ceremony (Designee, Minister, Judge, Bishop, etc.).