Universal Life Church

How to get Ordained in Indiana to Officiate

Written and reviewed by the wedding law liaison team at the Universal Life Church.

Welcome to the marriage laws guide for the state of Indiana. Officiating a wedding is an honor, but presiding also comes with a good deal of responsibility - which is why we've created this page. To ensure that everything goes according to plan on the big day, we recommend that you to follow the instructions found here in this guide. We will explain how to become a wedding minister, how to marry someone, and how to make sure the ceremony is legal in Indiana.

Here are the basic steps one must follow to officiate a wedding:

State Seal Of Indiana

  1. Getting Ordained in Indiana

    Becoming a marriage officiant with the Universal Life Church is easier than one might think. The online ordination process is simple, fast, and (best of all) totally free. Once you have your minister license in hand, officiating a wedding is not far off! Legally licensed ministers of the ULC perform tons of marriages in Indiana every year. Just click the button below to get the ball rolling.

    Start Your Ordination!

  2. How Do You Perform a Wedding in Indiana

    First, you'll need to contact the county clerk in the county where the wedding will be held. Introduce yourself as an ordained minister and inquire about what documents the officials will need to see from you. They may request a number of items in order to verify that you are indeed ordained. Note that these requirements often vary from county to county (which is why it's best to contact officials beforehand). If you do need any documents or materials, everything is available in our Minister Store.

    Select a county to see contact information for each office:

  3. Indiana Wedding Officiant Requirements

    After speaking with local marriage officials, simply sign in to your account on our website and order whatever materials are required. Based on feedback from existing ULC ministers in Indiana, we recommend picking up the <a href=/minister-store/classic-wedding-set">Classic Wedding Set. In general, Indiana does not ask ministers to formally register. That said, it's certainly not uncommon for county clerks to request proof of your ordination before giving the "green light" to perform a marriage ceremony. Plus, couples usually appreciate when a wedding minister has all their official documents, such as the ordination certificate, on hand. As requested by Indiana officials, please place your order well in advance of the wedding to avoid potential hiccups.

    Classic Wedding Set

    Classic Wedding Set
    Short Sleeve Minister Shirt

    Short Sleeve Minister Shirt
    Premium Marriage Certificate

    Premium Marriage Certificate

  4. How to Get a Indiana Marriage License

    In Indiana, marriage licenses are issued by the county clerk's office. While it is the couple's responsibility to pick up the license, the minister should understand the rules governing marriage licenses in Indiana and its individual counties. Let's say the couple is planning to get a Marion County marriage license, for example. As the minister, you should double-check what specific rules (if any) apply to Marion County.

    Indiana marriage licenses are valid for 60 days, and there is no mandatory waiting period before the ceremony can occur. Important: after the ceremony has been completed, the signed marriage license needs to be returned before it expires for the wedding to be considered valid.

    Canal 337

    Indiana's Top Wedding Venue
    Canal 337

  5. How Do You Officiate a Wedding?

    Once all the paperwork is in order, it's time to perform the wedding! If you need any guidance in this area, we've compiled some helpful resources below. They provide all sorts of tips and advice for performing a wedding ceremony. Constructed with our wedding officiants in mind, these pages will show you everything you need to know to plan the perfect ceremony. Many ULC ministers have used these same resources for guidance when becoming professional officiants!

  6. Signing the Marriage License in Indiana

    Now there's just one more step - but it's quite important! After performing the wedding, you must sign the marriage license along with the couple. Your official title will be "Minister"; for ceremony type, put "Religious"; for denomination, write "Non-Denominational".

    If asked to list an address of ministry, put your personal ministry or home address. Do not put the address of ULC headquarters. Lastly, remember that the signed license must be turned in to the marriage office before the deadline passes!

Indiana Marriage Laws

State Flag Of Indiana

Indiana marriage laws are primarily directed by Title 31 of the state's Codified Statutes. This section explains who is legally authorized to officiate weddings in the State of Indiana. Among those with authorization are ordained ministers of the Universal Life Church. The relevant section is displayed below:

Universal Citation: IN Code § 31-11-4-1 (2019) IC 31-11-4-1 Marriage license required to marry Sec. 1. Before two (2) individuals may marry each other, the individuals must obtain a marriage license under this chapter.

[Pre-1997 Recodification Citation: 31-7-1-1.]

View the Indiana Statutes on the official government state website.

Is it Legal For You to Perform a Indiana Wedding?

Review the Marriage Law

Want to Learn More about Ministry in Indiana?

Explore the IN Ordination

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