How to get Ordained in Guam to Officiate
Written and reviewed by the wedding law liaison team at the Universal Life Church.
Welcome to the Guam marriage laws guide. Being the officiant at a wedding is a great honor and responsibility - which is why we've assembled this page to give guidance to ministers and couples. To ensure everything goes as planned on the big day, we encourage you to follow the steps laid out below. The page will explain how to become a wedding minister, how to marry someone, and how to ensure that the ceremony is legal in Guam.
Here are the basic steps to follow for officiating a wedding:
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Getting Ordained in Guam
Becoming ordained is incredibly easy with the Universal Life Church and it's free! Simply fill out the ordination request form and submit to be legally recognized to perform weddings in not only Guam but throughout the United States. ULC Ministers of all faiths have performed countless ceremonies for friends and family members and soon you can too. Just click the link below to get started!
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How Do You Perform a Wedding in Guam
First, you should contact the Office of Vital Statistics located on the first floor of the Department of Public Health & Social Services and ask them if there are any documents that they will require from you. You may be asked to provide documents to verify that your ordination is valid. Any documents they may ask for can be ordered from our Minister Store.
Office of Vital Statistics
Location: Rancare Commercial Building CBU Box 109
761 S. Marine Corp Drive
Tamuning, GU 96913
Phone: (671) 735-7185/7280 | Fax: (671) 734-5910 -
Guam Wedding Officiant Requirements
After you've spoken with the local marriage officials, log back into your account on the website and pick up the documents that you will be asked to present. Based on the feedback we've received from our ministers in Guam, we recommend both the Official Letter of Good Standing and the Classic Wedding Set.
Please keep in mind that there are some additional personal requirements that have nothing to do with ULC. This would likely include you government-issued I.D. to verify your identity.
You will need to register with the Office of Vital Statistics prior to performing the ceremony so make sure you give yourself enough time to go in with your documents and get registered. -
How to Get a Guam Marriage License
Marriage licenses in Guam are issued by the Department of Public Health & Social Services. The couple should contact the department in advance to make sure they have all the required documents with them when going into obtain the license. While it is the couple's duty to pick up the license directly from the department, the minister should be aware of the rules pertaining to obtaining marriage licenses.
Guam marriage licenses are valid for 60 days after being picked up from the department. There is 5 day waiting period to obtain the license although the waiting period can be waived if they pay an additional fee. After the wedding has been performed, the license must be returned to the county within 10 days.
Guam's Top Wedding Venue
Two Lovers Point -
How Do You Officiate a Wedding?
Once all the paperwork is in order, you're ready to perform the wedding! If you need any guidance in this area, please don't hesitate to consult the resources linked below. These carefully-constructed pages provide helpful tips and information on all aspects of performing a wedding ceremony. Made with our wedding officiants in mind, they contain everything you'll need to plan the perfect ceremony.
Many ULC ministers have used these same resources for guidance when becoming professional officiants! -
Signing the Marriage License in Guam
Now there's just one more step - but it's a very important one! After performing the wedding, you must sign the marriage license (along with the couple and their witnesses). Your official title will be "Minister"; for ceremony type, put "Religious"; for denomination, write "Non-Denominational".
If prompted to provide 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!
Guam Marriage Laws
Guam marriage laws are governed by Chapter 3 of Title 19 of the code of Guam. This section explains who is legally authorized to officiate weddings in this U.S. territory. Among those with authorization are ordained ministers of the Universal Life Church. The relevant section is displayed below:
Title 19 Chapter 3: § 3204. Who May Solemnize.
(a) Marriage may be solemnized by:
(1) I Maga’lahen Guåhan (the Governor of Guam), or his substitute;
(2) the judges of the U.S. District Court, and the Superior Court of Guam;
(3) all ordained clergymen and priests of whatsoever religious faith who are recognized as such by the religious body whose faith they represent;
(4) the Director of Revenue and Taxation, the Director of Administration, and the Director of Public Health and Social Services;
(5) the Speaker of I Liheslaturan Guåhan (the Guam Legislature), or his/her designee; and
(6) all village Mayors and Vice Mayors.
(b) No regularly licensed or ordained minister or any priest, or similar official of any religious organization, is required to perform the solemnization of any marriage.