Yes. In April 2020, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nettle promised that the state would consider secular officiants trained and certified by the FCI to be covered by existing marriage laws. In addition to secular celebrants, some elected and appointed government officials, “gospel preachers,” including clergy, and some religious practitioners may also perform marriages in Michigan. The FCI`s Lay Officiants Program lays the groundwork for a legal challenge to state marriage laws that unconstitutionally favor religious organizations, but ensures that our trained officiants meet the requirements of most states to legally perform marriages (with the exception of religious clergy). In April 2020, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nettle promised that the state would include secular officiants trained and certified by the FCI, as allowed by existing marriage laws to solemnize a marriage. (Note: The wording of the state marriage law will not be updated to reflect this decision, as this is a lawsuit, but the CFI is working to obtain a letter confirming this decision, which will be added here as soon as it is available.) As a wedding venue, Michigan has a lot to offer. There are over 16,000 square miles of largely pristine wilderness on the Upper Peninsula and over 3,000 miles of freshwater coastline throughout the state, not to mention fall colors almost everywhere you go in the fall. Another advantage is that marriage laws in Michigan are relatively easy to understand. The following guide can make it even easier for you and your minister to make sure you are following the regulations. While there are no registration requirements for officials in Michigan, you must be an ordained minister to legally marry. Michigan local regulations require that marriage officials be ordained under the designation of “minister” by a religious organization such as American Marriage Ministries. While you don`t need to register as a marriage official at a Michigan government office, it`s a good idea to keep personal records of your official ministry references.

Proof of your ordination is essential if the couple, government officials, or the place of marriage request proof of your ordination. We recommend that you order your Michigan ministerial ordination package to receive your official ministry credentials. Your kit contains your official certificate of ordination and your letter of good reputy. His reputable letter is signed, dated and notarized by a church official. Your ministerial ordination package also includes your AMM Ministerial Manual, a valuable resource for information on formal training. A portion of the proceeds of your order will go to our charitable activities. So not only do you get your AMM service rights, but you also support a good cause. Write “Minister” for the official title.

If you are an AMM-ordained minister, then that is what you specify for your title. For marriage to be legally binding, you and your future spouse must make a solemn declaration in front of two witnesses who are at least 18 years old and the presiding official that you wish to take the other as your spouse. The officiant then makes a statement celebrating the marriage. There are no other requirements imposed by the state for a civil or religious ceremony, so these can be planned according to your own needs and preferences. Michigan chooses to leave the details of the wedding ceremony or its absence to the couple. Couples can enjoy a large religious gathering, a small informal ceremony, or something in between if they wish. The only condition is that the parties express their desire to adopt someone else as husband or wife before a presiding judge or minister and at least two witnesses present, both of whom are of full age, and that the Minister declare the parties married. Michigan marriage licenses are valid for 33 days in the county where they were issued. However, the State requires a waiting period of three days between the date of application and the date on which it is authorized to issue the licence.

However, the District Clerk has the right to ignore this requirement if there is a valid and sufficient reason to do so. Couples who want to waive this three-day waiting period will have to pay extra. OK, almost done! Just one last step. After the wedding, you must sign the marriage certificate with the couple and two witnesses.