what must someone do to become certified to oversee weddings/marriages?

[zoowcu]

I am getting married and the ceremony will not be in a church. I would like a family friend to marry my fiance and I. What must he do to become certified to do so?

[madcat]

Well, here is a link to the Universal Life Church website. You can become an ordained minister and can perform weddings, funerals, baptisms, etc.

They have been around a very long time, and you do not have to go through a bunch of the hooey that some sites want you to, and it will not cost you an arm and a leg.

You can check on the other stuff mentioned, but this is your best bet.

[IDriveIT]

http://www.themonastery.org/

It will take you five minutes online. This is the same organization that use to advertise in the back of Rolling Stone Manazine. It is the Universal Life Church. Getting the license to marry people is free. They make their money because they give you the option of purchasing official licenses and wallet size licenses and things of that nature. I purchased the license that is the size of a credit card. I always carry it with me.

[dma]

I had the same thing. We had my husband's uncle officiate the ceremony. He had to apply with the county of San Diego (where the ceremony was held at) to become a Deputy Marriage Commissioner. The DMC is empowered to perform Civil Marriage ceremonies during a fixed time and/or in a fixed place. Often, they are officials for a specific marriage where the couple wants someone special to perform the ceremony, after which their appointment expires. It costs about $50 or so. Contact your local county clerk's office, and they will tell you what your family friend needs to do. It involves going down to the office, filling out an application, and paying the processing fee.

[Melissa N]

Your friend can get ordained through an online ministry called Rose ministries. There's a $30 dollar fee, and then you get a certificate and then you can legally perform marriage ceremonies. Just google Rose Ministries.

[C J]

That depends on what state you are in. Some states, like Massachusetts where I live, allow a person to be certified to perform one ceremony per year if they are not a Justice of the Peace or Reverend. Check out you local laws.

That certification that is available once per year in MA works like this.
One must file a form which petitions the Governor for special permission to perform the ceremony, the date must be already set and the bride and groom must also sign the form (usually) then one must write the reasons for wishing to perform the ceremony.

In some states, one would go to the county to ask for this permit, and in others nothing like it is available. It all depends on where you want to hold the ceremony.