Who Can Officiate A Wedding In Iowa?

Iowa’s legal requirements for officiating wedding ceremonies are specific, allowing only authorized individuals to solemnize the ceremony. This includes all ministers, including online ordained ministers of American Marriage. The Iowa Code § 595.10 specifies who can solemnize marriage, including judges, magistrates, or associate judges serving on the Iowa supreme court, court of appeals, or district court.

To become an officiant in Iowa, one must complete an application on the Universal Life Church website. The process is simple, fast, and entirely free. Legally licensed ministers of the ULC perform countless marriages in Iowa each year, and there are no formal “registration” requirements in Iowa.

In Iowa, marriages can be officiated by judges and magistrates, but ordained ministers and other clergy affiliated with a ULC can also perform a wedding. The state of Iowa will recognize the validity of the license to marry as long as the officiant was at least 18 years of age at the time of the ceremony.

In summary, Iowa’s legal requirements for officiating weddings are specific, and only authorized individuals can solemnize a marriage. To become an officiant in Iowa, one must complete an online ordination process, contact their local marriage authority, and obtain their ordination credentials. The state of Iowa will recognize the validity of the license as long as the officiant was at least 18 years of age at the time of the ceremony.

Can a friend officiate a wedding in Iowa?

Who can legally perform a marriage ceremony in Iowa? A person ordained or designated as a leader of the persons religious faith or a judge of the supreme court, court of appeals, or district court may perform a marriage ceremony.

Does Iowa recognize Universal Life Church?

Yes! As a resident of Iowa you can legally get ordained online by the Universal Life Church. Online ordination might not be as familiar to you as the more “traditional” ordination practices of other religious organizations, but our use of the internet to assist you in the process does not detract from your ordination.

Becoming a minister in Iowa is even simpler than you might realize! Anyone can get ordained right here on our website and become qualified to perform all different types of ministerial duties, including weddings.

It wasnt always this way, however. For much of history, the road to being a minister was difficult, time consuming, and exclusive. As a consequence, the title of minister was limited to a select few who were fortunate to have the resources and societal approval to pursue such a goal.

The Universal Life Church was founded on a belief that no such barriers – whether financial, identity-based, or otherwise – should prevent someone from following a calling to become a minister. An outgrowth of this commitment is our free and open ordination process that can be done entirely online.

Can a celebrant legally marry you?

Since a celebrant-led ceremony isnt legally binding, most couples who opt for a celebrant tend to go to their local registry office a couple of days before their wedding, to do the legal paperwork, and then theyre free to have their celebrant wedding celebration wherever they want.

Does the idea of having two ceremonies put couples off, I ask Georgie. “No, because you can literally go in, sign the documents and say a few words, as you would with registering a birth,” she says. “You can save exchanging rings, for example, for your actual wedding day.”

If people are really hesitant about not being legally married on that specific day, there are options, she says. “You can also try to get a registrar to come on your wedding day to sign the paperwork. Ive worked weddings where theyve had a celebrant ceremony and then nipped inside for 15 minutes to sign the legal documents.”

Who are considered blood relatives?

A person who is related by birth, rather than by marriage, including those of half-blood. A blood relative includes a parent, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, nephew, niece, first cousin, or any of the aforementioned prefixed by grand, great-grand, or great-great-grand.

Who can marry in Iowa?

In Iowa, marriage is between two people who are:18 years or older (special requirements for 16 and 17 year olds are discussed below)Not currently legally married to someone else.Not closely related (see Iowa Code section 595.19 for the relations that cannot marry)Legally competent to enter into a civil contract.

Marriage is a special kind of contract. In Iowa, before there is a marriage ceremony, the couple must obtain a marriage license from the local County Registrar. An Iowa marriage license is only valid for marriage ceremonies within Iowa that are officiated (or “solemnized”) by authorized individuals, like a judge or an ordained minister.

Iowa Code chapter 595 provides the specific requirements for marriage in Iowa. The website for your county likely has useful information about marriage and marriage licenses. For example, Johnson County’s website has forms and information relating to marriage.

• Requirements to enter into a marriage in Iowa
• Applying for a marriage license
• The marriage ceremony and after
• Marriage for people ages 16 and 17

What qualifications do I need to officiate a wedding?

You do not need formal qualifications to become a celebrant though training may help your career prospects. There are different courses you can do with private training providers and through organisations like Humanists UK.

Courses vary in length, cost and entry requirements, and include:

• Level 3 Certificate and Diploma in Celebrancy
• wedding, funeral and naming ceremonies training
• postgraduate Masters in Existential Humanist and Pastoral Care

What family members can you marry?

Blood relatives. Certain blood relatives may not legally marry each other. This includes marriages between siblings (sibling means a brother, sister, half-brother or half-sister) and between a parent and child (for example; a mother and son or father and daughter). You also cannot marry your grandparent, grandchild, your parents sibling or your siblings child.

Adopted children. Adopted children and their genetic parents and genetic grandparents may not marry. If they do, the marriage will be automatically void, even if they do not know they are related. Adopted children may not marry their adoptive parents (or any former adoptive parents) but they are allowed to marry the rest of their adoptive family, including their adoptive brother or sister.

Step relatives. People who are step relations or in-laws may marry only in certain circumstances and you are urged to seek legal advice if this is applicable to you. There are strict requirements and these marriages may usually only take place during a civil ceremony, under licence.

What blood relatives are allowed to marry in Iowa?

Iowa law provides that marriage is a civil contract between two persons who must be:18 years of age or older.Legally competent to enter into a civil contract.Not already or still legally married to someone else or to each other.Not closely related by blood or first cousins.

State of Iowa Marriage Instructions. It is the responsibility of applicants to read this carefully before making application!

General Information. In Iowa, a license to marry may be applied for only from a County Registrar. These officials also perform County Recorder functions and have offices either in a county courthouse or county administration building.

Marriage licenses issued in Iowa are valid only for marriage ceremonies performed within the boundaries of the State of Iowa by authorized officiants as defined in Iowa Code section 595.10.

Does Iowa recognize online ordained ministers?

Ceremonies by proxy, telephone, Internet, or other electronic means are not legal in Iowa. Authorized Iowa judges may charge the marrying couple a reasonable fee for time and expenses only if the ceremony takes place outside of normal judicial working hours.

Can my friend be my wedding celebrant?

Friends are more than welcome to play a part through readings and rituals of course!

However, please respect the Celebrant Industry and choose a certified and insured Independent or Humanist Celebrant for your wedding ceremony. You will be so pleased you did.

Photo credits: Danielle Veitch Photography, Sadie Osborne Photography, Megan Donati Photography, Agrestal Visuals.