Ordained for Colorado?

October 10, 2008 12:54 PM

I need to be quickie-ordained to perform a Christian wedding in Colorado. I've found all the various ordination websites, but searching past threads on MeFi has uncovered people saying, "I got ordained by so-and-so but it turns out they weren't recognized in Texas, so I had to get ordained by such-and-such." So can anyone speak to their experience doing this in Colorado? FWIW, I'm a Wisconsin resident.
posted by blueshammer to Law & Government (10 answers total)

The Universal Life Church has a listing of each state's laws here. Colorado seems pretty easy-going:

14-2-109. Solemnization and registration. Statute text (1) A marriage may be solemnized by a judge of a court, by a court magistrate, by a retired judge of a court, by a public official whose powers include solemnization of marriages, by the parties to the marriage, or in accordance with any mode of solemnization recognized by any religious denomination or Indian nation or tribe. Either the person solemnizing the marriage or, if no individual acting alone solemnized the marriage, a party to the marriage shall complete the marriage certificate form and forward it to the county clerk and recorder within sixty days after the solemnization. Any person who fails to forward the marriage certificate to the county clerk and recorder as required by this section shall be required to pay a late fee in an amount of not less than twenty dollars. An additional five-dollar late fee may be assessed for each additional day of failure to comply with the forwarding requirements of this subsection (1) up to a maximum of fifty dollars. For purposes of determining whether a late fee shall be assessed pursuant to this subsection (1), the date of forwarding shall be deemed to be the date of postmark.
posted by ferociouskitty at 1:03 PM on October 10, 2008

Another option may be for the couple to apply for a Quaker marriage license. This allows anyone to officiate, without ordination of any kind. The license is obtained through the county or local governing body, but is a different application than the regular marriage application. It is legally binding and used by Quakers and other faiths who do not have clergy.
posted by Jandasmo at 1:12 PM on October 10, 2008

Seconding the Quaker license - also please remember there are large legal ramifications to acting as a justice of the peace regarding marriage licenses.

An alternative that I recommend is that you preside over the ceremony and allow a professional (who is carrying the appropriate level of insurance) to sign the license at the courthouse downtown.
posted by Baby_Balrog at 1:17 PM on October 10, 2008

According to state/county websites:

"A marriage may be solemnized by a judge of a court of record, a public official whose powers include solemnization of marriages, or in accordance with any mode of solemnization recognized by any religious denomination or Indian nation or tribe. As of August 1993, a couple themselves can solemnize their own marriage. "

Universal Life Church is a good one, but your friends could also apply to solemnize their own marriage, they can have whatever ceremony they like with whomever officiating.
posted by Kimberly at 3:03 PM on October 10, 2008

In Colorado the couple can also choose "self uniting" when they get their license. Basically, they sign the paperwork themselves and are legally married. You don't even have to leave the courthouse; just hand over your cash ($10 in 2006), sign the paper, & you're married! If a friend (like you) were later to say some nice words at a non-legally-binding ceremony, who could complain? The friend isn't solemnizing the wedding, since that technically happened at the courthouse.

Here's marriage license info from the courthouse in Steamboat Springs.
posted by belladonna at 4:30 PM on October 10, 2008

My marriage 5 years ago was SO simple it was stupid. Literally have the couple go to the courthouse and get the license. Have them ask the specifics but I'm fairly sure you just need the two parties to sign and have witnesses.
posted by Octoparrot at 10:19 PM on October 10, 2008

To clarify above statement I am a Colorado resident and married here.
posted by Octoparrot at 10:19 PM on October 10, 2008

In California you can go to a quick class, pay a fee and be a deputy marriage clerk for the day. Check and see if that is an option in Colorado.
posted by metahawk at 10:45 PM on October 10, 2008

Ditto belladonna and Octoparrot, in Colorado they can marry themselves. Otherwise it needs to be a recognized clergy or government-approved officiant. Just have them do it themselves, you can perform the ceremony any way you like - it's just for show at that point anyway.
posted by attercoppe at 11:19 AM on October 11, 2008

Just get ordained using the ULC. As ferociouskitty points out above, it's perfectly legal. There have been a number of court cases clearly making their ordination process legal.
posted by MythMaker at 4:26 PM on October 11, 2008