Information on How to Get Ordained and Register as a Minister
How to get ordained and perform a wedding or ceremony in West Virginia.
Since 2010, Open Ministry has been ordaining and helping people all over the world perform weddings, ceremony and other sacerdotal duties. This page focuses on requirements and information for West Virginia, if you don't need the States Statues or ordination information for West Virginia scroll down to the bottom of the page for links to other states.
Let's get started with the information for West Virginia
If you are planning to get ordained in West Virginia or you have been asked to perform a wedding ceremony in West Virginia, or simply need to to find a minister in West Virginia to perform your wedding ceremony the information on this page will assist you. If you still have questions we invite you to visit our FAQ or contact us for more detailed information. We are here to help and support our ministers and congregation.
Registered Ministers with Open Ministry have successfully performed thousands of marriages in West Virginia and around the world!
The Ordination and Officiant information is provided below in an easy five step layout which is designed help walk you through the most common steps on registering to become a minister for West Virginia and how perform a wedding ceremony in West Virginia.
Step 1 - How to Become Ordained
How to get Ordained in West Virginia and become a minister to perform weddings and marriage ceremonies in West Virginia
Ordinations for West Virginia are completely free and can normally be completed in less than a day. Thousands of people have registered and became licensed ministers in West Virginia. Once you have completed the ordination process you are able perform marriages through Open Ministry in and for the state of West Virginia!
Become Ordained for free and start your journey as an authorized minister in West Virginia with Open Ministry.
Get started today by clicking on the link below!
Step 2 - Contact The County Clerk
How to Register to Officiate a Marriage in West Virginia
Next, contact the office of your local marriage authority (typically your county clerk in West Virginia). Let them know that you are a ordained minister with Open Ministry in California, and ask them what information the will require of you, to officiate a marriage in West Virginia. Most clerks and governing agencies may require that you present them with a physical copy of your ordination record.
When speaking with the county clerk; it can be helpful to use the following phrases.
- What agency or department issues marriage licenses in your county and how may I contact them?
- I am an ordained minister with a church in California and I would like to register as a wedding Officiant in your county to perform and solemnize weddings.
- I have my Letter of Good Standing and/or Ordination Credential as proof of my ministry and ordination.
- What additional documentation is required for me to register as a wedding Officiant in your county or state?
Step 3 - Getting Licensed to Perform the Marriage
License to perform a wedding in West Virginia
After you've contacted your marriage authority, you will want to visit our bookstore to get physical copies official credentials for presentation and your records. (See West Virginia State Statutes for More Specific Requirements )
When registering in West Virginia you may be asked to display proof of your ordination to the county clerk's before they will accept the marriage license as having been legally solemnized. We typically advise ministers of West Virginia to get a Complete Minister Package for West Virginia which includes your Letter of Good Standing (the live signed and notarized physical copy of your standing with our ministry).
Having your physical copies credentials provides peace-of-mind to couples and others that you intend to marry. Additionally, we recommend at least 4 weeks between the date of the wedding ceremony and your order, to ensure that you receive all of your materials and are able to register in time. Please note that every state and county can impose different requirements. This may include other nominal fees and additional paperwork that may need to be completed before the ceremony can take place.
It is important to note that some county clerks in West Virginia may require wedding officiants to attach a statement which asserts some of the elements in the marriage license upon submission, including the following:
- The time and location at which the wedding took place
- The names and places of residence of all official witnesses
- The religious organization in which the officiant is ordained
- The printed name and address of the officiant
Please note that, when filling out a marriage license, that West Virginia State may request you use the title "Minister" or "Reverend". The County Clerks may also require you enter your denomination, you can use "Non-Denominational". Failing to state a denomination may result in rejection and could require a duplicate marriage license.
Step 4 - How to Perform the Wedding
How to perform a wedding in West Virginia
Once you have completed of the above, you are ready to perform the wedding! Be sure that the couple has picked up their West Virginia state issued marriage license from the appropriate office. West Virginia marriage licenses valid for a set number of days, and there may be a waiting period between when the couple receives the marriage license in West Virginia and when the ceremony may be legally performed in West Virginia. This information should be written on the license and followed to ensure the ceremony is recorded properly.
Please be aware that the signed license must be returned to the issuing office in West Virginia before the time limit is reached. Check the marriage license for the exact dates. Once the the previous matters have been addressed, officiating a wedding in West Virginia can be a great and wonderful experience.
If you have any comments or issues as a wedding officiant in West Virginia, or after you have been ordained, or would like to just asking for guidance on how to perform a wedding ceremony in West Virginia. We recommend that all new West Virginia wedding ministers who have issues or concerns about the ceremony read over our helpful guides.
West Virginia
If you are or have been asked to perform a wedding in West Virgina. The county clerk will require you to have the Letter of Good Standing for West Virgina.
48-2-401 Persons authorized to perform marriages
A religious representative who has complied with the provisions of section 2-402, a family court judge, a circuit judge or a justice of the supreme court of appeals, is authorized to celebrate the rites of marriage in any county of this state. Celebration or solemnization of a marriage means the performance of the formal act or ceremony by which a man and woman contract marriage and assume the status of husband and wife.
For purposes of this chapter, the term "religious representative" means a minister, priest or rabbi and includes, without being limited to, a leader or representative of a generally recognized spiritual assembly, church or religious organization which does not formally designate or recognize persons as ministers, priests or rabbis.
Chapter 48: Domestic Relations - Article 2: Marriages - Part 4: Marriage Ceremony
48-2-402 Qualifications of religious representative for celebrating marriages; registry of persons authorized to perform marriage ceremonies; special revenue fund
(a) Beginning the first day of September, two thousand one, the Secretary of State shall, upon payment of the registration fee established by the Secretary of State pursuant to subsection (d) of this section, make an order authorizing a person who is a religious representative to celebrate the rites of marriage in all the counties of the state, upon proof that the person:
(1) Is eighteen years of age or older;
(2) Is duly authorized to perform marriages by his or her church, synagogue, spiritual assembly or religious organization; and
(3) Is in regular communion with the church, synagogue, spiritual assembly or religious organization of which he or she is a member.
(b) The Secretary of State shall establish a central registry of persons authorized to celebrate marriages in this state. Every person authorized under the provisions of subsection (a) of this section to celebrate marriages shall be listed in this registry. Every county clerk shall, prior to the first day of October, two thousand one, transmit to the Secretary of State the name of every person authorized to celebrate marriages by order issued in his or her county since one thousand nine hundred sixty and the Secretary of State shall include these names in the registry. The completed registry and periodic updates shall be transmitted to every county clerk.
(c)(1) Upon written request from the registrant, the Secretary of State shall designate the registrant as inactive on the registry.
(2) Upon written notice from the governing body of the registrant's authorizing body that the registrant has died or that the registrant's authority to perform marriages has been revoked, the Secretary of State shall attempt to notify the registrant of the change in the registrant's status by United States mail addressed to the registrant's last known address. If the registrant fails to provide the Secretary of State with proof of good standing with his or her authorizing body within thirty days, the registrant shall be designated on the registry as inactive.
(d) A fee not to exceed twenty-five dollars may be charged by the Secretary of State for each registration or reactivation of an individual designated as inactive on the registry received on or after the first day of September, two thousand one, and all money received shall be deposited in a special revenue revolving fund designated the Marriage Celebrants Registration Fee Administration Fund in the State Treasury to be administered by the Secretary of State. Expenses incurred by the secretary in the implementation and operation of the registry program shall be paid from the fund.
(e) No marriage performed by a person authorized by law to celebrate marriages may be invalidated solely because the person was not listed in the registry provided for in this section.
(f) The Secretary of State shall promulgate rules to implement the provisions of this section.
Chapter 48: Domestic Relations - Article 2: Marriages - Part 4: Marriage Ceremony
48-2-405 Record of marriage to be kept by person officiating
A record of each marriage performed, with the names of the parties, their respective places of residence prior to marriage, and the date of marriage, shall be kept by the officiating religious representative in the permanent record of the church, synagogue, spiritual assembly or religious organization which he or she serves.
Chapter 48: Domestic Relations - Article 2: Marriages - Part 4: Marriage Ceremony