Full question:
Can I legally perform a marriage in Oregon, even though I was ordained as a minister in Alabama?
- Category: Marriage
- Date:
- State: Oregon
Answer:
In Oregon, a marriage can be performed by a judicial officer, judge, or justice of the peace within their jurisdiction, or by a minister or religious organization authorized by the State of Oregon.
Ministers from any church that is organized and has congregations in Oregon may perform marriages if they are authorized by their church to do so. Before performing a marriage, ministers must file their credentials with the county clerk in the county where they reside or where the marriage will take place.
Ministers are also required to provide the couple with a marriage certificate upon request and must send the marriage certificate to the county clerk who issued the marriage license within one month after the ceremony.
The only requirement for the marriage ceremony is that the couple must declare, in the presence of the minister or judicial officer and at least two witnesses, that they take each other as spouses.
This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.