Who Can Perform a Ceremony
Once the marriage licenses are obtained, it is necessary to make arrangements to have the ceremony performed. Below is the Indiana Code that shows the persons authorized to solemnize a marriage.
Burns Indiana Statute 31-11-6-1
- A member of the clergy of a religious organization (even if the cleric does not perform religious functions for an individual congregation), such as a minister of the gospel, a priest, a bishop, an archbishop, or a rabbi.
- A judge.
- A mayor, within the mayor’s county.
- A clerk or a clerk-treasurer of a city or town, within a county in which the city or town is located. A clerk of the circuit court.
- The Friends Church, in accordance with the rules of the Friends Church.
- The German Baptists, in accordance with the rules of their society.
- The Bahai faith, in accordance with the rules of the Bahai faith.
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, in accordance with the rules of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
- An imam of a masjid (mosque), in accordance with the rules of the religion of Islam.
Marion County has nine Township Small Claims Courts whose judges can perform a ceremony. Please contact them directly for details. They are listed in the Government/City-County Offices section of the white pages under Small Claims Courts.