Created and reviewed for accuracy by researchers at the Universal Life Church Ministries

Michigan Outline

Congratulations! If you've found yourself at this page it is likely that you are either planning to be married or have been asked to perform a wedding ceremony in Michigan. Ordained ministers of the Universal Life Church have successfully performed thousands of legal marriages in Michigan. The information provided below will walk you through the steps one must follow to become a minister and perform a valid wedding ceremony in the state of Michigan.

Quick Facts
  • ULC Ordination Accepted: Yes
  • Minister Registration Required: No
  • Minister's Residency: Irrelevant
  • Minister's Minimum Age: 18
  •  
  • Marriage License Waiting Period: 3 Days
  • Marriage License Valid For: 33 Days
  • Marriage License Return Within: By Expiration
Regional Information

For more specific information about performing a wedding in certain parts of Michigan, choose a location below. If your area isn't listed, don't worry - just continue scrolling to review the helpful general information on this page.

1 How to Become an Ordained Minister in Michigan

If you haven't already, you should get ordained online with the Universal Life Church. Ordination is free and can be completed in just a matter of minutes. Thousands of legally valid marriages are performed by ULC ministers around the world every year. Begin the process by clicking the big blue button below!

2 Officiating a Wedding in Michigan

Next, you should contact the office of your local marriage authority (typically your county clerk). Let them know that you are a minister of the Universal Life Church in Seattle, and ask what they will require of you to officiate a legal marriage.

Select your County Clerk to quickly generate the contact information for your local marriage authority.



Select a county contact

3 Michigan Officiant Requirements

After you've contacted your marriage authority, you should visit our online store to purchase whatever documentation will be required. We typically advise ministers in Michigan to get an Ordination Package. Please attempt to leave at least 3 weeks between the date of the wedding ceremony and your order, to ensure that you receive all of your materials in advance.

Please note that weddings in Michigan do require the presence of two witnesses (apart from the officiant).

4 How to get Married in Michigan

Michigan's Top Wedding Spot

Michigan's Top Wedding Spot

Resorts like Bluefin Bay, on Lake Superior

Now that you've done all of the above, you are ready to perform the wedding! Be sure that the couple has picked up their Michigan marriage license from the appropriate office.

At the Universal Life Church we receive several calls from wedding officiants in Michigan, after they've received their license to marry by getting ordained online, asking for guidance on how to perform a wedding ceremony. Once the legal matters have been taken care of, officiating a wedding (while a sometimes-daunting task) can be a great deal of fun. We would suggest that new Michigan wedding ministers concerned about the ceremony peruse one of our helpful wedding guides. The minister training section of our website should offer a helpful refresher for more experienced ministers.

5 Things to Keep in Mind for a Michigan Wedding

When performing a wedding a wedding in Michigan, it's important to be aware of certain seasonal trends. As the weather in the summer and winter tends to be more extreme -- with hot summers and rather snowy winters -- most weddings will take place in fall and spring. If the wedding is being held during these periods, the couple should look at booking venues far in advance, particularly in the spring, as many venues will be booked up. Outdoor weddings are the most common in Michigan, which means you may meet some additional guests that were not invited - bugs! Oftentimes wedding parties will provide bug spray for their guests if a wedding will be taking place outdoors. If an indoor venue is more your style, you will find no shortage of available options. From gorgeous churches, to the humble and rustic barn wedding, Michigan will not leave you disappointed. Fees for wedding officiants in Michigan depend on a number of factors, such as how much professional experience the person has, whether they’ll be required to travel to the ceremony destination, and how much preparation is required on their part.


Michigan Marriage Code

Michigan Flag

Michigan Marriage Code

Michigan law states that a "minister of the gospel" may officiate at weddings. The language used may give the impression that the right is restricted to clergy of a specific religion, but it's actually just an older phrasing than most states use today - ministers of any religion are afforded equal rights in Michigan. Any clergyperson authorized by his or her religious organization to solemnize marriages may perform weddings in Michigan. This includes ministers who have become a minister by getting ordained online by the Universal Life Church Monastery. In Michigan, individuals authorized to perform marriages are granted that power via section 7 of article 551 of Michigan's state code. Below, you will find an excerpt of this code. Universal Life Church ministers regularly officiate legally valid marriages in the State of Michigan.

551.7 Persons authorized to solemnize marriage; records; return of licenses and certificates; disposition of fees charged by mayor or county clerk. Sec. 7. (1) Marriages may be solemnized by any of the following: (i) A minister of the gospel or cleric or religious practitioner, anywhere in this state, if the minister or cleric or religious practitioner is ordained or authorized to solemnize marriages according to the usages of the denomination. (j) A minister of the gospel or cleric or religious practitioner, anywhere in this state, if the minister or cleric or religious practitioner is not a resident of this state but is authorized to solemnize marriages under the laws of the state in which the minister or cleric or religious practitioner resides. (2) A person authorized by this act to solemnize a marriage shall keep proper records and return licenses and certificates as required by section 4 of 1887 PA 128, MCL 551.104. View the Michigan Statutes on the official state site.

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Learn All About Marriage Law in Michigan

See the Full Statutes

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Alcona County

106 5th Street
Harrisville, Michigan
48740

Phone: (989) 724-9410
Fax: (989) 724-9419
Alcona County website »

Alger County

101 Court Street
Munising, Michigan
49862

Phone: (906) 387-2076
Fax: (906) 387-2156
Alger County website »

Allegan County

113 Chestnut Street
Allegan, Michigan

Phone: (269) 673-0400
Fax: (269) 673-0490
Allegan County website »

Alpena County

720 W. Chisholm Street, Suite 2
Alpena, Michigan
49707

Phone: (989) 354-9520
Fax: (989) 354-9644
Alpena County website »

Antrim County

203 E. Cayuga St.
Bellaire, Michigan

Phone: (231) 533-8664
Fax: (231) 533-8740
Antrim County website »

Arenac County

120 N Grove Street
Standish, Michigan
48658

Phone: (989) 846-4626
Fax: (989) 846-9194
Arenac County website »

Baraga County

2 S. Main St.
L’Anse, Michigan
49946

Phone: (906) 524-6100
Fax: (906) 524-6432
Baraga County website »

Barry County

220 W State St
Hastings, Michigan

Phone: (269) 945-1286
Fax: (269) 945-1299
Barry County website »

Bay County

515 Center Avenue, Ste. 101
Bay City, Michigan

Phone: (989) 895-4280
Fax: (989) 895-4284
Bay County website »

Benzie County

448 Court Place
Beulah, Michigan

Phone: (231) 882-9671
Fax: (231) 882-5941
Benzie County website »

Berrien County

811 Port Street
St. Joseph, Michigan
49085

Phone: (269) 983-7111
Berrien County website »

Branch County

31 Division Street
Coldwater, Michigan
49036

Phone: (517) 279-4306
Fax: (517) 278-5627
Branch County website »

Calhoun County

315 W. Green St
Marshall, Michigan
49068

Phone: (269) 781-0730
Calhoun County website »

Cass County

120 North Broadway, Room 123
Cassopolis, Michigan
49031

Phone: (231) 445-4464
Cass County website »

Charlevoix County

301 State St
Charlevoix, Michigan

Phone: (231) 547-7200
Fax: (231) 547-7217
Charlevoix County website »

Cheboygan County

870 South Main St
Cheboygan, Michigan
49721

Phone: (231) 627-8808
Fax: (231) 627-8453
Cheboygan County website »

Chippewa County

319 Court Street
Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
49793

Phone: (906) 635-6300
Chippewa County website »

Clare County

225 W. Main St.
Harrison, Michigan
48625

Phone: (989) 539-7131
Fax: (989) 539-6616
Clare County website »

Clinton County

100 E State Street, Suite 2600
St. Johns, Michigan
48879

Phone: (989) 224-5140
Fax: (989) 224-5102
Clinton County website »

Crawford County

200 W Michigan Avenue
Grayling, Michigan
49738

Phone: (989) 348-2841
Fax: (989) 344-3223
Crawford County website »

Delta County

310 Ludington Street
Escanaba, Michigan
49829

Phone: (906) 789-5100
Fax: (906) 789-5196
Delta County website »

Dickinson County

705 South Stevenson Avenue
Iron Mountain, Michigan
49801

Phone: (906) 774-0988
Dickinson County website »

Eaton County

1045 Independence Blvd
Charlotte, Michigan
48813

Phone: (517) 543-2426
Eaton County website »

Emmet County

200 Division Street
Petoskey, Michigan

Phone: (231) 348-1702
Emmet County website »

Genesee County

900 South Saginaw Street
Flint, Michigan

Phone: (810) 257-3225
Genesee County website »

Gladwin County

401 W Cedar Ave, Room 7
Gladwin, Michigan
48624

Phone: (989) 426-7351
Gladwin County website »

Gogebic County

200 N. Moore Street
Bessemer, Michigan
49911

Phone: (906) 663-4518
Fax: (906) 663-4660
Gogebic County website »

Grand Traverse County

400 Boardman Ave., Ste. 101
Traverse City, Michigan
49684

Phone: (231) 922-4760
Fax: (231) 922-4794
Grand Traverse County website »

Gratiot County

214 East Center Street
Ithaca, Michigan
48847

Phone: (989) 875-5215
Fax: (989) 875-5254
Gratiot County website »

Hillsdale County

29 N Howell Street, Room 1
Hillsdale, Michigan
49242

Phone: (517) 437-3391
Fax: (517) 437-3392
Hillsdale County website »

Houghton County

401 E. Houghton Ave.
Houghton, Michigan

Phone: (906) 482-1150
Fax: (906) 483-0364
Houghton County website »

Huron County

250 East Huron Avenue, Room 201
Bad Axe, Michigan
48413

Phone: (989) 269-9942
Fax: (989) 269-6160
Huron County website »

Ingham County

341 S. Jefferson
Mason, Michigan
48854

Phone: (517) 676-7201
Fax: (517) 676-7254
Ingham County website »

Ionia County

100 West Main St
Ionia, Michigan
48846

Phone: (616) 527-5322
Ionia County website »

Iosco County

422 W. Lake Street
Tawas City, Michigan
48764

Phone: (517) 362-3497
Iosco County website »

Iron County

2 South 6th St, Suite 9
Crystal Falls, Michigan
49920

Phone: (906) 875-3221
Fax: (906) 875-0125
Iron County website »

Isabella County

200 N. Main Street
Mt. Pleasant, Michigan
48858

Phone: (989) 317-4070
Fax: (989) 772-6347
Isabella County website »

Jackson County

312 S. Jackson Street
Jackson, Michigan

Phone: (517) 788-4265
Fax: (517) 788-4601
Jackson County website »

Kalamazoo County

201 W. Kalamazoo Ave.
Kalamazoo, Michigan
49007

Phone: (269) 383-8840
Fax: (269) 384-8143
Kalamazoo County website »

Kalkaska County

605 N. Birch Street
Kalkaska, Michigan

Phone: (231) 258-3349
Fax: (231) 258-3337
Kalkaska County website »

Kent County

300 Monroe Avenue NW
Grand Rapids, Michigan

Phone: (616) 632-7640
Fax: (616) 632-7645
Kent County website »

Keweenaw County

5095 4th Street
Eagle River, Michigan

Phone: (906) 337-2229
Fax: (906) 337-2253
Keweenaw County website »

Lake County

800 Tenth St, Suite 200
Baldwin, Michigan
49304

Phone: (231) 745-2725
Fax: (231) 745-8632
Lake County website »

Lapeer County

255 Clay Street
Lapeer, Michigan
48446

Phone: (810) 667-0356
Fax: (810) 667-0362
Lapeer County website »

Leelanau County

8527 E Government Center Dr, Room 103
Suttons Bay, Michigan
49682

Phone: (231) 256-9824
Leelanau County website »

Lenawee County

301 N Main Street 3rd Floor
Adrian, Michigan
49221

Phone: (517) 264-4599
Lenawee County website »

Livingston County

200 E Grand River Ave
Howell, Michigan
48843

Phone: (517) 546-0500
Fax: (517) 546-4354
Livingston County website »

Luce County

407 West Harrie St.
Newberry, Michigan
49868

Phone: (906) 293-5521
Fax: (906) 293-5553
Luce County website »

Mackinac County

100 S. Marley, Rm 10
St. Ignace, Michigan
49781

Phone: (906) 643-7300
Fax: (906) 643-7302
Mackinac County website »

Macomb County

120 N. Main, 1st Floor
Mount Clemens, Michigan
48043

Phone: (586) 469-5120
Macomb County website »

Manistee County

415 Third Street
Manistee, Michigan
49660

Phone: (231) 723-3331
Manistee County website »

Marquette County

234 W. Baraga Ave.
Marquette, Michigan

Phone: (906) 225-8330
Fax: (906) 228-1572
Marquette County website »

Mason County

304 E. Ludington Avenue
Ludington, Michigan

Phone: (231) 843-8202
Fax: (231) 843-1972
Mason County website »

Mecosta County

400 Elm Street
Big Rapids, Michigan
49307

Phone: (231) 592-0783
Fax: (231) 592-0193
Mecosta County website »

Menominee County

839 10th Ave.
Menominee, Michigan

Phone: (906) 863-7779
Menominee County website »

Midland County

220 West Elsworth
Midland, Michigan

Phone: (989) 832-6739
Midland County website »

Missaukee County

111 South Canal, PO Box 800
Lake City, Michigan

Phone: (231) 839-4967
Fax: (231) 839-3684
Missaukee County website »

Monroe County

106 East First
Monroe, Michigan
48161

Phone: (734) 240-7020
Monroe County website »

Montcalm County

211 West Main Street
Stanton, Michigan

Phone: (517) 831-7339
Montcalm County website »

Montmorency County

12265 M 32 West
Atlanta, Michigan
49709

Phone: (517) 785-4794
Montmorency County website »

Muskegon County

990 Terrace Street, 1st Floor
Muskegon, Michigan
49442

Phone: (231) 724-6221
Fax: (231) 724-6262
Muskegon County website »

Newaygo County

1087 Newell St.
White Cloud, Michigan
49349

Phone: (231) 689-7235
Fax: (231) 689-7241
Newaygo County website »

Oakland County

1200 N. Telegraph Rd, Bldg 12E
Pontiac, Michigan
48341

Phone: (248) 858-0581
Oakland County Marriage Laws »

Oceana County

100 State Street Suite M-1
Hart, Michigan
49420

Phone: (231) 873-4328
Oceana County website »

Ogemaw County

806 West Houghton Ave. Suite 101
West Branch, Michigan
48661

Phone: (989) 345-0215
Fax: (989) 345-7223
Ogemaw County website »

Ontonagon County

725 Greenland Road
Ontonagon, Michigan
49953

Phone: (906) 884-4255
Ontonagon County website »

Osceola County

301 W. Upton Ave.
Reed City, Michigan

Phone: (231) 832-3261
Fax: (231) 832-6149
Osceola County website »

Oscoda County

311 S. Morenci Ave.
Mio, Michigan
48647

Phone: (989) 826-1110
Oscoda County website »

Otsego County

225 West Main St.
Gaylord, Michigan
49735

Phone: (989) 731-7500
Fax: (989) 731-7519
Otsego County website »

Ottawa County

12220 Fillmore Street, Room 130
West Olive, Michigan
49460

Phone: (616) 994-4531
Ottawa County website »

Presque Isle County

151 E. Huron Ave.
Rogers City, Michigan
49779

Phone: (989) 734-3288
Fax: (989) 734-7635
Presque Isle County website »

Roscommon County

500 Lake Street
Roscommon, Michigan

Phone: (989) 275-5923
Fax: (989) 275-8640
Roscommon County website »

Saginaw County

111 S. Michigan Avenue, Room 101
Saginaw, Michigan
48602

Phone: (989) 790-5251
Fax: (989) 790-5254
Saginaw County website »

Sanilac County

60 W. Sanilac, Room 203
Sandusky, Michigan
48471

Phone: (810) 648-3212
Fax: (810) 648-5466
Sanilac County website »

Schoolcraft County

300 Walnut Street, Room 164
Manistique, Michigan

Phone: (906) 341-3618
Schoolcraft County website »

Shiawassee County

208 North Shiawassee Street, 2nd Floor
Corunna, Michigan
48817

Phone: (989) 743-2242
Fax: (989) 743-2241
Shiawassee County website »

St. Clair County

201 McMorran Blvd. Room 1100
Port Huron, Michigan
48060

Phone: (810) 985-2200
Fax: (810) 985-4796
St. Clair County website »

St. Joseph County

125 W. Main St.
Centreville, Michigan

Phone: (269) 467-5500
Fax: (269) 467-5628
St. Joseph County website »

Tuscola County

440 N. State St
Caro, Michigan
48723

Phone: (989) 672-3780
Tuscola County website »

Van Buren County

219 E. Paw Paw St. Suite 303
Paw Paw, Michigan
49079

Phone: (269) 657-8218, option 6
Fax: (269) 657-8298
Van Buren County website »

Washtenaw County

200 North Main Street, Suite 100
Ann Arbor, Michigan
48104

Phone: (734) 222-6720
Washtenaw County website »

Wayne County

2 Woodward Avenue, Rooms 201 & 207
Detroit, Michigan
48226

Phone: (313) 224-6262
Wayne County Marriage Laws »

Wexford County

437 East Division
Cadillac, Michigan
49601

Phone: (231) 779-9450
Fax: (231) 779-0447
Wexford County website »