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

North Dakota 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 North Dakota. Ordained ministers of the Universal Life Church have successfully performed thousands of legal marriages in North Dakota. 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 North Dakota.

Quick Facts
  • ULC Ordination Accepted: Yes
  • Minister Registration Required: Sometimes
  • Minister's Residency: Irrelevant
  • Minister's Minimum Age: 18
  •  
  • Marriage License Waiting Period: 0 Days
  • Marriage License Valid For: 60 Days
  • Marriage License Return Within: 5 Days
Regional Information

For more specific information about performing a wedding in certain parts of North Dakota, 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 North Dakota

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 North Dakota

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 Recorder to quickly generate the contact information for your local marriage authority.



Select a county recorder contact

3 North Dakota 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 North Dakota to get an Ordination Package. Although minister registration is not required in North Dakota we have been informed by ULC ministers in the area that county clerks will frequently ask to see proof of ordination before they will accept a marriage as having been legally solemnized. Additionally, 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.

The state of North Dakota does not set forth extremely rigid guidelines for how a marriage ceremony must be performed. Rather, it simply establishes that at some point during the ceremony either the couple must acknowledge that they are freely accepting one another as husband and wife in a serious manner and this must happen in the presence of one of the authority figures established above who is authorized by the state to conduct the marriage.

4 How to get Married in North Dakota

North Dakota's Top Wedding Spot

North Dakota's Top Wedding Spot

Moorhead, Minnesota, A Friend's House

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 North Dakota marriage license from the appropriate office. This license will expire 60 days after it is issued, and there is a no mandatory waiting period between when the couple picks up the marriage license in North Dakota and when the ceremony may legally be conducted. The signed license must be returned to the issuing office within 5 days of the ceremony.

At the Universal Life Church we receive several calls from wedding officiants in North Dakota, 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 North Dakota 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 How to Hold a Wedding in North Dakota

How exciting to be asked to perform a wedding ceremony in the great state of North Dakota. While the state might not be known as a major tourist destination, there are many beautiful outdoor and indoor wedding venues throughout the state -- and not just in bigger cities like Fargo. Farm weddings in North Dakota are quite popular since the state has lots of farmland to choose from. Keep in mind that it tends to be quite cold and snowy during the winter, so most weddings are performed during the warmer summer months, when average high temperatures can reach into the 80s. July and August have the best odds for sunshine, but keep in mind thunderstorms can be more common this time of year. Fees for a wedding officiant in North Dakota vary based on several factors, including the officiant's experience, amount of involvement, need to travel, and familiarity with the couple. Most officiants will charge at least $100-$150, but professional officiants in the state may charge several hundred dollars.


North Dakota Marriage Code

North Dakota Flag

North Dakota Marriage Code

Marriage laws in North Dakota are primarily directed by Section 3 of Chapter 14 of North Dakota's century code, which defines the persons authorized to perform a marriage in the State of North Dakota. This includes ordained ministers of the Universal Life church, among other individuals. We've reproduced a portion of this code below.

14-03-09. Who may solemnize marriages. Marriages may be solemnized at any location within the state by: 1. All judges of courts of record; 2. Municipal judges; 3. Recorders, unless the board of county commissioners designates a different official; 4. Ordained ministers of the gospel, priests, and clergy, authorized by recognized denominations; and 5. By any individual authorized by the rituals and practices of any religious persuasion. View the North Dakota Statutes on the official state site.

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Learn All About Marriage Law in North Dakota

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Adams County

602 Adams Ave
Hettinger, North Dakota
58639

Phone: (701) 567-2460
Fax: (701) 567-2910
Adams County website »

Barnes County

230 4th St NW #201
Valley City, North Dakota

Phone: (701) 845-8506
Fax: (701) 845-8538
Barnes County website »

Benson County

311 B Ave South
Minnewaukan, North Dakota

Phone: (701) 473-5332
Fax: (701) 473-5571
Benson County website »

Billings County

495 4th St.
Medora, North Dakota
58645

Phone: (701) 623-4492
Billings County website »

Bottineau County

314 W. 5th St, Suite 12
Bottineau, North Dakota
58318

Phone: (701) 228-3983
Fax: (701) 228-2336
Bottineau County website »

Bowman County

104 1st St NW, Suite 3
Bowman, North Dakota
58623

Phone: (701) 523-3450
Fax: (701) 523-5443
Bowman County website »

Burke County

103 Main St.
Bowbells, North Dakota
58721

Phone: (828) 764-9340
Fax: (828) 438-5463
Burke County website »

Burleigh County

221 N 5th St
Bismarck, North Dakota
58501

Phone: (701) 222-6749
Burleigh County website »

Cass County

211 9th Street South
Fargo, North Dakota
58103

Phone: (701) 241-5620
Fax: (701) 241-5621
Cass County website »

Cavalier County

901 3rd Street
Langdon, North Dakota
58249

Phone: (701) 256-2136
Fax: (701) 256-2566
Cavalier County website »

Dickey County

309 N. 2nd Street
Ellendale, North Dakota
58436

Phone: (701) 349-3249 ext 4
Fax: (701) 349-3560
Dickey County website »

Divide County

200 North Main St, Room 13
Crosby, North Dakota
58730

Phone: (701) 965-6831
Fax: (701) 965-6943
Divide County website »

Dunn County

205 Owens Street
Manning, North Dakota

Phone: (701) 573-4447
Fax: (701) 573-4444
Dunn County website »

Eddy County

524 Central Ave
New Rockford, North Dakota

Phone: (701) 947-2434
Eddy County website »

Emmons County

100 4th St NW
Linton, North Dakota

Phone: (701) 254-4537
Emmons County website »

Foster County

1000 5th St N
Carrington, North Dakota

Phone: (701) 652-2491
Fax: (701) 652-2173
Foster County website »

Golden Valley County

150 1st Avenue SE
Beach, North Dakota
58621

Phone: (701) 872-3713
Fax: (701) 872-4383
Golden Valley County website »

Grand Forks County

151 S. 4th St.
Grand Forks, North Dakota
58201

Phone: (701) 780-8288
Grand Forks County website »

Grant County

2nd Ave and North Main
Carson, North Dakota
58529

Phone: (701) 622-3544
Fax: (701) 622-3717
Grant County website »

Griggs County

808 Rollin Ave SW
Cooperstown, North Dakota

Phone: (701) 797-2771
Fax: (701) 797-3587
Griggs County website »

Hettinger County

336 Pacific Ave
Mott, North Dakota
58646

Phone: (701) 824-2545
Hettinger County website »

Kidder County

120 East Broadway
Steele, North Dakota
58482

Phone: (701) 475-4548
Kidder County website »

LaMoure County

202 4th Ave NE, PO Box 128
LaMoure, North Dakota
58458

Phone: (701) 883-6070
Fax: (701) 883-4220
LaMoure County website »

Logan County

301 Broadway
Napoleon, North Dakota
58561

Phone: (701) 754-2751
Fax: (701) 754-2270
Logan County website »

McHenry County

407 Main Street S. Room 203
Towner, North Dakota
58788

Phone: (701) 537-5729
Fax: (701) 537-0555
McHenry County website »

McIntosh County

112 1st Street NE
Ashley, North Dakota
58413

Phone: (701) 288-5147
Fax: (701) 288-3671
McIntosh County website »

McKenzie County

201 5th St NW, Suite 524
Watford City, North Dakota
58854

Phone: (701) 842-8230
McKenzie County website »

McLean County

712 5th Avenue
Washburn, North Dakota

Phone: (701) 462-8541
Fax: (701) 462-3633
McLean County website »

Mercer County

1021 Arthur St.
Stanton, North Dakota
58571

Phone: (701) 745-3272
Mercer County website »

Morton County

210 2nd Ave NW
Mandan, North Dakota

Phone: (701) 667-3305
Morton County website »

Mountrail County

Courthouse <br> 101 N. Main St.
Stanley, North Dakota
58784

Phone: (701) 628-2945
Mountrail County website »

Nelson County

210 B Ave W, Suite 203
Lakota, North Dakota
58344

Phone: (701) 247-2433
Fax: (701) 247-2412
Nelson County website »

Oliver County

115 W. Main St
Center, North Dakota
58530

Phone: (701) 794-8777
Fax: (701) 794-3476
Oliver County website »

Pembina County

301 Dakota Street W, Suite 10
Cavalier, North Dakota
58220

Phone: (701) 265-4373
Pembina County website »

Pierce County

240 2nd Street SE, Suite 10
Rugby, North Dakota
58368

Phone: (701) 776-5206 Extension: 2105
Pierce County website »

Ramsey County

524 4th Avenue NE, Unit 30
Devils Lake, North Dakota
58301

Phone: (701) 662-7018
Fax: (701) 662-7093
Ramsey County website »

Ransom County

204 5th Avenue West
Lisbon, North Dakota
58054

Phone: (701) 683-6120
Fax: (701) 683-5827
Ransom County website »

Renville County

205 Main St E
Mohall, North Dakota
58761

Phone: (701) 756-6398
Renville County website »

Richland County

418 2nd Ave N
Wahpeton, North Dakota
58075

Phone: (701) 671-1524
Fax: (701) 642-7701
Richland County website »

Rolette County

102 2nd Street NE
Rolla, North Dakota
58367

Phone: (701) 477-3166
Rolette County website »

Sargent County

355 Main Street South, Suite 2
Forman, North Dakota

Phone: (701) 724-6241
Sargent County website »

Sheridan County

215 2nd St. East
McClusky, North Dakota

Phone: (701) 363-2207
Fax: (701) 363-2953
Sheridan County website »

Sioux County

300 2nd Ave
Fort Yates, North Dakota
58538

Phone: (701) 854-3853
Sioux County website »

Slope County

206 South Main St
Amidon, North Dakota
58620

Phone: (701) 879-6275
Slope County website »

Stark County

51 3rd Street East
Dickinson, North Dakota

Phone: (701) 456-7645
Fax: (701) 456-7628
Stark County website »

Steele County

1 Washington Ave W, 2nd Floor
Finley, North Dakota
58230

Phone: (701) 524-2152
Fax: (701) 524-1715
Steele County website »

Stutsman County

511 2nd Ave SE, Suite 103
Jamestown, North Dakota
58401

Phone: (701) 252-9034
Stutsman County website »

Towner County

315 2nd Street
Cando, North Dakota
58324

Phone: (701) 968-4340
Towner County website »

Traill County

114 West Caledonia
Hillsboro, North Dakota

Phone: (701) 636-4457
Fax: (701) 636-2527
Traill County website »

Walsh County

600 Cooper Avenue
Grafton, North Dakota

Phone: (701) 352-2380
Fax: (701) 352-3340
Walsh County website »

Ward County

225 Third St. SE
Minot, North Dakota
58701

Phone: (701) 857-6413
Fax: (701) 857-6414
Ward County website »

Wells County

700 Railway Street N #125
Fessenden, North Dakota

Phone: (701) 547-3141
Fax: (701) 547-3719
Wells County website »

Williams County

205 East Broadway 1st Floor
Williston, North Dakota
58802

Phone: (701) 577-4500
Fax: (701) 577-4510
Williams County website »