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

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

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: 30 Days
  • Marriage License Return Within: 3 Days
Regional Information

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

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 Tennessee

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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee to get an Ordination Package and to add a Letter of Good Standing to your order.

While minister registration is not required in the state of Tennessee, it has been frequently reported to us by ULC ministers in the area that county clerks will ask for proof of your ordination before accepting any marriage you perform 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.

In 2019, Tennessee attempted to pass a law that would bar ministers ordained online from performing wedding ceremonies. The ULC took the matter to court, and in 2023 came to an agreement with state and county marriage officials in which they promised not to challenge the validity of any marriages performed by ULC-ordained wedding officiants.

If you are attempting to perform a wedding in Tennessee and any government official appears to indicate they may not recognize your ordination, please don’t hesitate to contact us so that we can investigate and potentially intervene on your behalf.

4 How to get Married in Tennessee

Tennessee's Top Wedding Spot

Tennessee's Top Wedding Spot

Dolly Parton's Dollywood theme park is just five minutes away in Pigeon Forge

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 Tennessee marriage license from the appropriate office. This license is only valid for 30 days, but there is no mandatory waiting period between when the couple picks up the marriage license in Tennessee and when the ceremony may legally be conducted. Please be aware that the signed license must be returned to the issuing office within 3 days after the ceremony has been conducted.

At the Universal Life Church we receive several calls from wedding officiants in Tennessee, 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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee Wedding Need-To-Knows

For those looking to officiate a wedding in Tennessee, there are a few things you may want to keep in mind. Weddings are popular in June as well as the early autumn months, so keep the weather in mind if the couple is considering outdoor wedding venues in Tennessee. Summer months can be very hot and humid, and heavy rains have been known to occur year-round. If you want the feel of an outdoor wedding but don’t want to risk getting rained out, there are plenty of barn wedding venues in Tennessee (just be sure to wear some shoes that can handle getting a bit dirty, just in case!). An average of 15 tornadoes touch down in Tennessee each year; if that’s a concern then traditional wedding chapels in Tennessee may be a better option. Keep in mind that venue costs can vary drastically by type and location. While there is no set rate ministers should charge to officiate a ceremony, wedding costs in Tennessee average about $16,000, so you may want to keep this in mind when considering how much to charge.


Tennessee Marriage Code

Tennessee Flag

Tennessee Marriage Code

Marriage laws in Tennessee are primarily directed by Chapter 3 of Title 36 of Tennessee's general code, which defines the persons authorized to perform a marriage in the State of Tennessee This includes ordained ministers of the Universal Life Church, among other individuals. We've reproduced a portion of this code below.

36-3-301. Persons who may solemnize marriages. (a) (1) All regular ministers, preachers, pastors, priests, rabbis and other spiritual leaders of every religious belief, more than eighteen (18) years of age, having the care of souls [...] (2) In order to solemnize the rite of matrimony, any such minister, preacher, pastor, priest, rabbi or other spiritual leader must be ordained or otherwise designated in conformity with the customs of a church, temple or other religious group or organization; and such customs must provide for such ordination or designation by a considered, deliberate, and responsible act. View the Tennessee Statutes on the official state site.

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Learn All About Marriage Law in Tennessee

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Anderson County

100 N. Main St., Room 111
Clinton, Tennessee
37716

Phone: (265-457-5400)
Anderson County website »

Bedford County

104 West Side Square, Suite 102
Shelbyville, Tennessee
37610

Phone: (931) 684-1921
Fax: (931) 685-9590
Bedford County website »

Benton County

1 E. Court Square, Suite 101
Camden, Tennessee
38320

Phone: (731) 584-6053
Fax: (731) 584-4640
Benton County website »

Bledsoe County

116 Main St.
Pikeville, Tennessee
37367

Phone: (423) 447-2137
Bledsoe County website »

Blount County

345 Court St.
Maryville, Tennessee
37804

Phone: (865) 273-5800
Fax: 865) 273-5815
Blount County website »

Bradley County

155 Ocoee Street Courthouse, Room 101
Cleveland, Tennessee
37311

Phone: (423) 728-7226
Fax: (423) 478-8845
Bradley County website »

Campbell County

590 Main St. Suite A-21
Jacksboro, Tennessee
37757

Phone: (423) 562-4985
Fax: (423) 566-3852
Campbell County website »

Cannon County

200 West Main St.
Woodbury, Tennessee
37190

Phone: (615) 563-4278
Fax: (615) 563-1289
Cannon County website »

Carroll County

625 High St., Suite 103
Huntingdon, Tennessee
38344

Phone: (731) 986-1960
Fax: (731) 986-1978
Carroll County website »

Carter County

801 E. Elk Ave. (Courthouse)
Elizabethton, Tennessee
37643

Phone: (423) 542-1814
Fax: (423) 547-1502
Carter County website »

Cheatham County

264 South Main St., Suite 108
Ashland City, Tennessee
37015

Phone: (615) 792-5179
Fax: (615) 792-2094
Cheatham County website »

Chester County

133 East Main St.
Henderson, Tennessee
38340

Phone: (731) 989-2233
Chester County website »

Claiborne County

1740 Main St.
Tazewell, Tennessee
37879

Phone: (423) 626-3283
Fax: (423) 626-1661
Claiborne County website »

Clay County

Clay County Government Complex 145 Cordell Hull Dr.
Celina, Tennessee
38551

Phone: (931) 243-2249
Fax: (931) 243-3231
Clay County website »

Cocke County

111 Court Ave., Room 101
Newport, Tennessee
37821

Phone: (423) 623-6176
Fax: (423) 623-6178
Cocke County website »

Coffee County

1327 McArthur St.
Manchester, Tennessee
37355

Phone: (931) 723-5106
Fax: (931) 723-8248
Coffee County website »

Crockett County

1 South Bell St., Suite 1
Alamo, Tennessee
38001

Phone: (731) 696-5452
Fax: (731) 696-3261
Crockett County website »

Cumberland County

2 North Main St., Suite 206
Crossville, Tennessee
38555

Phone: (931) 484-6442
Fax: (931) 484-6440
Cumberland County website »

Davidson County

Howard Office Building 700 Second Ave. South
Nashville, Tennessee
37210

Phone: (615) 862-6251
Fax: (615) 862-6037
Davidson County website »

Decatur County

22 West Main Street
Decaturville, Tennessee
38329

Phone: (731) 852-3417
Fax: (731) 852-3152
Decatur County website »

DeKalb County

732 South Congress Blvd., Room 102
Smithville, Tennessee
37166

Phone: (615) 597-5177
Fax: (615) 597-1404
DeKalb County website »

Dickson County

4 Court Square, Room 126
Charlotte, Tennessee
37036

Phone: (615) 789-5093
Fax: (615) 789-0128
Dickson County website »

Dyer County

115 West Market Street
Dyersburg, Tennessee
38024

Phone: (731) 286-7814
Fax: (731) 288-7719
Dyer County website »

Fayette County

1 Court Square, Room 101
Somerville, Tennessee
38068

Phone: (901) 465-5213
Fax: (901) 465-5293
Fayette County website »

Fentress County

101 Main St. South
Jamestown, Tennessee
38556

Phone: (931) 879-8014
Fax: (931) 879-8438
Fentress County website »

Franklin County

1 South Jefferson St.
Winchester, Tennessee
37398

Phone: (931) 967-2541
Fax: (931) 962-3394
Franklin County website »

Gibson County

1 Court Square, Suite 100
Trenton, Tennessee
38382

Phone: (731) 855-7642
Fax: (731) 855-7643
Gibson County website »

Giles County

222 West Madison St.
Pulaski, Tennessee
38478

Phone: (931) 363-1509
Fax: (931) 424-4795
Giles County website »

Grainger County

Courthouse
Rutledge, Tennessee
37861

Phone: (865) 828-3511
Fax: (865) 828-3203
Grainger County website »

Greene County

204 N. Cutler St., Suite 200
Greeneville, Tennessee
37745

Phone: (423) 798-1708
Fax: (423) 798-1822
Greene County website »

Grundy County

Courthouse Circle, Grundy Street
Altamont, Tennessee
37301

Phone: (931) 692-3622
Fax: (931) 692-3659
Grundy County website »

Hamblen County

511 West Second North St.
Morristown, Tennessee
37814

Phone: (423) 586-1993
Fax: (423) 585-2015
Hamblen County website »

Hamilton County

625 Georgia Ave., Room 201
Chattanooga, Tennessee
37402

Phone: (423) 209-6500
Fax: (423) 209-6501
Hamilton County website »

Hancock County

418 Harrison Street
Sneedville, Tennessee
37869

Phone: (423) 733-2519
Fax: (423) 733-4509
Hancock County website »

Hardeman County

100 North Main St.
Bolivar, Tennessee
38008

Phone: (731) 658-3541
Fax: (731) 658-3482
Hardeman County website »

Hardin County

65 Court St. STE 1
Savannah, Tennessee
38372

Phone: (731) 925-3921
Fax: (731) 926-4313
Hardin County website »

Hawkins County

110 E. Main St., Room 204
Rogersville, Tennessee
37857

Phone: (423) 272-7002
Fax: (423) 272-5801
Hawkins County website »

Haywood County

1 North Washington St.
Brownsville, Tennessee
38012

Phone: (731) 772-2362
Fax: (731) 772-1213
Haywood County website »

Henderson County

17 Monroe Ave., Suite 2
Lexington, Tennessee
38351

Phone: (731) 968-2856
Fax: (731) 968-6644
Henderson County website »

Henry County

101 West Washington St., Suite 102
Paris, Tennessee
38242

Phone: (731) 642-2412
Fax: (731) 644-0947
Henry County website »

Hickman County

114 North Central Ave., Suite 202
Centerville, Tennessee
37033

Phone: (931) 729-2621
Fax: (931) 729-6131
Hickman County website »

Houston County

4725 East Main St., Room 100
Erin, Tennessee
37061

Phone: (931) 289-3141
Fax: (931) 289-2603
Houston County website »

Humphreys County

Courthouse Annex 102 Thompson St., Room 2
Waverly, Tennessee
37185

Phone: (931) 296-7671
Fax: (931) 296-0823
Humphreys County website »

Jackson County

101 E. Hull St.
Gainesboro, Tennessee
38562

Phone: (931) 268-9212
Fax: (931) 268-4149
Jackson County website »

Jefferson County

214 W. Main St.
Dandridge, Tennessee
37725

Phone: (865) 397-2935
Fax: (865) 397-3839
Jefferson County website »

Johnson County

222 West Main St.
Mountain City, Tennessee
37683

Phone: (423) 727-9633
Fax: (423) 727-7047
Johnson County website »

Knox County

300 Main St.
Knoxville, Tennessee
37901

Phone: (865) 215-2385
Fax: (865) 215-3655
Knox County website »

Lake County

116 S. Court St.
Tiptonville, Tennessee
38079

Phone: (731) 253-7582
Fax: (731) 253-6815
Lake County website »

Lauderdale County

100 Court Square
Ripley, Tennessee
38063

Phone: (731) 635-2561
Fax: (731) 635-9682
Lauderdale County website »

Lawrence County

200 West Gaines St., Suite 103
Lawrenceburg, Tennessee
38464

Phone: (931) 762-7700
Fax: (931) 766-4146
Lawrence County website »

Lewis County

110 N. Park, Room 105
Hohenwald, Tennessee
38462

Phone: (931) 796-2200
Fax: (931) 796-6010
Lewis County website »

Lincoln County

112 Main Ave. South, Room 102
Fayetteville, Tennessee
37334

Phone: (931) 433-2454
Fax: (931) 433-9304
Lincoln County website »

Loudon County

101 Mulberry St., Suite 200
Loudon, Tennessee
37774

Phone: (865) 458-2726
Fax: (865) 458-9891
Loudon County website »

Macon County

104 County Courthouse, Public Square
Lafayette, Tennessee
37083

Phone: (615) 666-2333
Fax: (615) 666-2202
Macon County website »

Madison County

100 Main St., Room 105
Jackson, Tennessee
38301

Phone: (731) 423-6022
Fax: (731) 423-6129
Madison County website »

Marion County

24 Courthouse Square, Room 101
Jasper, Tennessee
37347

Phone: (423) 942-2515
Fax: (423) 942-0815
Marion County website »

Marshall County

1107 Courthouse Annex
Lewisburg, Tennessee
37091

Phone: (931) 359-1072
Fax: (931) 359-0559
Marshall County website »

Maury County

10 Public Square
Columbia, Tennessee
38401

Phone: (931) 375-5200
Fax: (931) 375-5219
Maury County website »

McMinn County

9 East Madison Ave.
Athens, Tennessee
37303

Phone: (423) 745-4440
Fax: (423) 744-1657
McMinn County website »

McNairy County

530 Mulberry, Ste. 1
Selmer, Tennessee
38375

Phone: (731) 645-3511
Fax: (731) 646-1414
McNairy County website »

Meigs County

17214 State Highway 58 N.
Decatur, Tennessee
37322

Phone: (423) 334-5747
Fax: (423) 334-7200
Meigs County website »

Monroe County

103 College St.
Madisonville, Tennessee
37354

Phone: (423) 442-2220
Fax: (423) 442-9542
Monroe County website »

Montgomery County

Veteran's Plaza 350 Pageant Lane, Suite 502
Clarksville, Tennessee
37040

Phone: (931) 648-5711
Fax: (931) 553-5160
Montgomery County website »

Moore County

196 Main St.
Lynchburg, Tennessee
37352

Phone: (931) 759-7346
Fax: (931) 759-6394
Moore County website »

Morgan County

415 S. Kingston St.
Wartburg, Tennessee
37887

Phone: (423) 346-3480
Fax: (423) 346-4161
Morgan County website »

Obion County

2 Bill Burnett Circle
Union City, Tennessee
38281

Phone: (731) 885-3831
Fax: (731) 885-0287
Obion County website »

Overton County

317 E. University St., Room 22
Livingston, Tennessee
38570

Phone: (931) 823-2631
Fax: (931) 823-2696
Overton County website »

Perry County

121 E. Main St.
Linden, Tennessee
37096

Phone: (931) 589-2219
Fax: (931) 589-5107
Perry County website »

Pickett County

1 Courthouse Square, Suite 201
Byrdstown, Tennessee
38549

Phone: (931) 864-3879
Fax: (931) 864-3879
Pickett County website »

Polk County

6239 Hwy 411, Office #102
Benton, Tennessee
37307

Phone: (423) 338-4526
Fax: (423) 338-4551
Polk County website »

Putnam County

121 South Dixie Avenue
Cookeville, Tennessee
38501

Phone: (931) 526-7106
Fax: (931) 372-8201
Putnam County website »

Rhea County

375 Church St., Suite 101
Dayton, Tennessee
37321

Phone: (423) 775-7808
Fax: (423) 775-7898
Rhea County website »

Roane County

200 E. Race St.
Kingston, Tennessee
37763

Phone: (865) 376-5556
Fax: (865) 717-4121
Roane County website »

Robertson County

511 S. Brown St.
Springfield, Tennessee
37172

Phone: (615) 384-5895
Fax: (615) 384-2218
Robertson County website »

Rutherford County

319 N. Maple St., Suite 121
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
37130

Phone: (615) 898-7800
Fax: (615) 898-7830
Rutherford County website »

Scott County

282 Court St.
Huntsville, Tennessee
37756

Phone: (423) 663-2588
Fax: (423) 663-3969
Scott County website »

Sequatchie County

307 Cherry St.
Dunlap, Tennessee
37327

Phone: (423) 949-2522
Fax: (423) 949-6316
Sequatchie County website »

Sevier County

125 Court Ave, Suite 108 W
Sevierville, Tennessee
37862

Phone: (865) 453-5502
Fax: (865) 774-3954
Sevier County website »

Shelby County

150 Washington Ave.
Memphis, Tennessee
38103

Phone: (901) 222-3000
Fax: (901) 222-3040
Shelby County website »

Smith County

122 Turner High Circle, Suite 101
Carthage, Tennessee
37030

Phone: (615) 735-9833
Fax: (615) 735-8252
Smith County website »

Stewart County

225 Donelson Pkwy.
Dover, Tennessee
37058

Phone: (931) 232-7616
Fax: (931) 232-4934
Stewart County website »

Sullivan County

3258 Hwy 126, Suite 101
Blountville, Tennessee
37617

Phone: (423) 323-6428
Fax: (423) 279-2725
Sullivan County website »

Sumner County

355 North Belvedere Dr., Room 111
Gallatin, Tennessee
37066

Phone: (615) 452-4063
Fax: (615) 452-9371
Sumner County website »

Tipton County

220 Hwy 51 North, Suite 2
Covington, Tennessee
38019

Phone: (901) 476-0207
Fax: (901) 476-0297
Tipton County website »

Trousdale County

328 Broadway, Room 2
Hartsville, Tennessee
37074

Phone: (615) 374-2906
Fax: (615) 374-1100
Trousdale County website »

Unicoi County

100 Main St., Suit 100
Erwin, Tennessee
37650

Phone: (423) 743-3381
Fax: (423) 743-5430
Unicoi County website »

Union County

825 Main Street
Maynardville, Tennessee
37807

Phone: (865) 992-8043
Fax: (865) 992-4992
Union County website »

Van Buren County

Administrative Building 445 College Street
Spencer, Tennessee
38585

Phone: (931) 946-2121
Fax: (931) 946-2876
Van Buren County website »

Warren County

201 Locust St., Suite 2P
McMinnville, Tennessee
37110

Phone: (931) 473-2623
Fax: (931) 473-8622
Warren County website »

Washington County

100 Main St.
Jonesborough, Tennessee
37659

Phone: (423) 753-1621
Fax: (423) 753-4716
Washington County website »

Wayne County

100 Court Square, Suite 200
Waynesboro, Tennessee
38485

Phone: (931) 722-5544
Fax: (931) 722-6410
Wayne County website »

Weakley County

116 West Main Street, Room 104
Dresden, Tennessee
38225

Phone: (731) 364-2285
Fax: (731) 264-5236
Weakley County website »

White County

1 East Brockman Way
Sparta, Tennessee
38583

Phone: (931) 836-3712
Fax: (931) 836-2601
White County website »

Williamson County

1320 W. Main St., Suite 135
Franklin, Tennessee
37065

Phone: (615) 790-5712
Fax: (615) 790-5610
Williamson County website »

Wilson County

129 South College St.
Lebanon, Tennessee
37088

Phone: (615) 965-6709
Fax: (615) 443-2628
Wilson County website »