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

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

Quick Facts
  • ULC Ordination Accepted: Yes
  • Minister Registration Required: Sometimes
  • Minister's Residency: Irrelevant
  • Minister's Minimum Age: 18
  •  
  • Marriage License Waiting Period: 6 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 Wisconsin, 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 Wisconsin

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 Wisconsin

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



Select a county register contact

3 Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin to get an Ordination Package and add on a Letter of Good Standing. Although minister registration is not required in Wisconsin 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.

Performing a wedding in Wisconsin used to be quite complex. However, recent changes to the law have broken down a lot of the institutional barriers that were in place and now make it much, much easier for a Universal Life Church minister to operate and legally perform wedding ceremonies in the state.

4 How to get Married in Wisconsin

Wisconsin's Top Wedding Spot

Wisconsin's Top Wedding Spot

Milwaukee's Lakefront Brewery boasts award-winning brews, red-brick charm and a patio

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 Wisconsin marriage license from the appropriate office. This license is valid for 30 days, and there is a 6 -day waiting period between when the couple applies for the marriage license in Wisconsin and when they may pick it up and legally solemnize the marriage. Please be aware that the signed license must be returned to the issuing office within three days of the wedding ceremony.

At the Universal Life Church we receive several calls from wedding officiants in Wisconsin, 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 Wisconsin 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 Advice for Performing a Wisconsin Wedding

In Wisconsin, there are countless ways to plan a wedding you'll remember the rest of your life. Wisconsin provides just about any type of wedding you could want, from rustic barns in rural Wisconsin to beach venues on Lake Michigan, there is a perfect wedding venue for every style. The most popular time for couples to get married is during the summer between July and August. July is perfect for an outdoor wedding, as it is usually the hottest month of the year in Wisconsin with an average of 21 days with 9+ hours of daily sunshine. If the wedding ceremony does take place outdoors during the summer, it is important for guests and the wedding party to dress accordingly as it can be humid. There is a growing trend in Wisconsin of having an intimate backyard wedding, which can be a beautiful and unique location for the couple looking to save on venue costs. Wedding officiant fees in Wisconsin can vary substantially depending on the officiant’s level of experience, whether travel is involved, and how complex the ceremony will be. Weddings in Wisconsin are in the middle in terms of the national average, with wedding officiant fees typically staying within a reasonable price range.


Wisconsin Marriage Code

Wisconsin Flag

Wisconsin Marriage Code

Marriage in Wisconsin is governed by Chapter 765 of the Wisconsin Statutes. Ministers who got ordained online with the Universal Life Church have successfully solemnized thousands of weddings in the state. Below, you will find that we have reproduced a relevant excerpt of this code.

765.16" Marriage contract, how made; officiating person. (1m)",Marriage may be validly solemnized and contracted in this state only after a marriage license has been issued therefor, and only by the mutual declarations of the 2 parties to be joined in marriage that they take each other as husband and wife, made before an authorized officiating person and in the presence of at least 2 competent adult witnesses other than the officiating person. The following are authorized to be officiating persons: View the Wisconsin Statutes on the official state site.

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Learn All About Marriage Law in Wisconsin

See the Full Statutes

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Become Ordained

Adams County

400 Main St.
Friendship, Wisconsin
53934

Phone: (608) 339-4200
Fax: (608) 339-4514
Adams County website »

Ashland County

201 W. Main St. Room 206
Ashland, Wisconsin

Phone: (715) 682-7008
Fax: (715) 682-7035
Ashland County website »

Barron County

335 E. Monroe Avenue, Room 2130
Barron, Wisconsin

Phone: (715) 537-6200
Barron County website »

Bayfield County

117 E Fifth St.
Washburn, Wisconsin
54891

Phone: (715) 373-6119
Bayfield County website »

Brown County

305 E Walnut St., Room 120
Green Bay, Wisconsin

Phone: (920) 448-4016
Fax: (920) 448-4498
Brown County website »

Buffalo County

407 South Second Street
Alma, Wisconsin

Phone: (608) 685-6230
Fax: (608) 685-6213
Buffalo County website »

Burnett County

7410 County Road K #105
Siren, Wisconsin

Phone: (715) 349-2173
Fax: (715) 349-2169
Burnett County website »

Calumet County

206 Court Street
Chilton, Wisconsin
53014

Phone: (920) 849-1458
Fax: (920) 849-1469
Calumet County website »

Chippewa County

711 N. Bridge St. Room 111
Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin

Phone: (715) 726-7994
Fax: (715) 726-4582
Chippewa County website »

Clark County

517 Court St., Room 301
Neillsville, Wisconsin
54456

Phone: (715) 743-5148
Fax: (715) 743-5154
Clark County website »

Columbia County

112 E. Edgewater St.
Portage, Wisconsin
53901

Phone: (608) 742-9677
Fax: (608) 742-9875
Columbia County website »

Crawford County

225 North Beaumont Road, Suite 220
Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin

Phone: (608) 326-0219
Fax: (608) 326-0220
Crawford County website »

Dane County

210 Marin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Room 106A
Madison, Wisconsin
53703

Phone: (608) 266-4121
Fax: (608) 266-4361
Dane County website »

Dodge County

3rd Floor 127 East Oak Street
Juneau, Wisconsin
53039

Phone: (920) 386-3600
Fax: (920) 386-4292
Dodge County website »

Door County

421 Nebraska St., Room A113
Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
54235

Phone: (920) 746-2200
Fax: (920) 746-2330
Door County website »

Douglas County

1313 Belknap St., Room 101
Superior, Wisconsin

Phone: (715) 395-1341
Fax: (715) 395-1421
Douglas County website »

Dunn County

800 Wilson Ave., Room 147
Menomonie, Wisconsin

Phone: (715) 232-1677
Fax: (715) 232-2534
Dunn County website »

Eau Claire County

721 Oxford Ave., Room 3350
Eau Claire, Wisconsin
54703

Phone: (715) 839-4801
Fax: (715) 855-6242
Eau Claire County website »

Florence County

501 Lake Avenue
Florence, Wisconsin

Phone: (715) 528-3201
Fax: (715) 528-4762
Florence County website »

Fond du Lac County

160 S. Macy Street
Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
54936

Phone: (920) 929-3000
Fax: (920) 929-3293
Fond du Lac County website »

Forest County

200 E. Madison St.
Crandon, Wisconsin

Phone: (715) 478-2422
Fax: (715) 478-5175
Forest County website »

Grant County

111 S. Jefferson St.
Lancaster, Wisconsin

Phone: (608) 723-2675
Fax: (608) 723-4048
Grant County website »

Green County

1016 16th Ave.
Monroe, Wisconsin
53566

Phone: (608) 328-9430
Fax: (608) 328-2835
Green County website »

Green Lake County

571 County Road A
Green Lake, Wisconsin
54941

Phone: (920) 294-4005
Fax: (920) 294-4009
Green Lake County website »

Iowa County

222 N. Iowa St.
Dodgeville, Wisconsin
53533

Phone: (608) 935-0399
Fax: (608) 935-3024
Iowa County website »

Iron County

300 Taconite St., Suite 101
Hurley, Wisconsin

Phone: (715) 561-3375
Fax: (715) 561-2928
Iron County website »

Jackson County

307 Main St.
Black River Falls, Wisconsin

Phone: (715) 284-0201
Fax: (715) 284-0278
Jackson County website »

Jefferson County

311 S Center Ave., Room 109
Jefferson, Wisconsin
53549

Phone: (920) 674-8630
Fax: (920) 674-7368
Jefferson County website »

Juneau County

220 East State St., Room 112
Mauston, Wisconsin

Phone: (608) 847-9300
Fax: (608) 847-9402
Juneau County website »

Kenosha County

1010 56th St.
Kenosha, Wisconsin

Phone: (262) 653-2552
Fax: (262) 653-2564
Kenosha County website »

Kewaunee County

810 Lincoln st.
Kewaunee, Wisconsin
54216

Phone: (920) 388-7133
Fax: (920) 388-7195
Kewaunee County website »

La Crosse County

400 4th St. North, Room 1210
La Crosse, Wisconsin
54601

Phone: (608) 785-9581
Fax: (608) 785-9741
La Crosse County website »

Lafayette County

626 Main Street, Room 200
Darlington, Wisconsin
53530

Phone: (608) 776-4838
Fax: (608) 776-8893
Lafayette County website »

Langlade County

800 Clermont St.
Antigo, Wisconsin
54409

Phone: (715) 627-6200
Fax: (715) 627-6303
Langlade County website »

Lincoln County

801 N. Sales St., Suite 201
Merrill, Wisconsin
54452

Phone: (715) 539-1019
Fax: (715) 539-8054
Lincoln County website »

Manitowoc County

1010 S. 8th Street, Room 115
Manitowoc, Wisconsin
54220

Phone: (920) 683-4003
Fax: (920) 683-2766
Manitowoc County website »

Marathon County

500 Forest Street
Wausau, Wisconsin
54403

Phone: (715) 261-1500
Fax: (715) 261-1515
Marathon County website »

Marinette County

1926 Hall Avenue
Marinette, Wisconsin
54143

Phone: (715) 732-7551
Fax: (715) 732-7532
Marinette County website »

Marquette County

77 West Park St.
Montello, Wisconsin
53949

Phone: (608) 297-3016
Marquette County website »

Menominee County

W3269 Courthouse Lane
Keshena, Wisconsin

Phone: (715) 799-3311
Fax: (715) 799-1322
Menominee County website »

Milwaukee County

901 North 9th Street, Room 105
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
53233

Phone: (414) 278-4067
Milwaukee County website »

Monroe County

202 South K St., Room 1
Sparta, Wisconsin
54656

Phone: (608) 269-8705
Fax: (608) 269-8747
Monroe County website »

Oconto County

301 Washington St, 2nd Floor Room A
Oconto, Wisconsin
54153

Phone: (920) 834-7113
Fax: (920) 834-6805
Oconto County website »

Oneida County

1 S. Oneida Ave.
Rhinelander, Wisconsin
54501

Phone: (715) 369-6144
Fax: (715) 369-6230
Oneida County website »

Outagamie County

410 S. Walnut St.
Appleton, Wisconsin

Phone: (920) 832-5077
Fax: (920) 832-2200
Outagamie County website »

Ozaukee County

121 W. Main St., Room 128
Port Washington, Wisconsin

Phone: (262) 284-8110
Ozaukee County website »

Pepin County

740 7th Ave. West
Durand, Wisconsin
54736

Phone: (715) 672-8857
Pepin County website »

Pierce County

414 West Main St., Room 101
Ellsworth, Wisconsin
54011

Phone: (715) 273-6744
Fax: (715) 273-6861
Pierce County website »

Polk County

100 Polk County Plaza, Suite 110
Balsam Lake, Wisconsin

Phone: (715) 485-9226
Fax: (715) 485-9104
Polk County website »

Portage County

1516 Church Street
Stevens Point, Wisconsin
54481

Phone: (715) 346-1351
Fax: (715) 346-1486
Portage County website »

Price County

126 Cherry St., Room 106
Phillips, Wisconsin

Phone: (715) 339-3325
Fax: (715) 339-3089
Price County website »

Racine County

730 Wisconsin Ave
Racine, Wisconsin
53403

Phone: (262) 636-3121
Fax: (262) 636-3491
Racine County website »

Richland County

181 West Seminary St.
Richland Center, Wisconsin
53581

Phone: (608) 647-2197
Fax: (608) 647-6134
Richland County website »

Rock County

51 South Main St.
Janesville, Wisconsin

Phone: (608) 757-5666
Fax: (608) 757-5662
Rock County website »

Rusk County

311 Miner Ave. E, Suite C150
Ladysmith, Wisconsin

Phone: (715) 532-2100
Fax: (715) 532-2237
Rusk County website »

Sauk County

505 Broadway, West Square Bldg, Room 144
Baraboo, Wisconsin
53913

Phone: (608) 355-3286
Fax: (608) 355-3522
Sauk County website »

Sawyer County

10610 Main St., Suite 10
Hayward, Wisconsin

Phone: (715) 634-4866
Fax: (715) 634-3666
Sawyer County website »

Shawano County

311 N Main St Room 104
Shawano, Wisconsin

Phone: (715) 526-9150
Fax: (715) 524-5157
Shawano County website »

Sheboygan County

508 New York Ave, Room 218
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
53081

Phone: (920) 459-3023
Fax: (920) 459-0304
Sheboygan County website »

St. Croix County

1101 Carmichael Road, Room 1400
Hudson, Wisconsin
54016

Phone: (715) 386-4607
Fax: (715) 381-4400
St. Croix County website »

Taylor County

224 South Second St
Medford, Wisconsin
54451

Phone: (715) 748-1483
Fax: (715) 748-1415
Taylor County website »

Trempealeau County

36245 Main St.
Whitehall, Wisconsin

Phone: (715) 538-2311
Fax: (715) 538-4210
Trempealeau County website »

Vernon County

400 Courthouse Square, Room 108 Courthouse Annex
Viroqua, Wisconsin
54665

Phone: (608) 637-5380
Fax: (608) 637-5556
Vernon County website »

Vilas County

330 Court St
Eagle River, Wisconsin

Phone: (715) 479-3600
Vilas County website »

Walworth County

100 West Walworth St.
Elkhorn, Wisconsin
53121

Phone: (262) 741-4241
Fax: (262) 741-4287
Walworth County website »

Washburn County

10 Fourth Ave
Shell Lake, Wisconsin
54871

Phone: (715) 468-4600
Fax: (715) 468-4725
Washburn County website »

Washington County

432 East Washington St. Suite 2027
West Bend, Wisconsin
53095

Phone: (262) 335-4301
Fax: (262) 306-2208
Washington County website »

Waukesha County

515 W Moreland Blvd. Room 120
Waukesha, Wisconsin

Phone: (262) 548-7010
Fax: (262) 548-7722
Waukesha County website »

Waupaca County

811 Harding St
Waupaca, Wisconsin

Phone: (715) 258-6200
Fax: (715) 258-6212
Waupaca County website »

Waushara County

209 S. Saint Marie St.
Wautoma, Wisconsin
54982

Phone: (920) 787-0442
Fax: (920) 787-0425
Waushara County website »

Winnebago County

112 Otter Avenue
Oshkosh, Wisconsin
54901

Phone: (920) 232-3430
Winnebago County website »

Wood County

400 Market St. 2nd Floor, Room 203 A-B
Wisconsin Rapid, Wisconsin

Phone: (715) 421-8460
Fax: (715) 421-8808
Wood County website »