
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 Montana. Ordained ministers of the Universal Life Church have successfully performed thousands of legal marriages in Montana. 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 Montana.
- ULC Ordination Accepted: Yes
- Minister Registration Required: No
- Minister's Residency: Irrelevant
- Minister's Minimum Age: 18
- Marriage License Waiting Period: 0 Days
- Marriage License Valid For: 6 Months
- Marriage License Return Within: 30 Days
1 How to Become an Ordained Minister in Montana
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 Montana
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 Clerk of Courts to quickly generate the contact information for your local marriage authority.
Select a county contact

Montana's Top Wedding Spot
Open-air Apgar Amphitheater, inside Glacier National Park, overlooks Lake McDonald
3 License to Marry in Montana
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 Montana 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.
An interesting fact for Montana wedding officiants: Montana is one of the few states in the United States that permits marriage by proxy per the Montana code annotated. If one of the persons to be wed is unable to be at the ceremony, the couple may authorize in writing a third person to act as proxy in the wedding. If the minister is satisfied that the absent person is unable to be present and has the consented to the marriage, the person may continue with the marriage by proxy.
4 How to get Married in Montana
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 Montana marriage license from the appropriate office. This license is valid for 6 months, and there is no waiting period between when the couple picks up the marriage license and when the ceremony may legally be conducted. Please note that the signed license must be returned to the issuing office within 30 days of the ceremony.
At the Universal Life Church we receive several calls from wedding officiants in Montana, 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 Montana 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 Important Montana Wedding Tips
Forests, meadows, mountains, and more wildflowers than you can imagine wait to set the backdrop for your Montana wedding. The summer season sees over 60% of weddings in the state, and with so much natural beauty, it's not hard to understand why. Summer months are warm and balmy, with slight breezes being very common. Planning ahead is, as ever, always important. If you are officiating a wedding outdoors in the Summer, you may need to plan a number of outfits in advance, depending on the weather conditions. Winter weddings, which are not as common, will be easier to plan, with many indoor venues available to provide shelter from the rainy and snowy Montana winters. Wedding officiant fees in Montana can vary substantially depending the officiant’s level of experience, whether travel is involved, and how complex the ceremony will be. With so much natural beauty surrounding you, Montana is the perfect destination for a memorable wedding that will be remembered for years to come.

Montana Marriage Code
Marriage laws in Montana are primarily directed by Chapter 1 of Title 40 of the Montana code annotated, which defines the persons authorized to perform a marriage in the State of Montana. This includes ordained ministers of the Universal Life Church, among other individuals. We've reproduced this item in the state code below.40-1-301. Solemnization and registration. (1) A marriage may be solemnized by a judge of a court of record, by a public official whose powers include solemnization of marriages, by a mayor, city judge, or justice of the peace, by a tribal judge, or in accordance with any mode of solemnization recognized by any religious denomination, Indian nation or tribe, or native group. Either the person solemnizing the marriage or, if no individual acting alone solemnized the marriage, a party to the marriage shall complete the marriage certificate form and forward it to the clerk of the district court. View the Montana Statutes on the official state site.
To view the in-depth wedding laws for Montana state:
Montana Marriage Laws⇓ Show the rest
Beaverhead County
2 South Pacific St., Suite 5Dillon, Montana
59725
Phone: (406) 683-3725
Fax: (406) 683-3769
Beaverhead County website »
Big Horn County
121 West 3rd St, Room 221Hardin, Montana
59034
Phone: (406) 665-9750
Fax: (406) 665-9755
Big Horn County website »
Broadwater County
515 Broadway St.Townsend, Montana
59644
Phone: (406) 266-9219
Broadwater County website »
Carbon County
102 N. BroadwayRed Lodge, Montana
59068
Phone: (406) 446-1225
Fax: (406) 446-0103
Carbon County website »
Carter County
214 Park St.Ekalaka, Montana
59324
Phone: (406) 775-8749
Carter County website »
Cascade County
415 2nd Avenue North #200, 200AGreat Falls, Montana
Phone: (406) 454-6780
Fax: (406) 454-6907
Cascade County website »
Chouteau County
1308 Franklin StreetFort Benton, Montana
59442
Phone: (406) 622-5042
Chouteau County website »
Custer County
1010 Main StreetMiles City, Montana
59301
Phone: (406) 874-3328
Fax: (406) 874-3451
Custer County website »
Daniels County
213 Main StreetScobey, Montana
59263
Phone: (406) 487-5561
Daniels County website »
Dawson County
207 West Bell St.Glendive, Montana
Phone: (406) 377-3967
Dawson County website »
Deer Lodge County
800 Main Street, 2nd FloorAnaconda, Montana
59711
Phone: (406) 563-4040
Deer Lodge County website »
Fallon County
10 West Fallon AvenueBaker, Montana
59313
Phone: (406) 778-8114
Fallon County website »
Fergus County
712 W Main, Suite 303Lewistown, Montana
59457
Phone: (406) 535-5026
Fax: (406) 535-6076
Fergus County website »
Flathead County
920 South Main, Suite 300Kalispell, Montana
59901
Phone: (406) 758-5870
Flathead County website »
Gallatin County
615 South 16th Ave, Room 302Bozeman, Montana
59715
Phone: (406) 582-2165
Gallatin County website »
Garfield County
352 Leavitt AveJordan, Montana
59337
Phone: (406) 557-2760
Garfield County website »
Glacier County
512 East Main StreetCut Bank, Montana
59427
Phone: (406) 873-3609
Fax: (406) 873-5627
Glacier County website »
Golden Valley County
107 Kemp St.Ryegate, Montana
Phone: (406) 568-2231
Golden Valley County website »
Granite County
220 N Sansome St.Philipsburg, Montana
59858
Phone: (406) 859-3712
Granite County website »
Jefferson County
201 W Centennial AveBoulder, Montana
59632
Phone: (406) 225-4041
Fax: (406) 225-4042
Jefferson County website »
Judith Basin County
91 Third Street North, 3rd FloorStanford, Montana
59479
Phone: (406) 566-2277
Judith Basin County website »
Lake County
106 Fourth Avenue EastPolson, Montana
59860
Phone: (406) 883-7254
Lake County website »
Lewis and Clark County
228 BroadwayHelena, Montana
59601
Phone: (406) 447-8216
Fax: (406) 447-8275
Lewis and Clark County website »
Liberty County
111 1st St. E.Chester, Montana
59522
Phone: (406) 759-5615
Liberty County website »
Lincoln County
512 California AveLibby, Montana
Phone: (406) 283-2342
Fax: (406) 283-2350
Lincoln County website »
Madison County
100 W Wallace St.Virginia City, Montana
Phone: (406) 843-4230
Fax: (406) 843-5207
Madison County website »
McCone County
1004 C. AvenueCircle, Montana
59215
Phone: (406) 485-3410
McCone County website »
Meagher County
15 W. MainWhite Sulphur Springs, Montana
Phone: (406) 547-3030
Fax: (406) 547-3836
Meagher County website »
Mineral County
300 River Street, Third FloorSuperior, Montana
59872
Phone: (406) 822-3538
Mineral County website »
Missoula County
200 West BroadwayMissoula, Montana
59802
Phone: (406) 258-4780
Missoula County website »
Musselshell County
506 Main StreetRoundup, Montana
59072
Phone: (406) 323-1413
Fax: (406) 323-1710
Musselshell County website »
Park County
414 East Callender St, Room 106Livingston, Montana
59047
Phone: (406) 222-4125
Park County website »
Petroleum County
302 East Main, Post Office Box 226Winnett, Montana
Phone: (406) 429-5311
Fax: (406) 429-6328
Petroleum County website »
Phillips County
314 S 2nd Ave WMalta, Montana
59538
Phone: (406) 654-1023
Phillips County website »
Pondera County
20 4th Ave SWConrad, Montana
59425
Phone: (406) 271-4026
Pondera County website »
Powder River County
119 North Park AvenueBroadus, Montana
Phone: (406) 436-2320
Fax: (406) 436-2325
Powder River County website »
Powell County
409 Missouri Ave., Suite 203Deer Lodge, Montana
59722
Phone: (406) 846-9786
Fax: (406) 846-3891
Powell County website »
Prairie County
217 West Park StreetTerry, Montana
59349
Phone: (406) 635-5575
Fax: (406) 635-5576
Prairie County website »
Ravalli County
205 Bedford Street, Suite DHamilton, Montana
59840
Phone: (406) 375-6710
Fax: (406) 375-6721
Ravalli County website »
Richland County
300 12th Ave. NW, Suite 6Sidney, Montana
Phone: (406) 433-2815
Fax: (406) 433-4021
Richland County website »
Roosevelt County
400 2nd Avenue SouthWolf Point, Montana
59201
Phone: (406) 653-6266
Fax: (406) 653-6203
Roosevelt County website »
Rosebud County
1210 Main StForsyth, Montana
59327
Phone: (406) 346-7318
Rosebud County website »
Sanders County
1111 West Main St.Thompson Falls, Montana
59873
Phone: (406) 827-6962
Sanders County website »
Sheridan County
100 W Laurel AvePlentywood, Montana
Phone: (406) 765-3403
Fax: (406) 765-2609
Sheridan County website »
Silver Bow County
Courthouse <br> 155 W. Granite St., Room 313Butte, Montana
59701
Phone: (406) 497-6350
Silver Bow County website »
Stillwater County
400 East 3rd Avenue North, 3rd FloorColumbus, Montana
59019
Phone: (406) 322-8030
Stillwater County website »
Sweet Grass County
200 West 1st AvenueBig Timber, Montana
59011
Phone: (406) 932-5154
Fax: (406) 932-5433
Sweet Grass County website »
Teton County
1 Main Avenue SouthChoteau, Montana
59422
Phone: (406) 466-2909
Fax: (406) 466-2910
Teton County website »
Toole County
226 1st St South, Suite 301Shelby, Montana
59474
Phone: (406) 424-8330
Toole County website »
Treasure County
1200 Main StreetForsyth, Montana
59327
Phone: (406) 342-5547
Fax: (406) 342-5445
Treasure County website »
Valley County
501 Court Square, Room 2Glasgow, Montana
59230
Phone: (406) 228-6220
Fax: (406) 228-9027
Valley County website »
Wheatland County
201 A Avenue NorthwestHarlowton, Montana
59036
Phone: (406) 632-4893
Fax: (406) 632-4873
Wheatland County website »
Wibaux County
203 South Wibaux St.Wibaux, Montana
59353
Phone: (406) 796-2484
Wibaux County website »
Yellowstone County
217 N. 27th Street, Room 702Billings, Montana
59107
Phone: (406) 256-2851
Fax: (406) 256-2995
Yellowstone County website »