Can a family member be a wedding officiate in Pittsburgh, PA?

Re: Can a family member be a wedding officiate in Pittsburgh, PA?

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  clg1213 member

  

  June 2013

  PA does not accept online church ordinations like some states. 

   

  PA DOES have self-uniting marriages...basically, you and your FI marry yourselves.  You need a specific license for this.  From what I've read, some counties are nicer about giving these out than others, but it is the law.  You do need to ask at the start of the license process to get the right papers (I "google" it....here's a brief mention on the Bucks County site: http://www.buckscounty.org/government/rowofficers/registerofwills/marriagelicenses.aspx).  You could get that license and do the self-uniting thing for the legal side but have your brother still stand up for a more ceremonial role.

  

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  daria24 member

  

  June 2013

  clg1213 said:

  PA does not accept online church ordinations like some states. 

   

  PA DOES have self-uniting marriages...basically, you and your FI marry yourselves.  You need a specific license for this.  From what I've read, some counties are nicer about giving these out than others, but it is the law.  You do need to ask at the start of the license process to get the right papers (I "google" it....here's a brief mention on the Bucks County site: http://www.buckscounty.org/government/rowofficers/registerofwills/marriagelicenses.aspx).  You could get that license and do the self-uniting thing for the legal side but have your brother still stand up
  for a more ceremonial role.

  This. We self-united in PA. Legally all counties must offer these licenses, but some have never heard of them, and other just flat out refuse to offer them. If you choose this route, call the county clerk and ask them about the license. If they have no idea what you are talking about, or asks you for your religious affiliation, you should try another county.
  
  

  

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