I recently found a website that you can become an ordained minister for free. Was curious if anyone has had any experience with this and if the marriage would be recognized as a legal marriage. We are getting married in Oakland County, Michigan.
(Michigan)
Solemnization Of Marriage 551.7 Persons authorized to solemnize marriage; records; returns; disposition of fees charged by mayor or county clerk
(1) Marriages may be solemnized by any of the following:
(a) A judge of the district court, in the district in which the judge is serving.
(b) A district court magistrate, in the district in which the magistrate serves.
(c) A municipal judge, in the city in which the judge is serving or in a
township over which a municipal court has jurisdiction under section
9928 of the revised judicature act of 1961, 1961 PA 236, MCL 600.9928.
(d) A judge of probate, in the county or probate court district in which the judge is serving.
(e) A judge of a federal court.
(f) A mayor of a city, anywhere in a county in which that city is located.
(g) A county clerk in the county in which the clerk serves, or in
another county with the written authorization of the clerk of the other
county.
(h) For a county having more than 2,000,000 inhabitants, an employee of
the county clerk's office designated by the county clerk, in the county
in which the clerk serves.
(i) A minister of the gospel or cleric or religious practitioner,
anywhere in the state, if the minister or cleric or religious
practitioner is ordained or authorized to solemnize marriages according
to the usages of the denomination.
(j) A minister of the gospel or cleric or religious practitioner,
anywhere in the state, if the minister or cleric or religious
practitioner is not a resident of this state but is authorized to
solemnize marriages under the laws of the state in which the minister or
cleric or religious practitioner resides.
(2) A person authorized by this act to solemnize a marriage shall keep
proper records and make returns as required by section 4 of 1887 PA 128,
MCL 551.104.
(3) If a mayor of a city solemnizes a marriage, the mayor shall charge
and collect a fee to be determined by the council of that city, which
shall be paid to the city treasurer and deposited in the general fund of
the city at the end of the month.
(4) If the county clerk or, in a county having more than 2,000,000
inhabitants, an employee of the clerk's office designated by the county
clerk solemnizes a marriage, the county clerk shall charge and collect a
fee to be determined by the commissioners of the county in which the
clerk serves. The fee shall be paid to the treasurer for the county in
which the clerk serves and deposited in the general fund of that county
at the end of the month.
Anyone have any feedback?
-Kathleena