To get ordained in Arizona to officiate a wedding, sign up with a recognized religious organization that ordains ministers (online ordination through groups like the Universal Life Church or American Marriage Ministries is the fastest route), then follow the state’s rules for signing and returning the marriage license. Arizona law is unusually welcoming here: Arizona Revised Statutes § 25-124 authorizes any “duly licensed or ordained” member of the clergy to solemnize a marriage, and defines that phrase broadly enough to cover ministers ordained by any religious society or sect under its own customs and rules.1Arizona Legislature. Arizona Revised Statutes Title 25 – Section 25-124 – Persons Authorized to Perform Marriage Ceremony; Definition
The Arizona Law That Makes You Eligible
The controlling statute is A.R.S. § 25-124. Subsection A(1) authorizes “duly licensed or ordained clergymen” to perform marriages. Subsection B expands that phrase to include ministers, elders, and any other person authorized to officiate marriages under the customs or rules of a religious society or sect.1Arizona Legislature. Arizona Revised Statutes Title 25 – Section 25-124 – Persons Authorized to Perform Marriage Ceremony; Definition That definition is the reason online ordinations work in Arizona. If the group that ordained you qualifies as a religious society with its own ordination practices, you fall within the statute.
Arizona does not require ministers to register with the state or with any county before officiating. There is no state-issued minister license, no application form, and no filing fee for the officiant. Your credential comes from your ordaining organization, and the state accepts it at the ceremony.
Getting Ordained Online
Online ordination is the path most people take when a friend or family member asks them to officiate. Organizations like the Universal Life Church and American Marriage Ministries ordain ministers through a short web form. You provide your name and contact information, agree to the organization’s statement of beliefs, and receive email confirmation of your ordination, usually within a few minutes. Most do not charge for the ordination itself, though they sell optional add-ons such as printed certificates, minister credentials, and ceremony-preparation materials.
Order a physical certificate or a letter of good standing if you want backup documentation. Arizona county clerks generally do not demand proof of ordination when the couple applies for the license, but a paper credential is useful if anyone asks and it helps you feel prepared on the day.
Choosing an Ordaining Organization
Because the statute’s protection depends on your ordination coming from a legitimate religious body, the organization you choose matters. Practical markers of credibility: a documented history of religious activity, a stated set of beliefs or principles, and an established structure for conferring ordination. An entity that exists only to sell certificates without a consistent religious identity could be challenged. The well-known online ordination groups have operated for years and ordained hundreds of thousands of ministers nationally, which gives them a strong track record.
Ordination Through a Church or Denomination
Traditional ordination is the other route. Denominations such as the Roman Catholic Church, mainline Protestant churches, and other faith traditions each set their own ordination requirements, which can include theological education, mentorship under a senior pastor, a period of service in the community, and formal evaluation by church leadership. Timelines vary widely, from months to years of seminary training.
Under Arizona law, traditional ordination and online ordination carry the same weight. Section 25-124 does not distinguish between them.1Arizona Legislature. Arizona Revised Statutes Title 25 – Section 25-124 – Persons Authorized to Perform Marriage Ceremony; Definition Choose the denominational path if you are pursuing ministry as a longer commitment, not to satisfy a legal requirement for officiating.
A Note on Age
Section 25-124 does not set a minimum age for officiants. Most online ordination organizations, however, require you to be at least 18. As a practical matter, you need to be old enough to sign an official document. If you are under 18, check with both your ordaining organization and the county clerk before agreeing to officiate.
What to Do at the Wedding
Being ordained is half the job. The other half is making sure the marriage is properly documented.
Before the Ceremony
The couple must obtain a marriage license from an Arizona county clerk’s office before the ceremony. Both parties appear in person and present valid government-issued photo identification, such as a driver’s license or passport. Confirm they have the license in hand before you begin. A ceremony performed without an issued license may not be legally recorded.
During and After the Ceremony
Once you have performed the ceremony, you and the couple sign the marriage license. The signed license then goes back to the county clerk’s office that issued it. Arizona requires this return within 30 days of the ceremony for the marriage to be officially recorded. The couple keeps their portion of the original license as their record.
That 30-day return is the single most important administrative detail for a new officiant. A missed deadline does not necessarily void the marriage, but it creates real complications for the couple, who may need the recorded license for name changes, insurance, tax filing, and other legal purposes. Decide before the ceremony who is responsible for returning the license, and follow up to confirm it happens.
Officiating Across State Lines
An Arizona ordination is not automatically recognized everywhere. Each state has its own statute defining who can solemnize a marriage, and some are more restrictive than Arizona. A handful of states have historically questioned online ordinations or require local registration before you can officiate. If you agree to officiate a wedding outside Arizona, check the marriage laws where the ceremony will take place. The license is issued by the state where the wedding happens, and that state’s rules control.
The reverse works cleanly. If you were ordained in another state and want to officiate in Arizona, your ordination is valid here as long as it fits within § 25-124’s definition of a person authorized by a religious society to solemnize marriages.1Arizona Legislature. Arizona Revised Statutes Title 25 – Section 25-124 – Persons Authorized to Perform Marriage Ceremony; Definition
If Ministry Becomes a Source of Income
If you are ordaining yourself to perform one wedding, tax rules for clergy will not affect you in any meaningful way. If ministry becomes a regular source of income, the IRS treats “duly ordained, commissioned, or licensed” ministers differently from most other workers, including a housing allowance exclusion and self-employment tax treatment on ministerial earnings.2Internal Revenue Service. Publication 517 (2025), Social Security and Other Information for Members of the Clergy and Religious Workers Ministers with a genuine religious objection to public insurance benefits can apply for an exemption from self-employment tax by filing Form 4361, and the exemption, once granted, is generally irrevocable.3Internal Revenue Service. About Form 4361, Application for Exemption From Self-Employment Tax for Use By Ministers, Members of Religious Orders and Christian Science Practitioners If you reach that point, work with a tax professional who has clergy experience.