To get ordained in South Dakota to officiate a wedding, you need authorization from a church, and that is the entire legal threshold. The state does not register, license, or credential wedding officiants. Once a religious organization has ordained you, whether through years of seminary or an online application completed this afternoon, you are legally allowed to solemnize marriages in South Dakota.
The harder part is what comes after the “I do.”
What South Dakota Law Actually Requires
South Dakota gives marriage-solemnizing authority to Supreme Court justices, circuit court judges, magistrates, mayors, and “any person authorized by a church to solemnize marriages.”1South Dakota Legislature. South Dakota Code 25-1-30 – Persons Authorized to Solemnize Marriages The statute does not define “church” narrowly, does not specify a type of ordination, and does not draw a line between online and traditional ordination. If a religious organization has authorized you, you qualify.
The South Dakota Department of Health confirms it keeps no list of individuals able to perform marriage ceremonies and directs questions to local Register of Deeds offices.2South Dakota Department of Health. Marriage Requirements There is no state application, no state fee, and no state credential to obtain.
Choose How You Want to Be Ordained
Your first real decision is which religious body will ordain you. Two paths are common, and they differ in time commitment more than in legal weight.
Traditional Denominational Ordination
Established denominations typically require theological education, a period of supervised ministry, and formal approval by the denomination’s governing body. Expect seminary coursework, interviews or examinations, and demonstrated competency in pastoral care and doctrine. The process can take several years. This path makes sense if you are pursuing ministry as a vocation rather than officiating one wedding.
Online Ordination
Online ministries such as the Universal Life Church and American Marriage Ministries ordain through a web application. Most require only that you be at least 18 and affirm a basic statement of belief. Credentials usually arrive by email within minutes, and printed certificates are available for an additional fee. Because the statute broadly covers anyone “authorized by a church,” an online ordination satisfies South Dakota law.
One practical caveat: county Register of Deeds staff sometimes ask to see documentation. Pick an organization that will issue a formal ordination certificate or letter of good standing you can present. Some organizations offer credential packages with wallet cards and letters on church letterhead, which can smooth things at the county window.
Steps to Get Ordained
For most people getting ordained specifically to officiate a wedding, the process is short:
- Pick a reputable organization that aligns with your beliefs and issues verifiable documentation.
- Complete the application. Online, this is a form with your legal name, date of birth, and contact information. Traditional denominations run a much longer intake.
- Receive your credentials. Online ordinations often process instantly. Traditional ordination concludes with a formal ceremony after all requirements are met.
- Order physical documentation: a printed ordination certificate, a letter of good standing, or both.
- Call the Register of Deeds in the county where the wedding will happen and ask whether they want to see anything specific from you. Requirements vary by county.
That last step is worth doing early. Requirements are set locally, and a two-minute phone call in advance beats a problem on the day you return the license.
Handling the Marriage License
The couple, not you, applies for the marriage license. Both parties appear in person at a Register of Deeds office with acceptable photo identification.3South Dakota Department of Health. South Dakota Marriage License Application Overview South Dakota requires no blood test and no waiting period. The license is valid only in South Dakota and becomes void if the marriage is not solemnized within 90 days of purchase.2South Dakota Department of Health. Marriage Requirements Keep that 90-day window in mind if you are helping the couple plan.
Your Duties After the Ceremony
This is where new officiants trip up. After you perform the ceremony, South Dakota law requires two things: deliver the marriage certificate to the couple, and return the license and record of marriage to the county Register of Deeds within ten days.4South Dakota Legislature. South Dakota Code 25-1-35 – Certificate Delivered to Parties, Return to Register of Deeds If the paperwork does not come back, there is no official record of the marriage.3South Dakota Department of Health. South Dakota Marriage License Application Overview That can block name changes, joint tax filing, and spousal benefits for the couple later.
The ten-day deadline is firm. Do not wait for the couple to remind you. Sign the documents, hand the certificate to the newlyweds, and get the license and marriage record back to the Register of Deeds as soon as you can, by mail or in person. Bring your ordination documentation when you drop it off in case anyone asks.
If You Are Being Paid to Officiate
If you accept a fee for performing a wedding, the IRS treats that money as ministerial earnings, and the tax rules for clergy are unusual. Fees you receive directly from couples for performing weddings, baptisms, or funerals are self-employment income for both income tax and Social Security purposes.5Internal Revenue Service. Publication 517 – Social Security and Other Information for Members of the Clergy and Religious Workers Ordained ministers are not subject to standard FICA payroll taxes on ministerial earnings; those earnings fall under the Self-Employment Contributions Act instead. Even a minister paid a salary by a church owes self-employment tax on the ministerial portion.
You can apply for an exemption from self-employment tax on ministerial earnings by filing IRS Form 4361, but only if you are conscientiously opposed to accepting public insurance benefits based on religious principles. The IRS must approve the exemption, and the bar is high.
One tax benefit associated with clergy, the housing allowance exclusion under Section 107 of the Internal Revenue Code, likely will not apply to you if you are only officiating occasional weddings for fees. The exclusion requires a church or religious employer to designate part of your compensation as a housing allowance in writing before the start of the calendar year, and it is capped at the fair rental value of the home or your actual housing expenses, whichever is lower.6Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 26 USC 107 – Rental Value of Parsonages Even for ministers who do qualify, the housing allowance reduces federal income tax but does not reduce self-employment tax, which still applies to the full amount of ministerial earnings.5Internal Revenue Service. Publication 517 – Social Security and Other Information for Members of the Clergy and Religious Workers
If the wedding is a favor for family or friends and no money changes hands, none of this applies. If you are charging, track the income and plan for self-employment tax at filing time.