Ohio Minister Licensing Law
Solemnization of Marriage
3101.8 Who May Solemnize
An ordained or licensed minister of any religious society or congregation within this state, (state) licensed to perform marriages, a judge of a county court anywhere in the state, an authorized judge of a municipal court anywhere in the state. A probate judge in their county, the mayor of a municipal corporation in any county in which such municipal corporation wholly or partially lies, the superintendent of the state school for the deaf, or any religious society, in conformity with the rules and regulations of its church, may join together as husband and wife any persons not prohibited by law.
3101.09 Prohibition
No person, except those legally authorized, shall attempt to solemnize a marriage, and no marriage shall be solemnized without the issuance of a license.
3101.10 License to solemnize Marriages
A minister upon producing to the secretary of state, credentials of his being a regularly ordained or licensed minister of any religious society or congregation, shall be entitled to receive from the secretary of state a license authorizing him to solemnize marriages in this state so long as he continues as a regular minister in such society or congregation. A minister shall produce for inspection his license to solemnize marriages upon demand of any party to a marriage at which he officiates or proposes to officiate or upon demand of any probate judge.
Section 3 (effective June 4, 1976)
All ministers who are licensed or authorized to solemnize marriages in any county on the effective date of this act are deemed licensed with the secretary of state as provided in sections 111.16, 3101.10, 3101.11, and 3101.12 of the Revised Code as amended by this act.
3101.11 Recording with the Secretary of State
The secretary of state shall enter the name of a minister licensed to solemnize marriages upon a record kept in the office of the secretary of state.
3101.12 Record and License as evidence of authority
When the name of a minister licensed to solemnize marriages is entered upon the record by the secretary of state, such record and the license issued under section 3101.10 of the Revised Code shall be evidence that such minister is authorized to solemnize marriages in this state.
3101.13 Record of Marriage
A certificate of every marriage solemnized shall be transmitted by the authorized person solemnizing the marriage, within 30 days after the solemnization, to the probate judge of the county where the marriage license was issued. All such certificates filed with the judge, shall be consecutively numbered and recorded in the order in which they are received.
Miscellaneous Provisions
3101.99 Penalties
(B) Whoever violates section 3101.09 of the Revised Code shall be fined five hundred dollars and imprisoned not more than six months.
(C) Whoever violated section 3101.13 of the Revised Code shall be fined not more than fifty dollars.
111.6 Fees to be Collected
The secretary of state shall charge and collect, for the benefit of the state, the following fee:
(K) for a minister's license to solemnize marriages, ten dollars.