Assemblywoman Galef Advocates for Passage of Legislation to Expand Marriage Solemnization

Assemblywoman Sandy Galef today joined with advocates to push for legislation, A.1137/S.5858, to amend the domestic relations law and the executive law, in relation to designating lay individuals to solemnize marriages. The bill, introduced in the Senate by Senator Patricia Ritchie, aims to expand the ability to perform legal marriages in the State of New York to those who apply for a single-day license to solemnize marriages through the Department of State.

Galef and Ritchie’s bill helps an increasing number of couples with an eye on creating a personal ceremony as unique as the bride and groom. Today, many couples are choosing to be married by a friend or relative; in order to do this, such laypersons must request and obtain ordinations from online churches as ministers in a conscious belief that it confers legality to the marriage.

Current State law allows for weddings to be presided over by a “clergyman or minister of any religion,” as well as certain elected officials within their jurisdiction, including Judges, Town Clerks, Mayors, and the Governor. The bill would make provisions to allow for the individuals to apply for one-day marriage officiant designations from the New York State Department of State in order to solemnize marriages.

“There are many questions that soon-to-be-weds are worried about as their wedding approaches, and whether or not their chosen officiant is legally recognized should not be one of them,” said Assemblywoman Sandy Galef. “It is not clear how New York State handles credentials such as online ordinations. The lack of clarity over the qualifications needed to bless a union has caused numerous problems in divorce, annulment, and estate planning. At the same time, couples are more and more interested in having a meaningful relationship with the person who solemnizes their weddings, and a lack of religious connection or political office should not preclude someone from the wedding of which they have always dreamed.”

“The Westchester-Putnam Town and City Clerk’s Association strongly recommends the passage of Bill A.1137-A to amend the Domestic Relations Law and the Executive Law in relation to designating lay individuals to solemnize marriage,” said Donna Conkling, Village/Town Clerk of Scarsdale. “It is time to resolve, once and for all, the questions and risks surrounding the legality of marriage solemnizations performed by those officials not enumerated in the current law.”

“When preparing for a wedding in Michigan at the end of April, I was told by the county clerk that, “if the family believes you to be qualified to perform the ceremony, we don’t have anything to say about it. It is my opinion that this is as it should be,” said Margi Peterson, a Universal Life Church Minister. “Any couple should be able to solemnize their vows with the oversight of the person of their choice. Allowing a family member or friend to be that person may add to the specialness of the occasion.”

“I believe every couple deserves the right to choose a wedding officiant of their choice,” said Cindy Couse, another Universal Life Church Minister. “Having a person you know perform the ceremony provides a more personal and heartfelt experience. I know I will deliver a unique ceremony my friends will cherish with the amount of energy and zest that only a friend could do. A stranger could not deliver this same experience. As an online ordained minister I should have the right to perform a marriage ceremony that remains indefinitely legal. I am a citizen that is ordained and capable of following the law as pertains to the declarations and witnesses/filing the paperwork etc.”

The proposed law specifies that the one-day marriage officiant permission will only be granted for the individual ceremony specified on the application and will expire upon the conclusion of the solemnization.