Created and reviewed for accuracy by researchers at the Universal Life Church
Congratulations! If you've found yourself at this page it is likely that you are either planning to be married or have been asked to perform a wedding ceremony in American Samoa. Unfortunately, a ULC ordination is currently not recognized in this U.S. territory. The information provided below will inform you about the current marriage laws in the U.S. territory of American Samoa.
- ULC Ordination Accepted: No
- Minister Registration Required: Yes
- Minister's Residency: Relevant
- Minister's Minimum Age: 18 Years Old
- Marriage License Waiting Period: 30 Days or None
- Marriage License Valid For: 90 Days
- Marriage License Return Within: By Expiration
American Samoa Marriage Code
American Samoa Marriage Code
Marriage in American Samoa is governed by Chapter 1 of Title 42 of the Code of American Samoa. Below, you will find that we have reproduced a relevant excerpt of this code.Title 42 Chapter 1
ยง42.0102 Persons who may perform ceremony.
(a) No minister of any Christian religion has authority to solemnize or perform any marriage ceremony without first having registered with the Registrar of Vital Statistics a letter of identity and confirmation of his authority as a minister in the particular church to which he belongs. Any minister performing marriage in violation of this section shall be deemed guilty of an offense against this title.
(b) No marriage shall be invalid for a failure by the minister to register such letter of identity and confirmation of authority; if the minister is, in fact, a duly ordained and confirmed member of the clergy of any Christian religion. (c) The following are valid and binding marriages:
(1) a marriage performed by a minister of any Christian religion authorized to perform marriages;
(2) a marriage performed by an associate judge, or the Associate Justice or the Chief Justice of American Samoa;
(3) All marriages solemnized before the enactment of this regulation by any minister of any Christian religion, duly appointed or ordained or reputed to be duly appointed or ordained.
(d) No marriage is void by reason only of the same having been celebrated by a person not a duly registered minister if either of the parties to the marriage believed at the time that the person was a duly registered minister.⇓ Show the rest
