Created and reviewed for accuracy by researchers at the Universal Life Church

Maryland Outline

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 Maryland. Ordained ministers of the Universal Life Church have successfully performed thousands of legal marriages in Maryland. The information provided below will walk you through the steps one must follow to become a minister and perform a valid wedding ceremony in the state of Maryland.

MD Wedding Officiant Quick Facts
  • ULC Ordination Accepted: Yes
  • Minister Registration Required: No
  • Minister's Residency: Irrelevant
  • Minister's Minimum Age: 18
  •  
  • Marriage License Waiting Period: 2 Days
  • Marriage License Valid For: 6 Months
  • Marriage License Return Within: By Expiration
Regional Information

Local MD Wedding Guides

For more specific information about performing a wedding in certain parts of Maryland, choose a location above. If your area isn't listed, don't worry - just continue scrolling to review the helpful general information on this page.

1 How to Become an Ordained Minister in Maryland

If you haven't already, you should get ordained online with the Universal Life Church. Ordination is free and can be completed in just a matter of minutes. Thousands of legally valid marriages are performed by ULC ministers around the world every year. Begin the process by clicking the big blue button below!

2 Officiating a Wedding in Maryland

Next, you should contact the office of your local marriage authority (typically your county clerk). Let them know that you are a minister of the Universal Life Church in Seattle, and ask what they will require of you to officiate a legal marriage.



Select a county clerk

Choose the county you'd like to contact from the dropdown menu above to see their office’s information.

3 Maryland Officiant Requirements

After you've contacted your marriage authority, you should visit our online store to purchase whatever documentation will be required. We typically advise ministers in Maryland to get an Ordination Package. While minister registration is not technically required in Maryland you may be required to present proof of your ordination to the local authorities before any marriages you perform will be accepted as having been legally solemnized. As an added bonus, having this proof of your ordination will provide peace-of-mind to any couple that you intend to marry. Additionally, please attempt to leave at least 3 weeks between the date of the wedding ceremony and your order, to ensure that you receive all of your materials in advance.

4 How to get Married in Maryland

Maryland's Top Wedding Spot

Maryland's Top Wedding Spot

Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, set in a lighthouse on the Miles River

Now that you've done all of the above, you are ready to perform the wedding! Be sure that the couple has picked up their Maryland marriage license from the appropriate office. This license is valid for 6 months, and there is a 2-day mandatory waiting period between when the couple receives the marriage license in Maryland and when the ceremony may be legally performed. Please be aware that the signed license must be returned to the issuing office before its date of expiry.

At the Universal Life Church we receive several calls from wedding officiants in Maryland, after they've received their license to marry by getting ordained online, asking for guidance on how to perform a wedding ceremony. Once the legal matters have been taken care of, officiating a wedding (while a sometimes-daunting task) can be a great deal of fun. We would suggest that new Maryland wedding ministers concerned about the ceremony peruse one of our helpful wedding guides. The minister training section of our website should offer a helpful refresher for more experienced ministers.

5 Maryland Wedding Planning Considerations

If you intend to officiate a wedding in Maryland soon, you're in luck! Here is some useful information to help plan and conduct your wedding ceremony. Maryland wedding season is almost equally split between both summer and fall. Summers are frequently hot, with temperatures peaking in the mid-nineties, and very humid. Fall brings much more reasonable temperatures -- the average high is usually in the mid-sixties. Remember to dress appropriately! Take note that barn weddings are very popular in Maryland. Popular barn wedding destinations include Bohemia River Lookout, the White Barn at Lucas Farm, Spring Hill Manor, and many others. If your wedding ceremony is going to take place in a barn, bring some comfortable shoes. Waterfront weddings and courthouse weddings are also common in Maryland. How much should an officiant charge for weddings in Maryland? That depends on several factors, including how experienced the officiant is, how much preparation will be involved, and if travel will be required. For example, make sure to account for the mileage from your home to the ceremony location.


Maryland Marriage Code

Maryland Flag

Maryland Marriage Code

Marriage in Maryland is governed by the Family Law section of Maryland's Revised Statutes. Ministers who got ordained online with the Universal Life Church have successfully solemnized thousands of weddings in the state. Below, you will find that we have reproduced a relevant excerpt of this code.

(2) A marriage ceremony may be performed in this State by: (i) any official of a religious order or body authorized by the rules and customs of that order or body to perform a marriage ceremony; (ii) any clerk; (iii) any deputy clerk designated by the county administrative judge of the circuit court for the county; or (iv) a judge. View the Maryland Statutes on the official state site.

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Learn All About Marriage Law in Maryland

See the Full Statutes

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Allegany County

30 Washington Street
Cumberland, Maryland
21502

Phone: (301) 777-5923
Allegany County website »

Anne Arundel County

8 Church Circle
Annapolis, Maryland
21401

Phone: (410) 222-1397
Anne Arundel County Marriage Laws »

Baltimore County

County Courts Building <br> 401 Bosley Avenue
Towson, Maryland
21204

Phone: (410) 887-2607
Baltimore County Marriage Laws »

Calvert County

175 Main Street
Prince Frederick, Maryland
20678

Phone: (410) 535-1600
Calvert County website »

Caroline County

109 Market Street
Denton, Maryland
21629

Phone: (410) 479-1811
Caroline County website »

Carroll County

55 N. Court Street
Westminster, Maryland
21157

Phone: (410) 386-8710
Carroll County website »

Cecil County

129 E. Main Street
Elkton, Maryland
21921

Phone: (410) 996-1021
Cecil County website »

Charles County

200 Charles Street
La Plata, Maryland
20646

Phone: (301) 932-3201
Charles County website »

City of Baltimore

100 North Calvert St., Rm. 628
Baltimore, Maryland
21202

Phone: (410) 333-3780
City of Baltimore website »

Dorchester County

206 High Street
Cambridge, Maryland
21613

Phone: (410) 228-0481
Dorchester County website »

Frederick County

100 W. Patrick Street
Frederick, Maryland
21701

Phone: (301) 600-1976
Frederick County website »

Garrett County

203 S. 4th Street, Room 109
Oakland, Maryland
21550

Phone: (301) 334-1937
Garrett County website »

Harford County

7 West Courtland Street
Bel Air, Maryland
21014

Phone: (410) 638-3489
Harford County website »

Howard County

6095 Marshalee Drive, Suite 120
Elkridge, Maryland
21075

Phone: (410) 313-5850
Howard County website »

Kent County

103 N. Cross Street
Chestertown, Maryland
21620

Phone: (410) 778-7460
Kent County website »

Montgomery County

50 Maryland Avenue
Rockville, Maryland

Phone: (240) 777-9460
Montgomery County Marriage Laws »

Prince George's County

14701 Gov. Oden Bowie Drive
Upper Marlboro, Maryland
20772

Phone: (301) 952-3331
Prince George's County Marriage Laws »

Queen Anne's County

200 N. Commerce Street
Centreville, Maryland
21617

Phone: (410) 758-1773
Queen Anne's County website »

Somerset County

30512 Prince William Street
Princess Anne, Maryland
21853

Phone: (410) 845-4840
Somerset County website »

St. Mary's County

41605 Courthouse Drive
Leonardtown, Maryland
20650

Phone: (301) 475-7844
St. Mary's County website »

Talbot County

11 North Washington Street, Suite 16
Easton, Maryland
21601

Phone: (410) 822-2611
Talbot County website »

Washington County

24 Summit Avenue
Hagerstown, Maryland
21740

Phone: (301) 733-8660
Washington County website »

Wicomico County

101 North Division Street, Room 105
Salisbury, Maryland
21801

Phone: (410) 543-6551
Wicomico County website »

Worcester County

One West Market Street, Room 104
Snow Hill, Maryland
21863

Phone: (410) 632-5500
Worcester County website »