Getting married in 2026? Here’s who can legally officiate weddings in GA

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If you are planning a wedding in 2026, there are a lot of things to check off before tying the knot: the venue, the dress, the food.

Of course, you’ll need someone to officiate the wedding, too. But can anyone do that? Here’s what to know:

Who can officiate weddings in GA?

According to U.S. Marriage Laws, “Any minister who is authorized by his or her church may perform marriages.”

Anyone can be ordained as a minister. One of the easiest ways to become a minister in Georgia is on websites like GetOrdained.org, where there is no waiting period and the minimum age to become a minister is 18.

The site belongs to the Universal Life Church Ministries, “becoming a minister didn’t always work like this. In fact, it used to involve intensive formal schooling and many years of time. Plus, people were frequently excluded from participating simply because of their gender or sexual orientation.”

The minister does not have to be a resident of Georgia and there are no rules for minister registration in the state, according to the Christian Leaders Institute.

Once ordained, not only can you perform weddings, but also lead baptisms and preside over funerals.

How to make sure your marriage is legal

Once your officiant is ordained, they are legal and any ceremony they perform is legally binding. However, there is one last step that your officiant must complete: the officiant and the couple together must complete a certificate of marriage.

‘When it is signed by all parties, the minister must return it to the courts within 30 days after the marriage. A copy of the completed certificate will be sent to the couple when finished.

Some counties and municipalities have additional rules. Contact your local probate court for details.

Probate court in Macon: 601 Mulberry St # 207, Macon, GA 31201

Probate courts in Columbus: 100 E 10th St #6, Columbus, GA 31901

This story comes to GPB through a reporting partnership with Macon Telegraph.