Update to Hawaii Marriage Laws: A Civil License to Solemnize Marriage

Earlier this year, Hawaii passed a law that allows any adult to obtain a civil license to solemnize marriages in the state. This new civil license costs $100 a year and is valid for a minimum two year period. 

 

Until now, only ordained ministers and clergy members, and various justices, judges, and magistrates, could marry people in Hawaii. 

Added to § 572-12 by Act 211

 

(b) A civil license to solemnize marriages may be issued to, and the marriage rite may be performed and solemnized by, any individual at least eighteen years of age, upon presentation to the individual of a license to marry, as prescribed by this chapter. An individual with a civil license to solemnize a marriage may receive the price stipulated by the parties or any gratuity tendered. 

 

The civil license shall be valid for no less than two years from the date of its issuance; provided that a temporary three-month civil license may be issued upon an individual's request. The fee for a civil license shall be $100 per year the permit is valid; provided that the fee for a temporary three-month license shall be $25. 

 

An individual who performs a solemnization of a marriage pursuant to a civil license issued under this subsection shall obtain the prior written consent of each person for whom a solemnization is performed and fulfill all provisions of sections 572-13 and 572‑15 applicable to persons authorized to solemnize marriages.

 

See all Hawaii Marriage Laws

 

 

What changes for AMM Ministers in Hawaii under the new law? 

 

This law does not impact ordained ministers acting as wedding officiants in the state, including those who have been ordained online for free through American Marriage Ministries.

 

It only costs about $10 for an ordained minister to register as a wedding officiant in Hawaii, which is less than the $100 yearly cost of a civil license. Learn more about the process here. We’re glad that Hawaii is creating new pathways to officiation, including options for those that would rather keep things 100% secular, like this recent update.

 

AMM Ministers who wish to officiate weddings in Hawaii can head to our educational Hawaii State Index page to learn more about government registration requirements, ceremony preparation, and what to do with a marriage license after the ceremony. 

 

Become a Wedding Officiant in Hawaii

 

 

Officiating a wedding in another state? 

 

AMM works hard to keep our Marriage Laws library up to date, so that our ordained Ministers have reliable and accessible information when performing ceremonies, answering couples' questions, and returning marriage licenses. 
 
Visit our Marriage Law Library to access every state’s laws on who can perform marriage, officiant registration requirements, and more.

 

 Then visit our Weddings by State pages for detailed information on performing marriage in each state, written for first-time and professional wedding officiants. 

 

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