It is legal in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Colorado. I am concerned about whether a self-uniting marriage is really ironclad in PA. Are there any grey areas e.g. Re: PA self-uniting marriages. We would love to get a self-uniting marriage license, and live in Pennsylvania where that (thanks to the long history of Quakers here) is no problem. Human Services; Kane Community Living Centers There is no additional paperwork, and the license costs $60, the same as a regular marriage license. This license is considered a special license. I know this is a bit late, but thanks for the tip! We asked all three. Some Examples. We are getting married in Mercer County, PA and want to have our aunt marry us. Thanks! The other license let a couple solemnize the marriage themselves (a self-uniting license) and register it with the county. Until recently, only Quakers were allowed to have self uniting marriages in PA since Quakers do not have ministers. How do we apply for a self uniting marriage license. 3. Femme’s note: It took about a month to hear back from them, but a reader in Pennsylvania who ran into problems with her county clerk managed to get a self-uniting marriage license in Berks County with the help of the ACLU. I think that all you need to do is to go to any county building with your fiancee, get a self-uniting license and get married in the presence of two witnesses who sign the license. Here's what you need to know about a having self-uniting marriage. Secular humanism is an acceptable religious affiliation for obtaining a self-uniting marriage license. Y I Oughta got a self-uniting license last summer for her wedding. Will it be accepted in counties that do not issue these marriage licenses?What about other states where gay marriage is legal - do they have to honor our self-united marriage? A non Quaker sued saying that a separate law for Quakers violated his 14th Amendment right, and the courts agreed. I know it’s legal in PA, but not in every state, so I’m confused if ICE would accept a marriage certificate that came from a ser-uniting/Quaker license. Our Virtual Marriage Record Department is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM, and closed holidays. We provide virtual appointments to couples who seek a marriage license—couples can complete the entire process without having to leave their homes! You asked about self-uniting marriage license. Upon request, the Marriage License Bureau will inform the couples whether their marriage return has been filed and recorded. This post was published on 08/25/2014. For more details, please contact the Marriage License Bureau at 610-278-3414. Updated Jan 14, 2019. Re: self-uniting marriages for same sex couples in Pennsylvania. Each state listed above application process will vary. Some states (CO, PA) allow for self-uniting marriages, where one of the spouses solemnizes the wedding and signs the marriage certificate, legalizing the marriage. Learn how you can skip the officiant and save money on your wedding day. Gandharva marriage; References Last edited on 19 October 2020, at 02:37. The below steps will help you obtain a Quaker marriage license. I’m getting married on October 2nd, and we’re going the self-uniting route. I’m planning to get a self-uniting marriage license to do my own wedding. Self-uniting marriage is an option in Pennsylvania, one that’s authorized by state law. Under Pennsylvania marriage law, couples wishing to nix an officiant must obtain a self-uniting licenses, which varies from the traditional form only in wording, and perform their ceremony in front of at least two witnesses, who are required to sign the document. Self-uniting weddings are quick, often lasting less than half an hour; cheap, costing just $45 for the marriage license application; and simple. ×Find information regarding COVID-19. This is a rather new concept and has been untested but the concept is sound. Some counties have been known to require the couple or couple member to prove that they are a member of a non-hierarchical faith (Quaker or Bahai) before granting the license. We handle marriage licenses and records. Thus, we couldn't do the traditional license and instead had to use the self uniting, have two friends over and they signed it over tacos. Little would change until the Legislature amended the marriage law in 1953. If you want an interfaith celebrant to lead your fusion service, we'll help you find one. There’s no officiant. MARRIAGE LICENSE & RECORDS NEWS & ALERTS. Human Services and Care. The day started out very chilly and windy. Your wedding ceremony is your wedding ceremony, and the officiant you choose can make all the difference when personalizing it. A good potential compromise may be to have the self-uniting ceremony but go to court and have a judge formally marry via a secular order. I think that NorCider mentioned that they were married using a Quaker (self-uniting) license. The couple may perform their self-uniting ceremony in any setting, with any number of guests, as long as there are two witnesses to the vows. Hope that helps. Afterwards, you just file the paperwork to make it official. Marriage License Fees: Marriage license fees in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania vary from county to county. Once issued, a marriage license is valid for 60 days anywhere in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania is one of the few states that offers couples the option of a self-uniting marriage license. Best, Amanda. Effective July 8, 2020, a marriage license cannot be issued to an applicant under the age of 18. The custom is rooted in the Quaker faith and is actually part of a formal wedding ceremony. The unique Pennsylvania license, which is a Quaker tradition, allows people … Self-Uniting Marriage Licenses. by Maggie Seaver. Please call the Pike County Register of Wills office for their fees and other requirements. If a self-uniting license is required, inform the clerk before the application process begins. Quaker/ Self-Uniting License fee varies by county. Afterwards you take it back to the marriage license bureau and they make it into a legal document. A self uniting marriage means you get a special license that you take home, the couple and 2 witnesses sign and that’s it. However, in 2007 a secular couple challenged this and the court ruled that they should be allowed a self-uniting license … ... Continue reading How To Avoid Self Uniting marriage License Legal Problems. We were going to head to the Bucks County Courthouse, but I’m very glad to know that Philadelphia will issue the license without problems. We wanted to keep things simple and inexpensive, but we still wanted some traditional elements. Is it oficial to apply for a GC afterwards? Others just give them to anyone who has the proper marriage documentation (social security numbers and such). Any marriage solemnized under this statute is and will be valid as long as it was authorized by statute. Content is available under CC BY-SA 3.0 unless otherwise noted. She is not ordained and is not a priest, rabbi, judge, justice, or minister. Quakers, to qualify for the self-uniting marriage license. Live. Login. Indeed, the self-uniting marriage is a weapon against the existence of religion in marriage altogether. So I will only talk about DC. How a Self-Uniting Marriage License will save us money in our wedding. The case ended with the court ruling that the license could not be denied to anyone. Wu Jianxiong on Unsplash. On Friday 10/10/2014, we were able to get our self-uniting marriage in Berks County. A marriage record will not exist if the officiate who performs the marriage fails to file this document. Sincerely, Dimitry, Esq. Parties themselves cannot perform such a marriage. Some PA counties require you to show proof that you are a practicing member of a faith that does not have official clergy, e.g. Yes, even though the majority of states in the U.S. don’t allow self solemnization to occur in their state, your self uniting marriage is just as legitimate and legal as anyone else’s. The minister has to fill out the license an return it to the recorder in the county where the marriage is pursued. Is a self-uniting marriage license legal in PA when performed by someone who is NOT ordained? UPDATE: A reader was recently issued a self-uniting marriage license in Philadelphia county. Self-uniting marriage licenses are required for the marriage to be considered legally binding for those ceremonies without an official performing the ceremony. Return to top We prepared the food ourselves, and I made the wedding cake. Recently, my husband and I attended a self-uniting wedding ceremony for the daughter of close friends. It's on file with the state and we got copies of it. But I think anyone can get one, you just have to ask for it when you are at the courthouse, and then you need witness signatures the day of. Jane Cümo | 14-Nov-14 at 5:43 am | … Until further notice, at least one applicant must be a Lehigh County resident to apply for a marriage license in Lehigh County. Except for the format of the license, the requirements for a self-uniting license and a standard license are the same. The Nuccios, of Phoenixville, came up with a commonly used solution: They had their friend preside over their August 2016 marriage, but they got a self-uniting marriage license, instead. Im marrying an Ecuadorian who is in her 4th year in the states on an F1 student visa. Contrary to how it is presented on their website, the fee for that county is only an additional $10, making the entire affair $90 TOTAL. Self-uniting marriages require a self-uniting marriage license. See also. You could try paging her (start a new post with just her n ame in it) and maybe she can give you more information. We cooked steaks and baked potatoes on the park grills, and used antique china plates and saucers we got at a local thrift store. decide who in the relationship will be listed as the officiant (spouse 1 or spouse 2) . We were "married" in the eyes of the court a month and a half before our wedding and just mailed in the rinkydink paper that you put your signatures on. 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