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Persons qualified to solemnize marriages - 23 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 1503

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     § 1503.  Persons qualified to solemnize marriages.
        (a)  General rule.--The following are authorized to solemnize
     marriages between persons that produce a marriage license issued
     under this part:
            (1)  A justice, judge or magisterial district judge of
        this Commonwealth.
            (2)  A former or retired justice, judge or magisterial
        district judge of this Commonwealth who is serving as a
        senior judge or senior magisterial district judge as provided
        or prescribed by law.
            (3)  An active or senior judge or full-time magistrate of
        the District Courts of the United States for the Eastern,
        Middle or Western District of Pennsylvania.
            (3.1)  An active, retired or senior bankruptcy judge of
        the United States Bankruptcy Courts for the Eastern, Middle
        or Western District of Pennsylvania who is a resident of this
        Commonwealth.
            (4)  An active, retired or senior judge of the United
        States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit who is a
        resident of this Commonwealth.
            (5)  A mayor of any city or borough of this Commonwealth.
            (6)  A minister, priest or rabbi of any regularly
        established church or congregation.
        (b)  Religious organizations.--Every religious society,
     religious institution or religious organization in this
     Commonwealth may join persons together in marriage when at least
     one of the persons is a member of the society, institution or
     organization, according to the rules and customs of the society,
     institution or organization.
        (c)  Marriage license needed to officiate.--No person or
     religious organization qualified to perform marriages shall
     officiate at a marriage ceremony without the parties having
     obtained a marriage license issued under this part.
     (June 22, 2000, P.L.443, No.59, eff. imd.; Nov. 30, 2004,
     P.L.1618, No.207, eff. 60 days; Dec. 1, 2004, P.L.1777, No.232,
     eff. 60 days)

        2004 Amendment.  Act 207 amended subsec. (a) and Act 232
     amended subsec. (a). Act 232 overlooked the amendment by Act
     207, but the amendments do not conflict in substance and have
     both been given effect in setting forth the text of subsec. (a).
     See sections 28 and 29 of Act 207 in the appendix to this title
     for special provisions relating to applicability and
     construction of law.

Last modified: November 27, 2007