Weddings

If you would like to make an appointment with a judge to perform your marriage ceremony, contact the Clerk of Courts Office by phone at 608-838-3764 or email the Court.

State Statues 765.16 and 765.17 specify who may perform marriages in the State of Wisconsin

765.16 Marriage Contract, How Made; Officiating Person

Marriage may be validly solemnized and contracted in this state only after a marriage license has been issued therefor, and only by the mutual declarations of the two parties to be joined in marriage that they take each other as husband and wife, made before an authorized officiating person and in the presence of at least two competent adult witnesses other than such officiating person, that they take each other as husband and wife.

The following are authorized to be officiating persons:

  • Any ordained member of the clergy of any religious denomination or society who continues to be an ordained member of the clergy
  • Any licentiate of a denominational body or an appointee of any bishop serving as a regular member of the clergy of any church of the denomination to which the member of the clergy belongs, if not restrained from so doing by the discipline of the church or denomination
  • The 2 parties themselves, by such mutual declarations that they take each other as husband and wife, in accordance with the customs, rules and regulations of any religious society, denomination or sect to which either of the parties may belong
  • Any judge of a court of record or a reserve judge appointed under Section 753.075
  • Any circuit court commissioner appointed under SCR 75.02 (l) or supplemental court commissioner appointed under Section 757.675(1)
  • Any municipal court judge

765.17 Nonresident Officiating Person; Sponsorship

Any member of the clergy, licentiate or appointee named in Section 765.16 who is not a resident of this state may solemnize marriages in this state if he or she possesses at the time of the marriage a letter of sponsorship from a member of the clergy of the same religious denomination or society who has church in this state under his or her ministry.