Dear mmygirl-ga;
In Colorado that law states that marriage officiates must be a
government official with the powers to marry or a minister licensed or
ordained in his/her faith with the ministerial authority to perform
wedding ceremonies. There are some questionable sources out there that
can ?license? any person as a minister but it might not be completely
convincing in the eyes of the State of Colorado, particularly if the
potential ?officiate? has no real religious faith or if that faith
does not recognize these mail order ?licensing? organizations as
legitimate.
However, I believe that I have found a workaround for you that will be
suitable to all parties without requiring ?Uncle? to become ordained.
In the State of Colorado the law states, in part:
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14-2-109. Solemnization and registration.
(1) A marriage may be solemnized by a judge of a court, of record, by
a court magistrate, of a court of record, by a retired judge of a
court, of record, by a public official whose powers include
solemnization of marriages, BY THE PARTIES TO THE MARRIAGE, or in
accordance with any mode of solemnization recognized by any religious
denomination or Indian nation or tribe. Either the person solemnizing
the marriage or, if no individual acting alone solemnized the
marriage, a party to the marriage shall complete the marriage
certificate form and forward it to the county clerk and recorder
within sixty days after the solemnization??
SOLEMNIZATION AND REGISTRATION
http://www.state.co.us/gov_dir/leg_dir/olls/sl1993/sl.124.pdf
--------------------------
So, as you can see, as of August 1993, a couple THEMSELVES can
solemnize THEIR OWN marriage. Legally, Uncle can stand up with the
couple, may speak, host or even unofficially direct the ceremony, but
the couple must ultimately solemnize their own marriage. This will
might the appearance to anyone in attendance that Uncle ?married? the
couple but in reality, in keeping with state law, the couple married
themselves.
Please let me know if this works for you as both a solution and an answer.
Regards;
Tutuzdad-ga |
