State Laws for Ministers
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 therefore, and only by the mutual declarations of the 2 parties to be joined before an authorized officiating person and in the presence of at least 2 competent adult witnesses other than the officiating person. The following are authorized to be officiating persons.

(1)Any ordained member of the clergy of any religious denomination or society who continues to be an ordained member of the clergy. (2)Any licentiate of a denominational body or an appointee of any bishop serving as the 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. (3)The 2 parties themselves, by mutual declarations in accordance with the customs, rules and regulations of any religious society, denomination or sect to which either of the parties may belong.