Who can legally perform wedding ceremonies in Texas?

Answer 1

§ 2.202. PERSONS AUTHORIZED TO CONDUCT CEREMONY.

(a) The following persons are authorized to conduct a marriage

ceremony:

(1) a licensed or ordained Christian minister or

priest;

(2) a Jewish rabbi;

(3) a person who is an officer of a religious

organization and who is authorized by the organization to conduct a

marriage ceremony; and

(4) a justice of the supreme court, judge of the court

of criminal appeals, justice of the courts of appeals, judge of the

district, county, and probate courts, judge of the county courts at

law, judge of the courts of domestic relations, judge of the

juvenile courts, retired justice or judge of those courts, justice

of the peace, retired justice of the peace, or judge or magistrate

of a federal court of this state.

(b) For the purposes of this section, a retired judge or

justice is a former judge or justice who is vested in the Judicial

Retirement System of Texas Plan One or the Judicial Retirement

System of Texas Plan Two or who has an aggregate of at least 12 years

of service as judge or justice of any type listed in Subsection

(a)(4).

(c) Except as provided by Subsection (d), a person commits

an offense if the person knowingly conducts a marriage ceremony

without authorization under this section. An offense under this

subsection is a Class A misdemeanor.

(d) A person commits an offense if the person knowingly

conducts a marriage ceremony of a minor whose marriage is

prohibited by law or of a person who by marrying commits an offense

under Section 25.01, Penal Code. An offense under this subsection

is a felony of the third degree.

Answer 2

Christian ministers, priests and Jewish Rabbais are licensed to marry couples in Texas. A justice of the peace may also perform wedding ceremonies.