Designated Marriage Officiators

An individual may be appointed by the County Clerk as a standing designee to perform marriage ceremonies occurring at any time during the term for which the County Clerk is elected.  This designee shall not refuse to officiate in a marriage ceremony on the basis of any characteristic protected under law.  With a minimum of five (5) days notice, minus any personal scheduling conflicts, the designee shall perform any marriage ceremony for any couple that has legally obtained a marriage license within the State of Utah. With advanced notice, the designee will be available to perform wedding ceremonies during the regular office hours of 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday, excluding holidays.  At the designee’s discretion, they may also perform wedding ceremonies outside of the regular office hours, in accordance with the responsibilities and obligations in this policy.

Any individual desiring to be appointed as a term designee must obtain and complete a TERM APPOINTMENT OF MARRIAGE DESIGNEE form from the Grand County Clerk/Auditor.  Once approved by the Clerk/Auditor, the designee’s authority to perform marriage ceremonies shall remain in effect until the end of the Clerk/Auditor’s elected term, or until written formal notice of termination is given as specified in the agreement.

Responsibilities of the Designee

1. Any designation of a person to solemnize marriages shall be in writing (using the Single Ceremony Appointment of Marriage Designee form or the Term Appointment of Marriage Designee form) and a record thereof kept by the County Clerk.
2. A designee must be 18 years of age or older.
3. An appointment as a designee does not make the designee an employee of the Grand County Clerk/Auditor’s office, nor does it establish an employment or contractor relationship with Grand County.
4. A designee’s authority to perform marriage ceremonies extends only within the borders of the State of Utah.  A designee is not authorized under Utah State Code to officiate in wedding ceremonies outside of the State of Utah.
5. A designee will be aware of and abide by Utah State Code governing marriage, including the following:
   1. A marriage license is only valid within thirty (30) days of issuance.  After thirty (30) days, the license must be returned and reissued.
   2. A ceremony must have two witnesses (18 years of age or older) that are present to attest to the marriage.  These witnesses must be someone other than the officiator and the couple, and must sign the license.
   3. The designee will ensure that the official marriage license is filled out accurately and completely, including all necessary signatures.
   4. The designee will return the official license to the Grand County Clerk’s office within thirty (30) days of the ceremony.  Failure to do so may result in the designee being charged with a misdemeanor under U.S.C. 30-1-11.
6. A designee agrees to be available to perform a marriage ceremony on the date and at the time mutually agreed upon by the designee and the specific applicants.
7. A designee will negotiate and manage any compensation for their services without involvement from the Grand County Clerk/Auditor.  A term designee will establish a consistent fee schedule for any service they provide as a designee, and the fee schedule will not discriminate or provide preferential pricing on the basis of any characteristic protected under law.
8. A designee will prepare and provide a ceremony that provides that each party the opportunity to affirm their willingness to enter into marriage.  The applicants may provide their own wording for the ceremony, as long as it includes a statement of their voluntary entry into a marriage commitment with their spouse.  A sample of such wording is as follows:

[Spouse 1], do you take [Spouse 2] to be your lawfully wedded [husband/wife/spouse]? (Spouse 1 is required to answer in the affirmative)

[Spouse 2], do you take [Spouse 1] to be your lawfully wedded [husband/wife/spouse]? (Spouse 2 is required to answer in the affirmative)

By virtue of the authority vested in me through the laws of the State of Utah, I now pronounce you [Spouse 1] and [Spouse 2] legally married.

9. The designee will complete the marriage certificate and provide it to the couple to be used as an unofficial keepsake of the  marriage ceremony.
10. The appointment as a designee may be terminated at any time by the Designee or the County Clerk for no cause with 30 days written notice, or at any time for any material breach of law, this policy, or any provision of the designation form by either party.
11. The designee will agree and promise to indemnify and hold harmless Grand County, its officers, agents, officials, employees, and volunteers, and release them for and from any liability, costs or expenses arising from any action, causes of action, claims for relief, demands, damages, expenses, costs, fees, or compensation, whether or not said actions, causes of action, claims for relief, demands, damages, costs, fees, expenses and/or compensations are known or unknown, are in law or equity, and without limitation, all claims of relief which can be set forth through a complaint or otherwise that may arise out of the acts or omissions, negligent or otherwise of the Designee, or marriage parties.
12. The appointment as a designee may be terminated at any time by the Designee or the County Clerk for no cause with 30 days written notice, or at any time for any material breach of law, this policy, or any provision of the designation form by either party.
13. A term designee shall promptly notify the Grand County Clerk/Auditor’s office of any change in contact information during their term as a designee.