What's happening
This bill allows certified civil celebrants, who meet specific education and training requirements, to legally solemnize marriages in New York.
Why it matters
Expands access to marriage officiation beyond religious or government figures. , providing more secular or personalized options for couples who may not want a religious or traditional ceremony.
Establishes strict certification requirements for civil celebrants. , including a minimum age, high school graduation, completion of a structured six-month educational course, and a formal application process—helping to ensure celebrants are trained and legitimate.
Creates oversight and accountability through the Secretary of State. , including application review, a certification fee, and the ability to revoke certification after a hearing if requirements are not met or false information is provided.
May reduce barriers for couples seeking non-traditional ceremonies. especially those who feel underserved by existing officiants—while aiming to prevent abuse or misuse of celebrant status by requiring standardized training and documentation.
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Who cares
Civil celebrants
The bill would authorize them to solemnize marriages after receiving state certification, subject to education, training, application and fee requirements.
New York Department of State
The bill would require the secretary of state to establish application procedures and a fee of $50 to $75, issue certifications and oversee revocation proceedings.
State-registered non-denominational and educational charitable organizations
Their civil celebrant courses could satisfy the training requirement if they meet the bill’s duration, frequency and curriculum standards.
Couples seeking to marry
The bill would add state-certified civil celebrants to the people authorized to solemnize their marriages.
Headline styles
Let Civil Celebrants Marry Couples
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to judiciary
- Referred to judiciary
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Allow Civil Celebrants Marriages
In Senate Committee · Judiciary · Sponsor Brad Hoylman-Sigal
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
817
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 11, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. JOYNER -- read once and referred to the Committee on Judiciary
AN ACT to amend the domestic relations law, in relation to solemnization of marriages by a civil celebrant
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 11 of the domestic relations law, as amended by chapter 95 of the laws of 2011, is amended and a new subdivision 1-b is added to read as follows:
1. A clergyman or minister of any religion, a civil celebrant who is certified by the secretary of state to solemnize marriages as set forth in subdivision one-b of this section, or by the senior leader, or any of the other leaders, of The Society for Ethical Culture in the city of New York, having its principal office in the borough of Manhattan, or by the leader of The Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture, having its principal office in the borough of Brooklyn of the city of New York, or of the Westchester Ethical Society, having its principal office in Westchester county, or of the Ethical Culture Society of Long Island, having its principal office in Nassau county, or of the Riverdale-Yonkers Ethical Society having its principal office in Bronx county, or by the leader of any other Ethical Culture Society affiliated with the American Ethical Union; provided that no clergyman or minister as defined in section two of the religious corporations law, or Society for Ethical Culture leader shall be required to solemnize any marriage when acting in his or her capacity under this subdivision.
1-b. A civil celebrant shall be authorized to solemnize marriages if certified to do so by the secretary of state.
(a) A civil celebrant shall receive a certification from the secretary of state to solemnize marriages if the celebrant:
(1) is at least eighteen years of age and has graduated from a secondary school in the United States;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00100-01-9
A. 817 2
(2) has completed a civil celebrant course offered by a non-denominational or educational charitable organization that is registered with the state and which course:
(i) includes classes that meet weekly or with more frequency, either administered in person or by other means, over a period of not less than six months; and
(ii) educates on topics including, but not limited to, celebrant philosophy and history, ceremonial structure, and ceremonial presentations; and
(3)(i) submits a completed application form, developed by the secretary of state pursuant to regulation, which includes the name and address of the celebrant-applicant along with any other relevant information on the celebrant-applicant required by the secretary of state, and supporting documentation with respect to all certification requirements set forth in this subdivision; and
(ii) pays to the department of state, at the time of submitting the completed application, a fee of not less than fifty dollars or more than seventy-five dollars, as determined by the secretary of state by regulation, to cover costs for processing applications, producing and issuing certificates, and maintaining records on applications and certificates issued or denied.
(b)(1) A celebrant-applicant shall not be authorized to solemnize marriages until the application for certification is approved and the certificate received from the secretary of state.
(2) A civil celebrant who has received a certification from the secretary of state may have that certification revoked, through a hearing before an administrative law judge, if the secretary of state determines that any information provided in the celebrant's application was inaccurate or otherwise did not comply with the certification requirements set forth in this subdivision. A civil celebrant subject to a revocation hearing before an administrative law judge or any appeal thereof shall not be authorized to solemnize marriages and shall only again be authorized to do so if a final determination is made permitting the civil celebrant to retain the certification.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.