How To Become A Marriage Officer In Jamaica

How To Become A Marriage Officer In Jamaica, by Katrina O'Sullivan, Contributed

All aspects of a wedding ceremony are considered very important to its intended outcome; the venue, catering, decorations, etc. But none is as important as the marriage officer - there is no marriage without a certified marriage officer.

It is an esteemed position that provides you the privilege of not only getting between two lovebirds during a wedding ceremony but also having a memorable impression on their lives.

So if you have ever considered becoming a certified marriage officer in Jamaica, allowing you the honor to officiate the holy matrimony of others but are not quite sure where to begin, the following is the information needed.

But first though...

Who is a Marriage officer?

By definition, a marriage officer is anyone who is legally authorized to officiate a wedding ceremony. It is a minister who is licensed by the state to legally marry two individuals.

And what (else) do they do?

Roles of a Marriage Officer

The role is extensive but includes:

1. Guiding couples on their journey to marriage. They help to give the couple an idea and understanding of the lifetime commitment they’re about to make.
   
   
2. Perform wedding ceremony. This is self-explanatory; they are in charge of the flow of the ceremony, the vow exchange, etc.
   
   
3. Signing Marriage license. This is to authorize and legalize the union of the two persons.
   
   
4. Providing pre-marital and spiritual counseling to the couple. This is extremely important to set the groundwork for the marriage. It aids the couple with clearing the air and planning their future together.
   

Now you know!
So exactly what are the steps to becoming a certified marriage officer?

How To Become A Marriage Officer In Jamaica

1. First you must first be a Minister Of Religion.
   It is the first prerequisite in Jamaica.
   
   
2. Assuming you have the primary qualification, you are then required to submit the following documents that are necessary to begin the process to the Registrar General Department. These include...
   
   
   
   
   • A letter of application in your (the applicant's) handwriting. It is to include the address of the church or churches and the number of members in the congregation(s).
     
     
   • Your Birth Certificate
     
     
   • Any documents noting a change of name ( deed poll, marriage certificate, or adoption certificate)
     
     
   • One (1) passport-sized photo
     
     
   • A Resume
     
     
   • One (1) letter of recommendation from the head of your denomination, &
     
     
   • Two (2) letters of recommendation from two other ministers of religion who are currently marriage officers.
     
   
   
   
3. You will then be interviewed.
   
   
4. The police will conduct a background check on you.
   
   
5. Once approved, a recommendation for the appointment will be submitted to the Ministry of Health for approval and gazetting.
   
   
6. Final Process - Training
   
   Upon receipt of the gazette of appointment for the Marriage Officer, the Registrar Generals Department (RGD), will then contact you and invite you to a training seminar.
   
   This seminar would include training in all aspects of the marriage act including role play, marriage officer’s identification, Marriage Act
   and The Marriage Manual.
   
   Note that a fee is usually charged for the seminar.
   
   
7. That's it, Congratulations!
   
   After all these steps you can be finally registered as a Marriage Officer. You will then receive marriage registers and the required forms to conduct a marriage. Good luck and enjoy :-)
   

I welcome your comments

See also: How To Request Vital Records In Jamaica.

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