New Tennessee law

Tennessee has been like that for a while, they just changed the law to make it more clear because it was a little bit ambiguous before. But there are several news stories of people going to get a divorce in Tennessee finding out they were never legally married.

My cousins were married by my uncle, in TN. So I’m not sure how long it’s been the law, but thanks.

View Quoted Comment A news article said since 1998. No one will challenge the marriage but it will come up if they ever get divorced.

It’s crazy to me how much variance there is from state to stare. In CO my FH and I can go get our marriage license (together in person or one of us with a completed absentee affidavit if necessary) and sign it ourselves and be legally married. We don’t have a waiting period, don’t need witnesses or an officiant at all. I do think CO is a little strange in how lax they are, but I’m also grateful because an officiant is just one more vendor I would have to find and find the money to pay for. Instead a friend who has officiated a couple weddings previously is going to do it and we’ll give him something for his services.

View Quoted Comment The old law, 1998, didn’t specifically not allow online ordination
in 2015 they began “not accepting” it although they didn’t/don’t check the authenticity of it. The legality of the marriage would need to be decided upon by a judge in the case that a couple did want to divorce.
The new law specifically does not allow it.
I simply wanted to spread the word to couples who may be contemplating it since it was a change.

View Quoted Comment You would think it would be more universal.
We signed our license at the county clerk and didn’t have to sign anything the day of 🤷‍♀️ Our officiant signed it, I don’t know if any one from our bridal party signed it. Maybe the lady at the county clerk signed it as witness. I don’t know. But it was all correct because we got our marriage certificate back, lol.

View Quoted Comment Definitely! I think it’s good they are making it more clear. But I’ve found articles dating back 12 years ago stating that Tennessee doesn’t allow online ordination so it’s not something I would’ve personally risked!

View Quoted Comment

The law change simply means your officiant will have to get local church ordination instead of online ordination. This is easy to do! Simply google Local Church ordination accepted by Virginia and Tennessee, Ordination Administrator. Virginia outlawed online ordination years ago and the same local churches are now taking care of Tennessee ministers. The Ordination Administrator will put you in touch with a non-online church whose ordinations are accepted in both Virginia and Tennessee. You will then be able to perform all of your scheduled Tennessee marriage ceremonies.