May I officiate same-sex marriages as a Notary?

Can I officiate same-sex marriages? I read online that the two parties to be married must be a male and a female. Could this be outdated? — M. J., Florida

Same sex marriage in Florida and all 50 states and the District of Columbia became legal because of the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark case decided June 26, 2015. You may perform a marriage ceremony for any couple who presents you with a valid Florida Marriage License.

Hotline answers are based on the laws in the state where the question originated and may not reflect the laws of other states. If in doubt, always refer to your own state statutes. – The Editors

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Rose Marie Roldan

22 Oct 2025

It looks like I will be officiating marriages very soon in my city; the news is spreading quite fast that notaries can perform marriages. I need to know a little more about this delicate subject; officiate same-sex marriages. As a Bible Believing Christian I will not be able to serve some in my community/neighbors in my State. I know Jesus will not approve of me uniting people of the same sex in marriage. Where should I go to get more information about it? I need to know if it is one of those things that I either marry everybody that comes to my location or just to not do it at all. Any information will be welcome. Thank you

National Notary Association

04 Nov 2025

Hello. While you did not specify what state you are commissioned in, Article I-A-4 of The Notary Public Code of Professional Responsibility provides the following guidelines: "The Notary shall not refuse to perform a lawful and proper notarial act because of the principal’s race, nationality, ethnicity, citizenship, religion, politics, lifestyle, advanced age, physical disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, or because of any disagreement with the statements or purpose of a document." We would also suggest reviewing the state-specific Notary refusal guidelines and recommended general practices in this article: https://www.nationalnotary.org/notary-bulletin/blog/2015/07/when--no-and-when-refusing-not-allowed If you can let us know what state you are commissioned in, we can provide more specific information on your state's rules regarding refusal of services if available.

Lizzie Hogan-Berry

26 Apr 2021

now that I have my commission number how do I get it to nna for the stamp.

Hello. Please email our Customer Care team at services@nationalnotary.org with your information and state to request instructions.

'Wedding Officiant'

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Hello. Please see this article for more information; https://www.nationalnotary.org/notary-bulletin/blog/2014/05/how-notaries-add-wedding-services

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