Attorney General Opinions 
Relating to County Government

2007 County Clerks

• In order to be valid, a marriage ceremony must be performed by a person authorized under Tennessee law.  Ministers and other spiritual leaders who are authorized to perform marriages must be ordained in conformity with the customs of the denomination and authorized to perform religious functions.  Courts look to the tenets of the particular religion to determine whether a particular individual is qualified to solemnize a marriage. Opinion No. 07-122 (August 16, 2007).