Texas Codes

Tex. Fam. Code § 2.202 (2026)

Persons Authorized To Conduct Ceremony

✓ current as of May 2026

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Sec. 2.202. PERSONS AUTHORIZED TO CONDUCT CEREMONY.

(a) The following persons are authorized to conduct a marriage ceremony:

(1) a licensed or ordained Christian minister or priest;

(2) a Jewish rabbi;

(3) a person who is an officer of a religious organization and who is authorized by the organization to conduct a marriage ceremony; and

(4) a current, former, or retired federal judge or state judge.

(b) For the purposes of Subsection (a)(4), "federal judge" and "state judge" have the meanings assigned by Section 25.025, Tax Code.

(b-1) Repealed by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 394 (H.B. 907), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2023.

(c) Except as provided by Subsection (d), a person commits an offense if the person knowingly conducts a marriage ceremony without authorization under this section. An offense under this subsection is a Class A misdemeanor.

(d) A person commits an offense if the person knowingly conducts a marriage ceremony of a minor whose marriage is prohibited by law or of a person who by marrying commits an offense under Section 25.01, Penal Code. An offense under this subsection is a felony of the third degree.

Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 7, Sec. 1, eff. April 17, 1997.

Amended by:

Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 268 (S.B. 6), Sec. 4.10, eff. September 1, 2005.

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 134 (S.B. 935), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2009.

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1350 (S.B. 1317), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2013.

Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1069 (H.B. 2278), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2015.

Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 394 (H.B. 907), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2023.

Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 394 (H.B. 907), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2023.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 12 cases (4 in the last 5 years), 2012–2026 · leading case: in Re: Roger Arash Farahmand (Tex. App. 2015).

Sort: Relevance Newest Treatment

in Re: Roger Arash Farahmand (Tex. App. 2015). · cites it 17× “Challenged Element Number 1: No valid 17 formal or ceremonial marriage - No Evidence of Person Authorized to Conduct Ceremony Per Tex. Fam. Code §2.202 (a)(l) b. Challenged Element Number 2: No valid 18 formal or ceremonial marriage - No Evidence of Person Authorized to Conduct…”

McCutchan v. Nicholson (N.D. Tex. 2025). · cites it 5× “TEX. FAM. CODE § 2.202. This statute designates who is authorized to solemnize weddings in Texas.”

Ctr. for Inquiry v. Warren (5th Cir. 2021). · cites it 3× “19-11029 ceremony without authorization under [Tex. Fam Code § 2.202].” The County Prosecutor is not a party in this case, and the Dallas County Clerk does not prosecute or investigate criminal offenses.”

McCutchan v. Nicholson (5th Cir. 2026). · cites it 2× “” Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 2.202 (a). A person who “knowingly conducts a marriage ceremony without authorization under this section” commits a Class A misdemeanor.”

Untitled Texas Attorney Gen. Opinion (Tex. Att'y Gen. 2012). · cites it 3× “TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 2.202(a)(4)-(b) (West Supp.”

in Re: Roger Arash Farahmand (Tex. App. 2015). · cites it 2× “9 Tex. Fam. Code§ 2.202(a)(3); Tex. Fam. Code § 2.”

Untitled Texas Attorney Gen. Opinion (Tex. Att'y Gen. 2014). · cites it 2× “TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 2.202(a)(4) (West Supp.”

Gustavo Noel Hinojosa v. Steve Paul LaFredo (Tex. App. 2020). “TEX. FAM. CODE § 2.202(a). –13– Tex. Aug.”

Dianne Hensley v. State Comm'n on Jud. Conduct (Tex. 2024). “8 See TEX. FAM. CODE § 2.202(a)(4), (b) (authorizing “a current, former, or retired federal judge or state judge”, as defined by Section 25.”

Fredrick Merril Jessop v. State (Tex. App. 2012). “See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 2.202 (d) (West Supp.”

Fredrick Merril Jessop v. State (Tex. App. 2012). “Jessop filed a notice of appeal from this judgment on February 9, 2012.”

Untitled Texas Attorney Gen. Opinion (Tex. Att'y Gen. 2015). “TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 2.202(a) (West Supp.”

— Tex. Fam. Code § 2.202(a) — 5 cases

McCutchan v. Nicholson (N.D. Tex. 2025). “TEX. FAM. CODE § 2.202. This statute designates who is authorized to solemnize weddings in Texas.”

Gustavo Noel Hinojosa v. Steve Paul LaFredo (Tex. App. 2020). “TEX. FAM. CODE § 2.202(a). –13– Tex. Aug.”

Ctr. for Inquiry v. Warren (5th Cir. 2021). “19-11029 ceremony without authorization under [Tex. Fam Code § 2.202].” The County Prosecutor is not a party in this case, and the Dallas County Clerk does not prosecute or investigate criminal offenses.”

McCutchan v. Nicholson (5th Cir. 2026). “” Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 2.202 (a). A person who “knowingly conducts a marriage ceremony without authorization under this section” commits a Class A misdemeanor.”

Untitled Texas Attorney Gen. Opinion (Tex. Att'y Gen. 2015). “TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 2.202(a) (West Supp.”

— Tex. Fam. Code § 2.202(a)(3) — 1 case

in Re: Roger Arash Farahmand (Tex. App. 2015). “9 Tex. Fam. Code§ 2.202(a)(3); Tex. Fam. Code § 2.”

— Tex. Fam. Code § 2.202(a)(4) — 3 cases

Untitled Texas Attorney Gen. Opinion (Tex. Att'y Gen. 2012). “TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 2.202(a)(4)-(b) (West Supp.”

Untitled Texas Attorney Gen. Opinion (Tex. Att'y Gen. 2014). “TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 2.202(a)(4) (West Supp.”

— Tex. Fam. Code § 2.202(c) — 1 case

McCutchan v. Nicholson (N.D. Tex. 2025). “TEX. FAM. CODE § 2.202. This statute designates who is authorized to solemnize weddings in Texas.”

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