According to guidelines from Judy Moser, Butler County register of wills and clerk of orphans’ court, to be recognized as legal by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, marriages must be performed under a valid marriage license by one of the following individuals recognized under state law:

• A justice, judge or magisterial district judge of Pennsylvania.

• A former or retired justice, judge or magisterial district judge who is serving as a senior judge or senior magisterial district judge as provided by law; or who meets certain legal criteria including not being convicted or placed on probation for misdemeanor of felony offenses or resigned from a judicial position to avoid having charges filed by federal, state or local law enforcement agencies or by the Judicial Conduct Board.

• An active or senior judge or full-time magistrate of the District Courts of the United States for the Eastern, Middle or Western District of Pennsylvania.

• An active, retired or senior judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit who is a resident of Pennsylvania.

• A mayor of any city or borough of the commonwealth or a former mayor who meets certain legal criteria.

• A minister, priest or rabbi of any regularly established church or congregation. Moser said her office will not determine what is or is not a church or congregation.

• Religious organizations. Every religious society, religious institution or religious organization in the commonwealth may join people together in marriage when at least one of the people is a member of the society, institution or organization, according to the rules and customs of the society, institution or organization.