Magistrates “shall charge a fee of $10.00 that shall be deposited in the treasury of the district control unit at the end of each month.” MCL 600.8316(1). Fees paid under MCL 600.8316 “shall be remitted to the district court in which the . . . magistrate performing the marriage serves.” Id. “A . . . magistrate may waive the fee for performing a marriage ceremony if the parties to the marriage are indigent.” MCL 600.8316(2). Magistrates may not take or receive any other or greater fee or reward for performing a marriage. MCL 600.2513.
Misdemeanor. Accepting any compensation above the $10.00 fee is a misdemeanor. MCL 600.2519. If convicted of the misdemeanor, the magistrate will be assessed treble damages and the violation is cause for forfeiture of appointment as a magistrate. Id.