Marriage

Effective July 12, 2021, the Marriage Bureau will process marriage license applications and officiant applications remotely and in person. Click here to read the notice from the Clerk of Court with details on how to apply.

Note*: All parties — both the parties to the wedding and the person performing the wedding — must be physically present in the District of Columbia at the time of the ceremony.

You may apply for a marriage license online.

You will be required to show proof of age for both parties through one of the following documents: 

• US valid driver’s license,
• Government-issued non-driver’s ID, or
• Passport.

The minimum age for marriage in the District of Columbia is 18, or 16 with the consent of a parent or guardian. 

The marriage license application fee is $45.00 ($35 of this fee will be waived if the applicant's’ original DC Domestic Partnership Certificate and is presented at the time of application). All fees must be paid in cash or credit card  or by check or money order (made payable to: "Clerk, DC Superior Court").

Due to Covid-19 and staff working remotely, it may take up to five business days for your marriage license to be issued. Once issued, a marriage license does not expire.

Court Officiant
You may request a civil wedding with a court official - Please see the Civil Wedding Ceremonies section. We will attempt to perform the ceremony on or near the date you request (please allow at least ten business days after license is issued).

Other Officiants
Religious celebrants and judges other than those of the DC Courts must be authorized by the Court and registered by the Marriage Bureau in order to perform legal marriages in the District of Columbia.The full name of the intended celebrant must be given at the time of the application. Please see the Application for Authorization to Celebrate Marriages. 

Self Officiants
A self-officiating ceremony occurs when one of the parties performs the ceremony. Both parties must attest to the information provided on the marriage application.

Please submit the following information to request a copy of your marriage license: full names, maiden names, and the date of the marriage for both parties.

The fee is $10 per copy.

After submitting the request, you will be directed to an online payment portal and, after payment has been received, your copy will be mailed to you.

If you are not able to use the online payment portal, you can send your check or money order (payable to Clerk, DC Superior Court) to:

District of Columbia Superior Court
Marriage Bureau - JM 690
500 Indiana Av. NW
Washington, DC 20001

As noted above: To prevent delays and expedite processing requests, a Marriage Bureau representative will provide you with a link to make payments. Please do not make payments until being directed to do so.

Pursuant to the "Marriage Officiant Amendment Act of 2013" (DC Code § 46-406), the following persons or organizations are authorized or are candidates for authorization to perform marriages in the District of Columbia:

1. A judge or retired judge of any court of record
2. The Clerk of the Court of such deputy clerks of the Courts as may, in writing be designated by the Clerk and approved by the Chief Judge of the Court
3. A minister, priest, rabbi, or authorized person of any religious denomination or society ($35 fee & application required)
4. For any religious society which does not by its own custom require the intervention of a minister for the celebration of marriages, a marriage may be solemnized in the manner prescribed and practiced in that religious society, with the license issued to, and returns to be made by, a person appointed by the religious society for that purpose ($35 fee & application required)
5. A civil celebrant ($35 fee & application required)
6. A temporary officiant ($25 fee & application required)
7. Members of the Council
8. The Mayor of the District of Columbia or
9. The parties to the marriage (both parties to the marriage must apply in person with a valid government issued identification).

The Officiant Application or the Temporary Officiant Application may be submitted as needed by sending to MarriageBureau [at] dcsc.gov . Within five business days of receiving the application, a clerk will reach out to you with a link to our payment portal to complete the process.