Marriage Bureau Section
Hours of Operation
Mondays-Fridays: 8:30a.m.-5:00p.m.
Location
Moultrie Courthouse
500 Indiana Avenue, N.W., Room 4485
Washington, D.C. 20001
Main Contact
Phone: (202) 879-4840
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Marriage Bureau
Brochure [71k]
NOTE: Pursuant to the Marriage Amendment Act of 2008, DC Law 17-222, effective September 11, 2008, a blood test is no longer a requirement obtain a marriage license in the District of Columbia.
The Marriage Bureau Section of the Family Court issues marriage
licenses and minister authorizations for marriages performed
in the District of Columbia. The Bureau also maintains a list
of officiants who perform civil marriages within the Court.
Other responsibilities include:
- Filing, docketing, and file maintenance of all District
of Columbia marriage records from 1811 to the present, and
assisting the public in their review;
- Fielding inquiries about marriage license search information
made in person or through the mail; and
- Assisting petitioners on "How to File a Petition
to Correct a Marriage Record."
Marriage License Information
The minimum age for marriage in the District of Columbia
is 18 years or 16 years with the consent of a parent or guardian.
Proof of age for the applicant's must be shown and may
be demonstrated by driver's licenses, birth certificates,
passports, or similar official documents. The Marriage
License Application fee is $35.00 and the Certificate of Marriage,
issued with the license, is $10.00. The total fee of $45.00
must be paid by cash or money order (made out to Clerk,
D.C. Superior Court) for the application to be accepted.
The Marriage License Application must include social security
numbers, addresses, dates of birth for both parties as well
as previous marriage information, that is, the city, state,
country of each marriage and the ending status of each, such
as, by divorce or death. Home and work telephone numbers for
both parties are also requested.
Religious celebrants and judges other than those of the D.C.
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 for verification
and placement on the license. Otherwise, a request for a Civil
Wedding may be made and a clerk will attempt to schedule the
marriage ceremony with a court official on or near the date
you request, but not sooner than ten business days after your
license becomes valid.
By law, three full days must pass between the day of application
to the day that the license can be issued. The fee payment
receipt is required to pick up the license. Marriage licenses
are not issued by mail.
Information for
Marriage License Application [23k]
Scheduling a Civil Wedding Ceremony
When applying for a marriage license, you may request a Civil
Wedding, specifying the date and time you would like to be
married, at least 10 days from the date of application. You
must give this information to the deputy clerk. The clerk
will contact you by telephone to confirm the appointment requested.
The marriage ceremony room holds approximately 10 to 15 guests.
A court official will perform your marriage ceremony. You
can receive a certified copy of your marriage license the
same day for a fee of $10.00.
There is no fee for the marriage ceremony. Tax-deductible
donations can be made to the D.C. Superior Court Art Trust
Fund.
Civil Wedding Request
Information [68k]
Receiving a Certified Copy of a Marriage License
To receive a certified copy of a marriage license, you must
provide the full names of the bride and groom, the bride's
maiden name, and the date of the marriage. You must pay $10
($.50 for a plain copy) by cash or money order. Make money
order payable to Clerk, D.C. Superior Court. You may either
come to the Marriage Bureau Section in person to get a copy
or request a copy by mail. The triple seal certificate fee
is $20 (used for adoptions and foreign jurisdictions), plus
$10 for a copy. This certificate is generally used for verification
of marriage in another country.
Application for Authorization to Celebrate Marriages (D.C. Code ยง 46-406)
The application fee for authorization to celebrate marriages
in the District of Columbia is $35 (cash). You must have an
endorser from the same religious society, who is from currently
registered with the Marriage Bureau Section, Family Court.
If there is no endorser, you must request the written "Procedures
for the Registration of Clergy Without Endorser." Authorization
is indefinite for District of Columbia marriage ceremonies.
Application for Authorization
to Celebrate Marriages in the District of Columbia
[123k]
Procedures for
the Registration of Clergy Without Endorser [30k]
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