How to Get Married in District of Columbia (2026)
Reviewed by DocDraft Legal Team · District of Columbia · Last updated 2026-05-18
If you are getting married in District of Columbia, the license process, the timing, and the recognized officiants are all set by District of Columbia law. The post-license waiting period is set by statute: any statutory waiting period between license issuance and lawful solemnization is set by the state's marriage code and should be confirmed against the current statute before scheduling the ceremony (consult the state code). License validity in District of Columbia: Does not expire. Common-law-marriage status: Yes. The sections that follow cover the District of Columbia steps from application through recorded marriage certificate.
Key Considerations
A District of Columbia marriage starts with a license, and a license starts with two threshold questions: cost and age eligibility. The cost question runs to the issuing clerk: $45. See the state agency website. The age question is set by the state marriage code: If any person intending to marry and seeking a license therefor shall be under 18 years of age, and shall not have been previously married, the said Clerk shall not issue such license unless the parent, or if there be neither parent nor guardian, the next of kin of such person, shall consent to such proposed marriage. provided, however, that no such license shall be issued to any person under 16 years of age except by order of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. See the state agency website. Both are settled before any application is signed.
Marriage formation in District of Columbia turns on two rules beyond the license. The state's common-law-marriage status is the first: Yes. The authorized-officiant list is the second: officiant authority in most U.S. states extends to ordained or credentialed clergy of any recognized religion, sitting and (often) retired judges, and designated civil officials such as judges of probate, justices of the peace, or county clerks; some states also recognize self-uniting or Quaker ceremonies (consult the state code). Both are statutory; private agreement does not override either one.
Two date-driven District of Columbia rules surround the marriage license. any statutory waiting period between license issuance and lawful solemnization is set by the state's marriage code and should be confirmed against the current statute before scheduling the ceremony (consult the state code). Does not expire. See the state agency website. A ceremony performed inside the waiting period (where one applies) or after the validity window has lapsed is not lawful, and the parties would have to reapply.
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Relevant Documents
Documents commonly produced at a District of Columbia marriage-license appointment: the marriage-license application form, identification for each applicant, and (where relevant) the certificate of completion of an approved premarital preparation course. No state-level statute. Governed by common law / municipal ordinance / case law as applicable. The District of Columbia marriage-license fee is paid to the issuing clerk at the time the application is filed.
Beneficiary Designation Forms
Documents that specify who receives assets from retirement accounts, life insurance policies, and other financial accounts upon your death.
Durable Power of Attorney
Authorizes someone to make financial and legal decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated, ensuring your affairs can be managed without court intervention.
Healthcare Power of Attorney
Designates someone to make medical decisions for you if you're unable to do so, ensuring your healthcare preferences are respected.
Prenuptial Agreement
A contract entered into before marriage that establishes rights to property and financial support in case of divorce or death. This document can protect pre-marital assets and outline financial responsibilities during marriage.
Updated Will
A legal document that specifies how your assets should be distributed after death. Marriage typically invalidates previous wills in many jurisdictions, making it important to create a new one that includes your spouse.
Relevant Laws
Marriage License Requirements
In Washington DC, both parties must appear in person at the Marriage Bureau to apply for a marriage license. You must bring valid government-issued photo ID, and the license fee is $45. There is no waiting period, and the license is valid for 90 days after issuance.
Age Requirements
Both parties must be at least 18 years old to marry in DC without parental consent. Individuals who are 16 or 17 years old may marry with parental consent or proof of emancipation.
Marriage Ceremony Requirements
In DC, marriages may be performed by judges, court clerks authorized by the court, or any religious official authorized to perform marriages. Self-uniting marriages (without an officiant) are not recognized in DC.
Name Change After Marriage
If you wish to change your name after marriage in DC, you can use your marriage certificate as proof for updating your Social Security card, driver's license, and other identification documents. There is no requirement to change your name.
Marriage Equality
Same-sex marriage has been legal in Washington DC since March 3, 2010. The District was one of the first jurisdictions in the United States to legalize same-sex marriage, predating the nationwide Obergefell v. Hodges Supreme Court decision of 2015.
Regional Variances
Washington DC Marriage Requirements
In Washington DC, couples must apply for a marriage license in person at the DC Marriage Bureau (located in the Moultrie Courthouse). There is no waiting period after receiving your license, and the license is valid for 90 days. Both parties must be 18 or older (those 16-17 need parental consent). DC does not require blood tests or medical exams. Same-sex marriage has been legal since 2010. Non-residents can marry in DC without establishing residency. The application fee is $45, and you'll need government-issued photo ID. DC also offers self-uniting marriage licenses where couples can solemnize their own marriage without an officiant.
Neighboring Jurisdictions
Just across the DC border, Montgomery County has different requirements. Maryland has a 48-hour waiting period after license issuance (though this can be waived by a judge). Marriage licenses are valid for 6 months, and the application fee is typically higher than DC at around $55. Maryland requires at least one witness for the ceremony, unlike DC which doesn't specify a witness requirement.
In nearby Arlington, Virginia has no waiting period, but licenses are only valid for 60 days (compared to DC's 90 days). Virginia requires blood tests for couples under 18, has stricter requirements for minors seeking marriage, and charges approximately $30 for a marriage license. Virginia also requires the couple to state their race on the marriage license application, a requirement not found in DC.
Special Considerations
If planning a religious ceremony in DC, note that while the legal requirements are the same, some religious institutions may have additional requirements such as premarital counseling or membership in their congregation. These requirements vary by institution but don't affect the legal validity of your marriage.
DC was an early adopter of marriage equality, legalizing same-sex marriage in 2010. The district has some of the most progressive LGBTQ+ family laws in the country, including straightforward second-parent adoption processes and recognition of non-biological parents that may differ from neighboring jurisdictions.
Suggested Compliance Checklist
File the marriage-license application with the District of Columbia issuing clerk (county clerk, town clerk, or probate.
Before the ceremony days after starting$45. Each applicant should bring valid photo identification and any prior-marriage termination documents the clerk requests.
Verify identification and any prior-marriage documents at the counter
Before the ceremony days after startingBoth applicants typically present current government photo ID; previously married applicants should bring a certified copy of the divorce decree, annulment order, or death certificate as proof the prior marriage has ended.
Consider completing a state-approved premarital preparation course if this state offers a discount or waiting-period.
Before the ceremony days after startingNo state-level statute. Governed by common law / municipal ordinance / case law as applicable. The certificate of completion must be presented to the clerk at the time of application, not later.
Track the license validity window
Before applying days after startingDoes not expire. The wedding has to occur inside that window; if it does not, the license lapses and a fresh license (with a new fee and another application) is required.
Account for the post-license waiting period when picking a ceremony date
Before the ceremony days after startingany statutory waiting period between license issuance and lawful solemnization is set by the state's marriage code and should be confirmed against the current statute before scheduling the ceremony (consult the state code). The waiting period (where the state imposes one) runs from the license issuance date, so the application timing has to be worked backward from the planned ceremony date.
Solemnize the marriage with an officiant the state recognizes
At the ceremony days after startingofficiant authority in most U.S. states extends to ordained or credentialed clergy of any recognized religion, sitting and (often) retired judges, and designated civil officials such as judges of probate, justices of the peace, or county clerks; some states also recognize self-uniting or Quaker ceremonies (consult the state code). Verifying the officiant's authority in advance is important because a defective solemnization is one of the few errors the marriage code does not always cure retroactively.
Make sure the officiant files the executed license back with the issuing office promptly after the ceremony
After the ceremony days after startingRecording converts the license into a recorded marriage on the state's vital-records system and is what makes a certified marriage certificate available.
| Task | Description | Document | Days after starting |
|---|---|---|---|
| File the marriage-license application with the District of Columbia issuing clerk (county clerk, town clerk, or probate. | $45. Each applicant should bring valid photo identification and any prior-marriage termination documents the clerk requests. | - | Before the ceremony |
| Verify identification and any prior-marriage documents at the counter | Both applicants typically present current government photo ID; previously married applicants should bring a certified copy of the divorce decree, annulment order, or death certificate as proof the prior marriage has ended. | - | Before the ceremony |
| Consider completing a state-approved premarital preparation course if this state offers a discount or waiting-period. | No state-level statute. Governed by common law / municipal ordinance / case law as applicable. The certificate of completion must be presented to the clerk at the time of application, not later. | - | Before the ceremony |
| Track the license validity window | Does not expire. The wedding has to occur inside that window; if it does not, the license lapses and a fresh license (with a new fee and another application) is required. | - | Before applying |
| Account for the post-license waiting period when picking a ceremony date | any statutory waiting period between license issuance and lawful solemnization is set by the state's marriage code and should be confirmed against the current statute before scheduling the ceremony (consult the state code). The waiting period (where the state imposes one) runs from the license issuance date, so the application timing has to be worked backward from the planned ceremony date. | - | Before the ceremony |
| Solemnize the marriage with an officiant the state recognizes | officiant authority in most U.S. states extends to ordained or credentialed clergy of any recognized religion, sitting and (often) retired judges, and designated civil officials such as judges of probate, justices of the peace, or county clerks; some states also recognize self-uniting or Quaker ceremonies (consult the state code). Verifying the officiant's authority in advance is important because a defective solemnization is one of the few errors the marriage code does not always cure retroactively. | - | At the ceremony |
| Make sure the officiant files the executed license back with the issuing office promptly after the ceremony | Recording converts the license into a recorded marriage on the state's vital-records system and is what makes a certified marriage certificate available. | - | After the ceremony |
Frequently Asked Questions
$45. The figure that controls is the one on the issuing clerk's current fee schedule, which the clerk applies at the counter. Couples should also ask the clerk about accepted payment methods, which sometimes exclude personal checks.
any statutory waiting period between license issuance and lawful solemnization is set by the state's marriage code and should be confirmed against the current statute before scheduling the ceremony (consult the state code). Plan the ceremony date in District of Columbia against the earliest lawful day under this rule; a wedding that occurs before the period runs is voidable, and the couple would have to redo the ceremony after the period closes.
Yes. The doctrine has been narrowed or abolished prospectively in most states over the past century. Couples planning a future marriage in District of Columbia should not assume common-law status without confirming the current rule against the state marriage code.
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