District of Columbia Marriage License Requirements 2026: $45, No Wait

In the District of Columbia, the Clerk of the Superior Court issues marriage licenses through the Marriage Bureau at the Moultrie Courthouse. There is no waiting period, the license does not expire, and the application fee is $45. Both partners must be at least 18, and under D.C. Code 46-410 the Clerk examines applicants under oath before issuing any license.

For other states, see our guide to marriage license requirements by state.

Information last verified on October 7, 2026. This article has not been reviewed by a licensed lawyer.

Jurisdiction scope: This article covers getting a marriage license and marrying in the District of Columbia under Chapter 4 of Title 46 of the D.C. Code (sections 46-401 to 46-421) and the D.C. Superior Court's marriage procedures. It does not cover divorce, ordering older marriage records, common-law marriage, or the rules of Maryland, Virginia or any other state.

Where to apply for a marriage license in DC

DC has one issuing office, not a choice of counties. The Clerk of the Superior Court issues licenses through the Marriage Bureau, located in the Moultrie Courthouse, Room JM-690, 500 Indiana Ave NW. The Bureau processes license and officiant applications remotely and in person, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The court's marriage page puts it plainly: "You may apply for a marriage license online." Start from the D.C. Superior Court marriage page.

Whether both of you must appear in person to receive the license is not spelled out on the court page we reviewed, except for self-officiated weddings (covered below). Call or email the Marriage Bureau before you go if that matters for your plans.

Under D.C. Code 46-410, the Clerk must examine every applicant under oath before issuing a license. The statute says the Clerk shall do so "before issuing any license to solemnize a marriage."

Documents and ID you need

The court requires proof of age for both partners, using one of these:

• A valid US driver's license
• A government-issued non-driver ID
• A passport

Each applicant must also record any Social Security number assigned to them on the application, under D.C. Code 46-416.01. The Clerk's examination under 46-410 covers names, ages, prior marriages and whether you are related.

If either of you was married before, that marriage must have ended by death or by a divorce decree. A marriage entered while an earlier one is still in force is void under D.C. Code 46-401.01(3).

You will also need the full name of the person who will perform your ceremony when you apply. Neither the court's marriage page nor D.C. Code 46-410 lists a DC residency requirement.

How much a DC marriage license costs

The court sets the fees below. They are the same for every couple, since the Superior Court is the only issuing office.

Source: D.C. Superior Court marriage page (last updated February 17, 2026). Fees can change, and the court page is the final word.

The court accepts cash, credit cards, checks and money orders. Make checks and money orders payable to "Clerk, DC Superior Court."

The court page we reviewed did not list a fee for a civil ceremony performed by the court, and we found no premarital education discount. Ask the Marriage Bureau about a court ceremony's cost when you request one.

Waiting period and how long the license lasts

DC has no waiting period between getting the license and marrying. The waiting-period section, D.C. Code 46-409, was repealed by D.C. Law 20-148 in December 2014, and the related waiver section, 46-418, was repealed the same way.

One practical timing note: if you want a civil ceremony performed at the court, the court asks you to allow at least ten business days after your license is issued.

A DC license has no expiration date. In the court's words, "Once issued, a marriage license does not expire."

Minimum age to marry in DC: 18, no exceptions

Both partners must be at least 18. D.C. Code 46-411 now reads: "If any person intending to marry and seeking a license therefore shall be under 18 years of age, the Clerk shall not issue such license."

There is no parental-consent route, no court-approval route and no pregnancy exception. The Child Marriage Prohibition Amendment Act of 2024 (D.C. Law 25-311) raised the age of consent in 46-403 from 16 to 18, rewrote 46-411, and removed the parent and guardian language from 46-410. Although the act carries a 2024 title, it took effect on March 21, 2025, after the congressional review period.

Who cannot marry in DC

D.C. Code 46-401.01 declares certain marriages void from the start. They include a marriage to your:

• Parent, step-parent, grandparent, or grandparent's spouse
• Child, grandchild, or a child's or grandchild's spouse
• Sibling, or a sibling's child
• Parent's sibling
• Spouse's parent, grandparent, child or grandchild

A marriage is also void if either person's previous marriage had not ended by death or a divorce decree. First cousins do not appear on the 46-401.01 list.

DC allows marriage regardless of gender. D.C. Code 46-401 states: "Any person may enter into a marriage in the District of Columbia with another person, regardless of gender, unless the marriage is expressly prohibited by § 46-401.01 or § 46-403."

No blood test

DC does not require a premarital blood test. D.C. Code 46-417, which once required one, was repealed by D.C. Law 17-222 in September 2008.

Who can perform a wedding in DC

D.C. Code 46-406(b) lists who may solemnize a marriage. Each must be at least 18:

• A judge or retired judge of any court of record
• The Clerk of the Superior Court and designated deputy clerks
• A minister, priest, rabbi or authorized person of any religious denomination or society
• A person appointed by a religious society
• A civil celebrant, meaning a person from a secular or non-religious organization
• A temporary officiant authorized by the Clerk for one specific wedding
• Members of the D.C. Council
• The Mayor
• The parties to the marriage themselves

The court says religious celebrants and judges other than those of the DC Courts must be authorized by the court and registered by the Marriage Bureau. Clergy and civil celebrants apply and pay $35. A temporary officiant pays $25, and that authority expires once the license is filed.

D.C. Code 46-406 does not mention online ordination. If your officiant was ordained online, ask the Marriage Bureau whether that ordination supports an authorization before you set the date.

The marriage chapter of the D.C. Code (46-401 to 46-421) does not require separate witnesses; 46-412 uses "witness" only for the authorized person handling the ceremony. The court page did not address witnesses. Confirm with the Marriage Bureau if you are unsure.

Marrying yourselves (self-officiation)

In DC, a couple can solemnize their own marriage. Section 46-406(b)(9) lists "the parties to the marriage," and the court describes it this way: "A self-officiating ceremony occurs when one of the parties performs the ceremony."

For a self-officiated wedding, the court says both partners must apply in person, show valid government ID, and attest to the application. The court's online application form adds that both of you must be present when picking up the license.

Both of you and the officiant must be in DC

The court requires that all parties, meaning both partners and the person performing the wedding, be physically present in the District of Columbia at the time of the ceremony.

That rules out a ceremony where one partner or the officiant joins from another state. The D.C. Code sections we reviewed do not use the term proxy marriage, so ask the Marriage Bureau about any unusual arrangement.

During a federal government shutdown

In past federal shutdowns, the Council passed short-term "Let Our Vows Endure" (LOVE) acts. The most recent, D.C. Law 26-76 (the LOVE Temporary Amendment Act of 2025), let the Mayor issue marriage licenses and authorize temporary officiants, but only while the Clerk was not issuing licenses because of a federal government shutdown.

D.C. Law 26-76 took effect on December 31, 2025 and, by its own terms, expired 225 days later, in August 2026. As of October 7, 2026, the D.C. Code shows no permanent version in force, so the Mayor route is not currently available unless the Council passes a new act. If a shutdown closes the court, check the D.C. Superior Court marriage page and the Mayor's office for current instructions.

After the ceremony: returning the license and getting copies

Under D.C. Code 46-412, the person who performs the wedding must return the certificate to the Clerk's Office of the Superior Court "within 10 days under a penalty of $50 for default therein." The officiant may return it in person or by mail. A second certificate goes to the couple. Section 46-413 provides a $50 penalty, on conviction in the Superior Court, for failing to make the return.

The Clerk keeps the marriage records, and under D.C. Code 46-414 a certified copy is competent evidence of the marriage. The court issues certified copies for $10 each; you can request them remotely or in person, and they are mailed after payment.

For ordering a copy later, see DC marriage and divorce records. If you plan to change your surname, start with our guide to changing your name after marriage and the DC name change laws.

Disclaimer: This article provides general legal information about marriage licenses under District of Columbia law (D.C. Code sections 46-401 to 46-421) as verified on October 7, 2026. It is not legal advice. For questions about your specific situation, contact the D.C. Superior Court Marriage Bureau or a lawyer licensed in the District of Columbia.

Related

• Marriage license requirements by state
• Maryland marriage license requirements
• Virginia marriage license requirements
• District of Columbia common-law marriage
• How to get a copy of your marriage certificate

Last updated: October 7, 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is a marriage license in DC?

The application fee is $45, according to the D.C. Superior Court. If you present an original DC Domestic Partnership Certificate, $35 is waived, so you pay $10.

Is there a waiting period to get married in DC?

No. D.C. Code 46-409, which once set a waiting period, was repealed by D.C. Law 20-148 in 2014, and the court's marriage page lists no waiting period. If you want a civil ceremony at the court, the court asks you to allow at least ten business days after the license is issued.

How long is a DC marriage license valid?

The Superior Court says that once a DC marriage license is issued, it does not expire.

Can you apply for a DC marriage license online?

Yes. The Superior Court's marriage page says you may apply for a marriage license online, and the Marriage Bureau processes applications remotely and in person.

Can a 16- or 17-year-old get married in DC?

No. Since March 21, 2025, D.C. Code 46-411 bars the Clerk from issuing a license to anyone under 18, and there is no parental-consent or court-approval exception (D.C. Law 25-311).

Can you marry yourselves in DC?

Yes. D.C. Code 46-406(b)(9) lists the parties to the marriage among those who may solemnize it. The court says both parties must apply in person with valid government ID for a self-officiated wedding.

Can a friend officiate a wedding in DC?

Yes, as a temporary officiant authorized by the Clerk for that one wedding. The fee is $25 (capped by D.C. Code 46-406(b-2)), and the authority ends when the license is filed.

Does DC require a blood test to get married?

No. D.C. Code 46-417, the premarital blood test requirement, was repealed by D.C. Law 17-222 in 2008.

Can you get married in DC if you live in another state?

Neither the court's marriage page nor D.C. Code 46-410 lists a DC residency requirement. The ceremony itself must take place in the District, with both partners and the officiant physically present.

Who returns the marriage license after a DC wedding?

The officiant returns the certificate to the Clerk's Office of the Superior Court within 10 days, in person or by mail, under a $50 penalty for default (D.C. Code 46-412).

How do I get a certified copy of my DC marriage certificate?

The Superior Court issues certified copies for $10 each. You can request them remotely or in person, and copies are mailed after payment.