Obtaining a marriage license in the nation's capital has gotten easier in recent years. Not only has the city dispensed with blood test requirements, it now allows same-sex couples to apply for marriage licenses. In addition, you do not have to be a Washington, D.C. resident to obtain a license. Marriage licenses are issued by the Marriage Bureau Section of the Family Court of the District of Columbia.
Valid Identification
According to the Superior Court of D.C., the parties to the marriage must each submit a valid form of identification to prove their identities and that they are over the age of 18. Permissible identification includes a driver's license, a non-driver's license, or a passport. Proof of age may be demonstrated by a birth certificate in addition to the aforementioned documents.
A Completed Marriage License Application
You may obtain a marriage license application at the Moultrie Courthouse in Washington, D.C. or online at dccourts.gov. The court clerk will not consider the application complete unless you fill out all the required information. Such information includes social security numbers, addresses, and dates of birth.
You will also be required to provide data on any previous marriages, including the city, state, and country of each marriage as well as information on the legal termination of the marriage.
Application Fee
You must pay the appropriate fee to receive the license. The fee includes the issuance of both the marriage license application and the certificate of marriage. The Court only accepts cash or money orders.
Money orders must be made payable to "Clerk, D.C. Superior Court." Note that the fee will be waived for applicants that present a D.C. Domestic Partnership Certificate at the time of the application.
Waiting Period
After submitting a marriage license application, couples must wait three full days before picking up the license. The waiting period is mandatory and may not be waived.
