Officiating a wedding in District of Columbia
Registration, the license, and who returns it — the essentials for officiants.
Informational only. Informational only, not legal advice. Confirm the current rule with the county clerk or issuing office that handles the license.
Reviewed August 2026 · Issuing office: dccourts.gov
Can you officiate, and is registration required?
The District authorizes officiants through the Marriage Bureau of the D.C. Superior Court. Judges, clerks, clergy, designated representatives of religious societies, civil celebrants, temporary officiants, Council members, the Mayor and the two people marrying are all on the authorized list, and all must be 18 or older. A friend or relative takes the temporary-officiant route, which authorizes one specific marriage and whose registration amount is capped by statute. Confirm the current amounts and application steps with the Marriage Bureau.
Who returns the license, and by when
The person who solemnized returns the license to the Clerk’s Office of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia within 10 days, and the license itself states a penalty for default. Confirm the window and the filing steps with the Marriage Bureau.
Suggested return window: about 10 days after the ceremony. Confirm the current deadline with the issuing clerk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have to register to officiate in Washington, DC?
Yes. Authority comes from the District through the Superior Court’s Marriage Bureau. A friend or relative can be authorized as a temporary officiant for one specific marriage; a civil-celebrant authorization is ongoing.
Can a couple marry themselves in the District?
The two people marrying are on the District’s list of authorized officiants. Confirm how that is recorded, and what the Marriage Bureau asks for, before the date.
When is a District marriage license due back?
Within 10 days, to the Clerk’s Office of the Superior Court. The license states a penalty for a default, so confirm the filing steps with the Marriage Bureau.
Never miss a return deadline
RiteBinder's license tracker keeps every state's note in front of you (free, no card). On Solo it also turns the signed license into a task and reminds you before the deadline.
Confirm the current rule with the issuing office:dccourts.gov.