Washington D.C. Marriage Records Online
The District of Columbia Department of Health maintains vital records such as Birth and Death certificates, but they do not maintain the District of Columbia marriage records. Marriage records are maintained by the Marriage bureau section of the family court. This department has all District of Columbia Marriage records on file from the year 1811 to present. Individuals who require a certified copy of a marriage license may contact this department. The Bureau also maintains a list of officiates who perform civil marriages within the court.
Certified copies of marriage records may be necessary for individuals who may have lost their original marriage license or for those who are seeking to verify the marriage of another individual. Copies of marriage certificates may also serve as identification when you need to provide proof of age, applying for citizenship, applying for insurance benefits, etc.
To receive a certified copy of a marriage license from the Marriage Bureau of The District of Columbia, you must provide the full names of the bride and groom along with the date that the couple was married. Copies of marriage certificates may be purchased by coming to the marriage bureau in person or copies may be requested by mail. The fee for a copy of a marriage certificate is $10
To receive a marriage license from the Marriage Bureau of the District of Columbia, the couple must complete a marriage license application. The license application must include: the social security numbers of both parties, as well as the birthdates, names and addresses of both parties. If applicable, previous marriage information is also required, such as whether the marriage ended in divorce or death of a spouse.
At the time of application the name of the person who is intended to perform the marriage ceremony must be given. The person performing the ceremony must be authorized by the Court and registered by The Marriage Bureau in order to legally perform the ceremony. The couple will also have the option of arranging to have a Civil Wedding ceremony performed by a court official after ten days of submitting the application.
Each party must present a form of identification in order to receive a marriage license. Accepted forms of ID include: Driver's License, Passport, or Non-driver ID issued by the government.
Applicants must also provide proof of age. Each party must be at least 18 years of age to be married in The District of Columbia without parental consent. Applicants who are 16 years old may marry with parental consent. To show proof of age applicants must present either of the following documents: Birth Certificate, Passport, or similar documents.
In the District of Columbia the law requires that the license be issued no earlier than three days after the application is submitted. Marriage licenses must be obtained directly from the Marriage Bureau office. Marriage licenses will not be issued by mail. The fee for a marriage license is $35.
To request a Washington D.C. marriage certificate, please follow the below instructions:
Step 1.
All requests for marriage records must be in writing. In your request, you must include the full names of the bride and groom, maiden name of bride, and date of marriage.
Step 2.
Sign your request and include a check or money order for $10 for the cost of the copy, which can be made payable to Clerk, DC Superior Court.
Step 3.
Mail your written request to the address below, or take your application in person to the court.
Mail the request to:
D.C. Superior Court
500 Indiana Avenue, NW, Rm 4485
Washington, DC 20001
(202) 879-4840
Why Order Marriage Records?
Marriage records are considered a vital record. Events such as marriage, divorce, birth and death are important for states and the District of Columbia to keep track of population and demographic information. Individuals may want a copy of a vital record for official or personal reasons. A marriage certificate can be a keepsake of an important day, a verification for identification purposes, or simply a record to document a genealogical research.
Where to Find Washington D.C. Marriage Records
Marriage records in Washington D.C. are maintained at the DC Superior Court. All requests for a certified copy can be directed to this office.
Information Needed to Obtain a Marriage Certificate
In order to request a certified copy of a Washington D.C. marriage certificate, a written request must be presented with the full names of bride and groom, maiden name of bride, and the date of marriage.
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