District of Columbia Marriage License Requirements

District of Columbia Official Code §46-4: Marriage

Marriage License Requirements

According to D.C. marriage license regulations, a license to marry will not be issued until three days have past from the date of application of the license.

A marriage license will not be issued if:

• It is for a marriage of a person with a person's grandparent, grandparent's spouse, spouse's grandparent, parent's sibling, parent, step-parent, spouse's parent, child, spouse's child, child's spouse, sibling, child's child, child's child's spouse, spouse's child's child, or sibling's child; or
• For the marriage of any persons that has been previously married and whose previous marriage has not been terminated by death or a decree of divorce.

If any person intending to marry is under the age of 18 and has not been previously married, the Clerk will not issue a license unless a parent or guardian consents to the marriage. This consent can be done either personally to the Clerk, or by a written instrument attested by a witness and that is satisfactory to the Clerk.

In 2008, District of Columbia repealed premarital blood-test requirements.

Form of Marriage License

Licenses to perform the marriage ceremony must be addressed to some particular minister, magistrate, or other person authorized to perform or witness the marriage ceremony. The form should state these specific terms.

Voided Marriages

Under District of Columbia marriage licenses requirements, a marriage is considered void if:

• One party of the marriage is mentally incapable to give valid consent to marriage;
• The consent to the marriage by either party has been procured by force or fraud;
• Either of the parties is under 16 years of age.