who may officiate in washington, d.c.?

modcbride · July 2011

This applies to different types of judges, not religious figures.

I know that only judges of the "D.C. Courts" may officiate weddings in Washington, D.C. unless an application for authorization for a different officiant is approved. But when I looked at the Marriage Bureau website, I only saw applications for other religious officiants to be authorized.

http://www.dccourts.gov/dccourts/superior/family/marriage.jsp
http://www.dccourts.gov/dccourts/docs/family/marriage.pdf

Is there an application for non-D.C. judges to receive permission to officiate a wedding in D.C.? Has anyone gotten a non-D.C. judge to officiate their wedding?

2dBride · July 2011

As far as I can make out, DC allows only a) DC judges, b) DC religious officials, or c) non-DC religious officials who are authorized by the DC Courts. And at least one DC court has held that a Universal Life Church-ordained individual would not qualify as a religious official.

If you want a secular DC wedding that is not performed by a DC judge, I think your only choice is someone who is ordained as a minister, but is willing to perform totally nonreligious weddings. There seem to be quite a number of those.

modcbride · July 2011

Thanks. I ended up calling the Marriage Bureau, and the woman I spoke to was really helpful. They have a separate process for non-D.C. judges to officiate. Its easier than to get a non-D.C. religious official to officiate, and you don't have to pay the $35 application fee.

2dBride · July 2011

That's great! You'd think they would mention it on their website.

who may officiate in washington, d.c.?

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