*NOTE: This section includes amendments by temporary legislation that will expire on August 13, 2026. To view the text of this section after the expiration of all emergency and temporary legislation affecting this section, click this link: Permanent Version.*

1. (a) Licenses to perform the marriage ceremony shall be addressed to some particular minister, magistrate, or other person authorized by § 46-406 to perform or witness the marriage ceremony and shall be in the following form (except when such a license is issued by the Mayor, in which case a form consistent with the provisions of subsection (b) of this section shall be used):

   Number ..........

   To ...................., authorized to celebrate (or witness) marriages in the

   District of Columbia, greeting:

   You are hereby authorized to celebrate (or witness) the rites of marriage between ...................., of .........., and ...................., of .........., and having done so, you are commanded to make return of the same to the Clerk’s Office of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia within 10 days under a penalty of $50 for default therein.

   Witness my hand and seal of said Court this .......... day of ,

   anno Domini ...........

   Clerk.

   By Assistant Clerk.

   Said return shall be made in person or by mail on a coupon issued with said license and bearing a corresponding number therewith within 10 days from the time of said marriage, and shall be in the following form (except when such a license is issued by the Mayor, in which case a form consistent with the provisions of subsection (b) of this section shall be used):

   Number ..........

   I, ...................., who have been duly authorized to celebrate (or witness) the rites of marriage in the District of Columbia, do hereby certify that, by authority of a license of corresponding number herewith, I solemnized (or witnessed) the marriage of .................... and ....................., named therein, on the .......... day of .........., at .........., in said District.

   A 2nd coupon, of corresponding number with the license, shall be attached to and issued with said license, to be given to the contracting parties by the minister or other person to whom such license was addressed, and shall be in the following form (except when such a license is issued by the Mayor, in which case a form consistent with the provisions of subsection (b) of this section shall be used):

   Number ..........

   I hereby certify that on this ....... day of .........., at .........., .................... and .................... were by (or before) me united in marriage in accordance with the license issued by the Clerk of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.

   Name ....................,

   Residence

2. (b)

   1. (1) The Mayor shall create a form for a license to perform a marriage ceremony that is consistent with the form set forth in subsection (a) of this section except that such a form shall be modified by replacing the references to the "Clerk's Office of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia", "Court", "Clerk", "Assistant Clerk", and "Clerk of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia" with appropriate references to the Mayor or to an office or officer within the executive branch of the government of the District of Columbia; provided, that the form may require that the license be returned to one or either of:

      1. (A) The Clerk's Office of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia; or
      2. (B) The Mayor or to an office or officer within the executive branch of the government of the District of Columbia.
   2. (2) The Mayor shall issue the form for a license described in paragraph (1) of this subsection to persons authorized by § 46-406 to perform a marriage ceremony when authorized to issue a license pursuant to the Let Our Vows Endure Temporary Amendment Act of 2025.

History

Mar. 3, 1901, 31 Stat. 1392, ch. 854, § 1293

June 30, 1902, 32 Stat. 543, ch. 1329

Apr. 23, 1904, 33 Stat. 297, ch. 1490, § 2

June 25, 1936, 49 Stat. 1921, ch. 804

June 25, 1948, 62 Stat. 991, ch. 646, § 32(b)

May 24, 1949, 63 Stat. 107, ch. 139, § 127

July 5, 1966, 80 Stat. 264, Pub. L. 89-493, § 13(a)

July 29, 1970, 84 Stat. 570, Pub. L. 91-358, title I, § 155(a)

Dec. 31, 2025, D.C. Law 26-76, § 2(d)

Prior Codifications

1973 Ed., § 30-112.

1981 Ed., § 30-112.

Section References

This section is referenced in § 46-406.

Emergency Legislation

For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 2(d) of Let Our Vows Endure Emergency Amendment Act of 2019 (D.C. Act 23-1, Jan. 11, 2019, 66 DCR 600).

For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 2(d) of Let Our Vows Endure (LOVE) Emergency Amendment Act of 2023 (D.C. Act 25-296, Nov. 15, 2023, 70 DCR 15226).

For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 2(d) of Let Our Vows Endure Emergency Amendment Act of 2025 (D.C. Act 26-156, Oct. 9, 2025, 72 DCR 10908).

Temporary Legislation

For temporary (225 days) amendment of this section, see § 2(d) of Let Our Vows Endure (LOVE) Temporary Amendment Act of 2023 (D.C. Law 25-117, Feb. 6, 2024, 70 DCR 15726).

For temporary (225 days) amendment of this section, see § 2(d) of Let Our Vows Endure Temporary Amendment Act of 2025 (D.C. Law 26-76, Dec. 31, 2025, 72 DCR 12877).