MarriageLicenseCheck.com

District of Columbia exact answer

Is there a marriage license waiting period in District of Columbia?

This answer belongs to the issuing office and task named above. It does not substitute a statewide summary or infer a rule the office does not publish.

Direct answer

There is no waiting period between issuance and the ceremony in District of Columbia. The Courts' marriage FAQ states that a couple can marry any time after the license is received, including the same day it is issued. This is the clock between issuance and the ceremony. The separate clock between applying and receiving the license is a processing time, which the Bureau does not publish. A three-day statutory waiting period described in a 2013 press release rested on DC Code § 46-409, repealed in 2014; see source conflict notes.

Published rule and conditions

Marriage license waiting period
None

The Courts' marriage FAQ states that a couple can marry any time after the license is received, including the same day it is issued. This is the clock between issuance and the ceremony. The separate clock between applying and receiving the license is a processing time, which the Bureau does not publish. A three-day statutory waiting period described in a 2013 press release rested on DC Code § 46-409, repealed in 2014; see source conflict notes.

Official requirement

You can get married any time after you receive your license. You can get married the same day you receive your license.

Issuing office

Marriage Bureau, Superior Court of the District of Columbia

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Official sources for this answer

  • Marriage — Frequently Asked QuestionsDistrict of Columbia Courts - checked July 30, 2026

    Once I have my marriage license, when can I get married? You can get married any time after you receive your license. You can get married the same day you receive your license. We already had our ceremony. Can we backdate the marriage license to reflect the date that we were married on? No, you cannot backdate a marriage license. You can get married on or after the date the marriage license was issued. Do we need witnesses to get married? No, you can get married in the District of Columbia without witnesses. One of us does not have a social security number. Can we get married? Yes, you can still get married without a social security number. Anyone without a social security number must bring their passport to get a marriage license.

Answer boundary

MarriageLicenseCheck is an independent reference, not the issuing office or legal advice. Applicant facts, timing, prior marriages, and document type can change the result. The official office decides what it will accept.

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