Who Can Perform Marriage Ceremonies In Washington State?

Washington State Law RCW 26.04.050 outlines who can solemnize marriages, including all ministers, including online ordained ministers of American Marriage Ministries. However, there are no laws, offices, or procedures requiring officiants to register with any government office. The law does not dictate the requirements of the ceremony except that, at some point, the couple must be present.

To officiate a wedding as a notary public in Washington, you must first apply for a marriage license, which costs $33.00 to $72.00 and must be used within 60 days. Notaries from any state may perform the ceremony, but ship captains are not authorized to perform ceremonies in New York State.

In Washington, all weddings must be attended by the marrying couple, the officiant, and two witnesses who are at least 18 years of age. The couple must be present at the time of the ceremony, along with at least two witnesses who are age 18 or older and the officiating minister.

As a marriage officiant in Washington, it is your legal responsibility to fill out the marriage license in the presence of the couple and any required witnesses. The Revised Code of Washington (RCW) states that active and retired Supreme Court justices, Court of Appeals judges, Superior Court judges, Superior Court commissioners, and judges of courts of limited jurisdiction, as well as any regularly licensed or ordained minister or priest of any church or religious denomination, can perform a marriage ceremony.

Does Washington require witnesses for marriage?

Yes, you need two witnesses to get married in Washington State. Shotgun Ceremonies can provide witnesses for you and there is no additional cost for that service.

Can I come in to your Wedding Chapel to pay my deposit and ask questions?

Yes absolutely. We are by appointment only, so please call ahead to schedule a time to come by. We are not always in our Wedding Chapel or we are performing a wedding so we might miss you if you drop by.

Do I need witnesses to get married in Washington?

Alternately, you can pick it up when you arrive in Washington State at the Marriage License office in King County. 2. Do I need witnesses to get married in Washington State? Yes, you need two witnesses to get married in Washington State.

First you will need to obtain your Washington State Marriage License packet. You can obtain your marriage license in any County in Washington. Here is the link:WA State Marriage License.

You will need a legal photo ID or Passport to apply. If you are walking in to apply you will receive your packet at the time of applying. There is a 3 day waiting period in Washington before the license is valid. Your marriage license will expire in 60 days.

If you are from out of state or out of the country, you do not need to be in Washington to apply. You can apply online at WA State Marriage License and have it mailed to you. Alternately, you can pick it up when you arrive in Washington State at the Marriage License office in King County.

Who can legally officiate a wedding in Washington state?

-Active and retired Supreme Court Justices-Court of Appeals Judges-Superior Court Judges-Superior Court Commissioners-Judges of courts of limited jurisdiction-Any regularly licensed or ordained minister or priest of any church or religious denomination.

Ministers from any state may perform marriage ceremonies, but the ceremony must be performed in Washington. Neither applicant may perform the ceremony.

For information about having your ceremony performed at the Clark County Courthouse, please view the information on the District Court webpageor email [email protected].

You must be licensed or ordained to perform ceremonies in Washington.

Is a universal life church ordination legal in Washington?

Yes! As a resident of Washington you can legally get ordained online by the Universal Life Church.

Getting ordained in Washington is as easy as 1-2-3! It only takes a few moments to get ordained for free online through our website. Ordination will entitle you to perform all manner of legal ceremonies, including performing weddings.

Easy ordination is a rather new development. For centuries, ordination was reserved for a select and privileged few who had the time and money to invest into that goal. And many were prevented from ordination altogether through characteristics they couldnt change.

The Universal Life Church believes that everyone should be able to get ordained, and no artificial barriers should be placed in the way of those who feel the calling to ministry. Because of that philosophy, weve made ordination free, quick, and online.

How to get licensed to marry someone in Washington state?

How to Officiate a Wedding in Washington. Contact the office of the County Auditor in the county where the wedding will take place. Introduce yourself as a minister and ask them what documents they will need from you. They may ask to see a number of things, and be aware that these requirements vary from county to county. Any materials or documents you might need are available in the Church Supplies section of our website.

Select your county to view contact information for each office:

How to Become an Ordained Minister in Washington.

How to get licensed to marry someone in Washington State?

How to Officiate a Wedding in Washington. Contact the office of the County Auditor in the county where the wedding will take place. Introduce yourself as a minister and ask them what documents they will need from you. They may ask to see a number of things, and be aware that these requirements vary from county to county. Any materials or documents you might need are available in the Church Supplies section of our website.

Select your county to view contact information for each office:

How to Become an Ordained Minister in Washington.

Can someone ordained online legally marry in Washington state?

Get ordained to officiate weddings in Washington. Our free online ordination is recognized under and enshrined by the 1st amendment of the US Constitution. Keep reading to learn more about becoming a wedding officiant online.

Who Can Officiate Weddings in Washington?. The Washington Marriage Laws specify who can legally perform marriage in the State. The legal term for the act of conducting a wedding ceremony is called Solemnization of Marriage. The people with the authority to perform this act are religious and government officials. For most Americans, getting ordained is the easiest way to gain the legal right to solemnize weddings.

The following named officers and persons, active or retired, are hereby authorized to solemnize marriages, to wit: Justices of the supreme court; judges of the court of appeals; judges of the superior courts; supreme court commissioners; court of appeals commissioners; superior court commissioners; judges and commissioners of courts of limited jurisdiction as defined in RCW 3.02.010; justices of the supreme court of the United States; judges and judicial officers of the federal courts; judges of tribal courts from a federally recognized tribe;and any regularly licensed or ordained minister or any priest, imam, rabbi, or similar official of any religious organization.

– This is an Excerpt. Read The Full Statute on Our Washington Marriage Laws –

Can Universal Life Church ministers perform marriages in Washington?

Washington marriage laws are governed by Chapter 26.04 of Title 26 of the code of Washington. This section explains who is legally authorized to officiate weddings in the State of Washington. Among those with authorization are ordained ministers of the Universal Life Church.

Clallam County. 223 E. 4th St. Suite 1 Port Angeles, WA 98362.

Clark County. 1300 Franklin St, 2nd Floor Vancouver, WA 98660.

397-2243 397-2137 Clark County website »

Do you need an officiant to get married in Washington State?

Eloping in Washington state. Check here for all of Washingtons current laws about marriage. There are options to apply in person or by mail, but in short, you must apply for a license at least three days prior to your wedding and use it within 60 days. For your ceremony, you must be married by an ordained officiant and have two witnesses present. If youre interested in learning more about eloping in Washington, check out this guide.

Eloping in a different state. If youre wanting to elope elsewhere in the United States, its very easy. As an elopement photographer and guide, Id love to help guide you through the legal requirements (such as when to file for a marriage application, how to navigate the waiting period laws, where to pick up a certificate, etc.). Each state has different laws, so its important to check these early on. You want to make sure youll legally be married when you return home!

Eloping in a foreign country. Marrying abroad can be tricky. Some countries have restrictions on where you can have a ceremony, require translation services and additional paperwork, and even have residency requirements. You can check with the American embassies and consulates abroad for more detailed information about the countries youre interested in eloping in.

Do you need an officiant to get married in Washington state?

Eloping in Washington state. Check here for all of Washingtons current laws about marriage. There are options to apply in person or by mail, but in short, you must apply for a license at least three days prior to your wedding and use it within 60 days. For your ceremony, you must be married by an ordained officiant and have two witnesses present. If youre interested in learning more about eloping in Washington, check out this guide.

Eloping in a different state. If youre wanting to elope elsewhere in the United States, its very easy. As an elopement photographer and guide, Id love to help guide you through the legal requirements (such as when to file for a marriage application, how to navigate the waiting period laws, where to pick up a certificate, etc.). Each state has different laws, so its important to check these early on. You want to make sure youll legally be married when you return home!

Eloping in a foreign country. Marrying abroad can be tricky. Some countries have restrictions on where you can have a ceremony, require translation services and additional paperwork, and even have residency requirements. You can check with the American embassies and consulates abroad for more detailed information about the countries youre interested in eloping in.

Does the officiant count as a witness in Washington state?

In Washington state, youll need 2 witnesses to sign your marriage license — and your officiant cannot be one of them.