Who Can Officiate Weddings In Washington State?

Washington state has a range of options for those looking to get married, from stunning coastline views to impressive mountain ranges. If you're looking to get married in Washington, you may be wondering who can legally perform your wedding.

In Washington, there are no requirements for an officiant to be of a certain gender, live in a certain area, or hold specific religious beliefs. However, they must be over the age of 18 and be licensed or ordained. This can be done through an organisation such as American Marriage Ministries or Universal Life Church.

There are no registration requirements for wedding officiants in Washington

Washington state has no registration requirements for wedding officiants. However, only individuals who are 18 years of age or older can officiate a wedding ceremony in the state. This is a legal requirement, and anyone under the age of 18 cannot officiate a wedding.

To ensure compliance with all county regulations, the minister should contact the office from which the marriage license was issued. Documentation requirements vary across the state, and some counties may require proof of ordination. It is recommended that officiants order a Classic Wedding Package, which includes an ordination certificate and a Letter of Good Standing, to be fully prepared.

If the issuing office requests documentation, be prepared to present it before the wedding. It is also recommended that you submit the requested papers, along with the signed marriage license, after the ceremony is over. The marriage license does not normally require a church-issued ID number.

While there is no requirement for officiants to register with any government office, it is a good idea to keep personal records of official Ministry Credentials. Proof of ordination may be requested by the couple, government officials, or the wedding venue.

To be a wedding officiant, you must be an ordained minister

Washington state has no requirements regarding an officiant's residency, faith, or gender. However, to be a wedding officiant, you must be an ordained minister and be at least 18 years old.

Ordained Minister

An ordained minister is a minister who has been invested with the authority to perform the rites and duties of a religious group. In Washington, ordained ministers are authorised to solemnise marriages. This includes online ordained ministers, such as those ordained by American Marriage Ministries.

Online Ordination

Online ordination is a fast, free, and simple process. American Marriage Ministries, for example, offers a free online ordination service. Once ordained, you immediately have the legal ability to officiate weddings anywhere in Washington.

Documentation

Although not required by law, it is recommended that ordained ministers have their ordination certificate on hand. The minister may need to provide ministerial documentation to the clerk's office. It depends on the specific office as to what the rule is. If the clerk does need proof, the minister can submit it when they submit the signed marriage certificate after the wedding.

Wedding License

The couple must obtain a marriage license from a county clerk's office prior to the wedding. The officiant should be aware of this requirement as they will have to sign it. The couple must have the license at the wedding and should obtain it in the county where they will marry. The officiant must then fill out their portion of the marriage license.

Finalising the Union

After the wedding ceremony, the legal requirements are not yet complete. The actual ceremony does not solidify it as a legally binding wedding. That occurs with the filing of the marriage license. The minister must ensure they completely fill out the license and provide all the requested information. The title would be "minister" and the name of the ordaining body is the Universal Life Church. It may also ask for the address, which is the minister's address, not the ULC's address.

Record-Keeping

Ministers should keep personal records about weddings they perform, as the church headquarters does not take or maintain this information for them. It is useful to have such a record for contract purposes and if there is an issue in the future.

The minimum age to officiate a wedding in Washington is 18

Washington state requires wedding officiants to be at least 18 years old. This is the same minimum age for marriage in the state, although 17-year-olds can marry with parental consent and minors under 17 can marry under "extraordinary circumstances" with court approval.

While there is no requirement for officiants to be residents of Washington, or to hold specific religious beliefs or gender identities, they must be over the age of 18. This is also the minimum age for witnesses and the marrying couple.

To become a wedding officiant in Washington, you must be an ordained minister. This can be achieved through an organisation such as the Universal Life Church, which offers free online ordination. However, you do not need to register with any government office prior to performing a marriage.

The couple must obtain a marriage license from a county clerk's office

To get married in Washington, a couple must first obtain a marriage license from the county clerk's office. This is a crucial step, as a marriage license is what makes a marriage legal. Both members of the couple must apply in person, presenting valid government-issued photo identification and, if applicable, a final decree of dissolution for any previous marriages. There is no requirement to submit to a blood test, but there is a fee for the license, which may vary from county to county.

The couple must obtain their license from the specific county where the ceremony is scheduled to take place. If the couple resides in a different county from where they plan to marry, they must obtain the license from the same county as their wedding venue. In rare cases, the county's probate court, recorder's office, or county auditor can also issue the license.

It is important to note that there is a mandatory three-day waiting period after the issuance of the license before the couple can legally wed. The license is valid for 60 days after it is issued, and the ceremony must take place within this timeframe. The completed license must then be returned and filed with the issuing office within the 60-day validity period.

The officiant should be aware of the marriage license requirement as they will need to sign it. It is the couple's responsibility to obtain the license and have it present at the wedding. If there are any mistakes or omissions on the license, a new one must be purchased, resulting in a delay and the need to wait another three days before the ceremony can be legally performed.

The officiant must sign the marriage license

In Washington, the officiant must sign the marriage license to finalise the union. The couple should fill out any required parts of the license and provide all the requested details. The officiant must then complete their portion of the license, ensuring that all the information is correct and no mistakes are made. The title would typically be "minister" and the name of the ordaining body is usually the Universal Life Church. The officiant's address may also be required, and it is best to use their own address rather than that of the ULC headquarters.

Once the marriage license is completed, either the couple or the officiant can return it to the relevant county office. It must be returned within 60 days of issuance, and failure to do so can result in criminal charges of negligence or malice against the officiant, as well as a fine of up to $300. To avoid these potential consequences, most officiants choose to submit the license themselves.

While officiants are not mandated to report any information about planned or completed weddings to the Universal Life Church, it is recommended that each officiant maintains a detailed record of every ceremony performed. This is particularly important when there is a signed contract or payment for services involved.

Frequently asked questions