A Guide To Legal Marriage In Washington State

Planning a wedding in Washington State? Here's what you need to know to make it legal. First, you'll need to apply for a marriage license from your county auditor's office. Both members of the couple must apply in person with valid photo IDs and, if applicable, proof of the end of any previous marriages. There is a license fee, which varies by county but averages $59. After the application is processed, there is a mandatory three-day waiting period before the license can be used, and the marriage must take place within 60 days of the license being issued. At the ceremony, Washington State law requires the presence of the marrying couple, the officiant, and two witnesses who are at least 18 years old. The officiant must be licensed or ordained and does not need to be a resident of the state or possess any specific religious beliefs or gender identity. Finally, the officiant must fill out their portion of the marriage license and ensure it is returned to the county auditor's office within 30 days of the ceremony.

Marriage by proxy is not allowed in Washington State

A proxy marriage is a wedding in which one or both individuals are not physically present and are instead represented by proxies or stand-ins. This type of marriage is not permitted in Washington State.

In Washington, marriage is a civil contract between two persons who have each attained the age of 18 years and are otherwise capable. The law requires that both parties to a marriage be physically present, and proxy weddings are not recognised as legally binding.

To ensure a legally binding marriage in Washington, the marrying couple, the officiant, and two witnesses who are at least 18 years of age must all be in attendance at the ceremony. The couple must express their consent to marry, and the officiating minister must pronounce the couple as legally wed before officially ending the ceremony.

The process of obtaining a marriage license in Washington involves applying in person at a county clerk office or a marriage license bureau, typically located in the county probate or circuit court. There is a mandatory three-day waiting period after submitting the application, and the license is valid for 60 days from the date of issuance. The ceremony must take place within this timeframe, and the completed license must be returned to the issuing office for recording.

The marrying couple, the officiant, and two witnesses must be physically present at the ceremony

To make a wedding legal in Washington State, the marrying couple, the officiant, and two witnesses must be physically present at the ceremony. This means that Washington does not allow for marriage by proxy. All wedding participants must be in attendance.

The witnesses must be at least 18 years old and need to sign the marriage certificate immediately after the ceremony. The officiant should oversee this process and ensure that all signatures are present, as any omissions or mistakes can result in the need for a new license. The officiant must also complete their section of the marriage certificate, including their name, title ("minister"), and ordaining body ("Universal Life Church Ministries"). If the address of the minister's church is requested, it is best to use the minister's address rather than that of the ULC headquarters.

Once the marriage license is completed, it must be returned to the county that issued it within 60 days of issuance. Failure to do so can result in criminal charges of negligence or malice against the officiant and a fine of up to $300.

The couple must express their consent to marry, and the officiating minister must pronounce them as legally wed

To make a wedding legal in Washington State, the couple must express their consent to marry, and the officiating minister must pronounce them legally wed.

The couple's consent to marry can be expressed with a simple “I do” or an alternative phrase that conveys the same sentiment. This declaration must be made in the presence of the officiating minister and at least two witnesses, who must be at least 18 years old. The law does not specify any other requirements for the ceremony, leaving the couple in control of the length, style, and content.

After the couple has expressed their consent, the officiating minister must pronounce them as legally wed before officially ending the ceremony. The specific wording of this pronouncement is not prescribed by law.

It is important to note that the couple must obtain a marriage license from the county auditor before the wedding. This license is separate from the ceremony and must be secured by the couple themselves. The officiant should be aware of this requirement, as they will need to sign the license. The license is valid for 60 days after issuance, but there is a mandatory three-day waiting period after obtaining it before the couple can legally wed.

The couple must obtain a marriage license from a county auditor and there is a three-day waiting period before the couple can legally wed

To make a wedding legal in Washington State, couples must obtain a marriage license from a county auditor. The process for obtaining a marriage license varies by county, but the following generalized requirements are applicable to most.

The Process

Both members of the couple must apply in person with the clerk's office in the specific county where the ceremony is scheduled to take place. Residency does not impact this requirement, so if the couple resides in one county but is marrying in another, the license should be obtained from the same county as the planned ceremony. In rare cases, the county's probate court or recorder office can also issue the license.

Both members of the couple must prove their age and identity with a government-issued photo ID, and if either party was previously married, a final decree of dissolution must be provided. While no blood test is required, the issuing office charges a fee that can vary from county to county. On average, a Washington marriage license will cost $59 but can increase in price.

The Waiting Period

There is a mandatory three-day waiting period after the marriage license has been issued before the couple can legally wed. Because Washington law is firm on this issue, waivers are never granted. Consequently, the couple should plan ahead and register early to avoid potential issues. Once the three-day window has passed, the marriage license remains valid until 60 days after the date of issuance. Within that timeframe of approximately two months, the ceremony must take place, and the license must be returned and filed with the issuing office.

The officiant must be at least 18 years old

Washington state requires that wedding officiants be at least 18 years old. This is in line with the state's Universal Life Church, which does not ordain ministers younger than 18. The law also requires that the officiant be licensed or ordained to perform marriage ceremonies. While there is no requirement for the officiant to be a resident of a particular area, possess certain religious beliefs, or be a certain gender, they must be over the age of 18.

To ensure compliance with county regulations, the officiant should contact the office that issued the marriage license. Documentation requirements vary across Washington state, so it is recommended that officiants order the Classic Wedding Package to be fully prepared. If the issuing office requests documentation, it should be presented before the wedding and submitted, along with the signed marriage license, after the ceremony is over.

The marriage license does not normally require a church-issued ID number. However, the officiant must fill out their portion of the marriage license, including their name, title ("minister"), and ordaining body ("Universal Life Church Ministries"). If the officiant's address is requested, 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 county office that issued it within 60 days from issuance. Failure to do so can result in criminal charges of negligence or malice against the officiant and a fine of up to $300. Therefore, most officiants choose to complete this task themselves.

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

Frequently asked questions