Performing the Ceremony

A minimum of five people must be involved in the ceremony: an officiant to perform the ceremony, the couple being married, and two witnesses.

State law (RCW 26.04.050) prescribes who can perform a marriage ceremony:

  • Active and retired:
    • Supreme Court Justices
    • Court of Appeals Judges
    • Superior Court Judges
    • Superior Court Commissioners
    • Judges of courts of limited jurisdiction
    • Judges of tribal courts from a federally recognized tribe
  • Any regularly licensed or ordained minister, priest, imam, rabbi, or similar official of any religious organization

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

Witnesses need to be 14 years old or older, and understand what they are witnessing.

For information about having your ceremony performed at the Clark County Courthouse, please view the information on the District Court webpage or email clarkcountypublicservice@clark.wa.gov.

Attention Officiants

Before the ceremony:

It is up to the couple to determine the validity of their officiant. You do not need to file or register any documents with Clark County. However, you must be licensed or ordained to perform ceremonies in Washington State. 

After the ceremony:

  1. Fill in the top three lines of the bottom section with your full printed name, signature, date of signature, full address (including city, state, and zip code), and daytime phone number.
  2. Fill in the date and county where the ceremony was held.
  3. Have the witnesses sign on the two witness signature lines.
  4. Have Person A and Person B sign on the appropriate lines.
  5. Keep and file the marriage license in your records as proof of the ceremony.
  6. Return the certificate of marriage to Clark County.

Although anyone may return the completed certificate of marriage, it is the officiant's responsibility to ensure the certificate of marriage is completed correctly and returned to the Auditor's Marriage License Department within thirty days of the ceremony. The official certificate of marriage will be recorded in our office once received and then sent to the state for archiving.