To become ordained in Washington State to officiate a wedding, get ordained through a religious organization. Washington requires no state license, registration, or approval for ministers, and there is no waiting period after ordination before you can perform your first ceremony. Most people who want to officiate for a friend or family member use an online ministry, which is legal here and takes only a few minutes.
Getting Ordained Online
Online ordination is the fastest route. Organizations like the Universal Life Church and American Marriage Ministries ordain individuals online, often for free, in a matter of minutes. Washington’s statute authorizes “any regularly licensed or ordained minister or any priest, imam, rabbi, or similar official of any religious organization” to solemnize marriages, and courts have not drawn a distinction between traditional and online ordinations as long as the ordaining body qualifies as a religious organization.1Jefferson County, Washington. Frequently Asked Questions – Marriage License Information
Pick an established online ministry with a track record. Print or save your ordination credentials once you receive them. Some couples and venues want to see physical documentation, and having it on hand avoids awkward questions in the days before the wedding.
Getting Ordained Through a Church
Traditional ordination comes through a specific church or denomination. Requirements vary widely by faith tradition but typically involve theological education (seminary or denominational coursework), a period of supervised ministry, and a formal commissioning or ordination ceremony. Some denominations take years; others move faster. If you already belong to a religious community, its leadership can walk you through the specific process.
What Your Ordination Lets You Do
Once ordained, you can solemnize marriages anywhere in Washington. You do not file anything with the state to activate that authority. There is no minister’s registry to sign, no county to notify in advance, and no fee to pay the state.
One thing to know up front: Washington does not offer a temporary or one-day officiant authorization. If a friend or family member wants to perform a specific ceremony without becoming a long-term minister, they still need to actually get ordained through a religious organization first. There is no shortcut around ordination.
Before the Ceremony
Your most important job before the wedding is confirming the couple has a valid Washington marriage license. Without it, you cannot legally solemnize the marriage. Washington requires a three-day waiting period between when the couple applies for the license and when the ceremony can take place. That waiting period cannot be waived, even by court order. The license is valid for 60 days after the waiting period ends.2Clark County, Washington. Marriage License
Both parties must be at least 18. Washington draws a hard line here: any marriage where either person is under 18 is void.3Washington State Legislature. Washington Code Chapter 26.04 – Marriage
Look at the license itself before the ceremony. Confirm the names match the couple’s identification, and check that the license has not expired. Catching an error at the rehearsal dinner is inconvenient. Catching it after you have filed the paperwork is a real problem.
Performing the Ceremony
Washington does not require any particular form of ceremony. There are no mandated vows, no required readings, no minimum length. The only legal requirement is that both parties declare, in the presence of you and at least two witnesses, that they take each other as spouses.4Washington State Legislature. Washington Code RCW 26.04.070 – Form of Solemnization
That declaration is the legally operative moment. Everything else (ring exchanges, unity candles, readings) is ceremonial. You have complete freedom to design a religious, secular, or blended ceremony, as long as the couple clearly states their intent to marry each other in front of you and the two witnesses. The witnesses have to be physically present at the ceremony. Washington law imposes no age requirement on witnesses, but adults who can credibly describe what happened are the sensible choice.
Filing the Marriage Certificate
Once the ceremony is over, you have a legal obligation to complete the marriage certificate and file it. The certificate must include the names and residence of both parties, the names of at least two witnesses, the time and place of the marriage, and the date and issuing authority of the license.5Washington State Legislature. Washington Code RCW 26.04.080 – Marriage Certificate Contents
You must deliver the completed certificate to the county auditor of the county that issued the license within 30 days of the ceremony, and provide a certificate for the state registrar of vital statistics.6Washington State Legislature. Washington Code RCW 26.04.090 – Certificate for Files of County Auditor and State Registrar of Vital Statistics
This is where first-time officiants most commonly slip up. The ceremony feels like the finish line, but the marriage is not officially recorded until you file. Set a reminder. Do not rely on the couple to handle it. The statute puts the filing duty on the person who solemnized the marriage.
If Someone Later Questions Your Authority
This is the piece that worries newly ordained officiants, especially those ordained online. Washington has a protective statute for exactly this situation. A marriage performed by someone professing to be a minister, priest, judge, or other authorized person is not void, and its validity is not affected by any lack of authority in the officiant, as long as two conditions are met: the officiant was acting in the capacity of someone authorized to solemnize marriages, and the couple (or even just one of them) believed they were being lawfully married.3Washington State Legislature. Washington Code Chapter 26.04 – Marriage
A good-faith online ordination followed by a ceremony where everyone reasonably believed the marriage was valid results in a legally valid marriage, even if someone later argues the ordaining organization was questionable. The couple’s belief is what the statute protects.
Your Right to Decline
Washington law explicitly protects the right of ordained ministers and religious officials to refuse to solemnize any marriage. No religious organization is required to provide facilities, services, or accommodations for a marriage celebration. An officiant who declines to perform a ceremony is immune from any civil claim based on that refusal, including claims under Washington’s anti-discrimination law.3Washington State Legislature. Washington Code Chapter 26.04 – Marriage