Washington DC Marriage Laws § 46-410

§ 46–410. Duty of the Mayor or Clerk (Expires on Aug 13, 2027)

It shall be the duty of the Mayor or the Clerk of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia before issuing any license to solemnize a marriage to examine any applicant for said license under oath and to ascertain the names and ages of the parties desiring to marry, whether they were previously married, whether they are related or not, and if so, in what degree, which facts shall appear on the face of the application, of which the Mayor or the Clerk shall provide a printed form, and any false swearing in regard to such matters shall be deemed perjury.

§ 46–410 (Permanent Version). Issuance of license — Duty of Clerk; false swearing by applicant deemed perjury.

It shall be the duty of the Clerk of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia before issuing any license to solemnize a marriage to examine any applicant for said license under oath and to ascertain the names and ages of the parties desiring to marry, and if they are under age the names of their parents or guardians, whether they were previously married, whether they are related or not, and if so, in what degree, which facts shall appear on the face of the application, of which the Clerk shall provide a printed form, and any false swearing in regard to such matters shall be deemed perjury.

CREDIT(S)(Mar. 3, 1901, 31 Stat. 1392, ch. 854, § 1291; June 25, 1936, 49 Stat. 1921, ch. 804; June 25, 1948, 62 Stat. 991, ch. 646, § 32(b); May 24, 1949, 63 Stat. 107, ch. 139, § 127; July 5, 1966, 80 Stat. 264, Pub. L. 89-493, § 13(a); July 29, 1970, 84 Stat. 570, Pub. L. 91-358, title I, § 155(a); Apr. 7, 1977, D.C. Law 1-107, title I, § 113(a), 23 DCR 8737.)HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTESPrior Codifications1981 Ed., § 30-110.1973 Ed., § 30-110.Legislative History of LawsLaw 1-107 was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 1-89, which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary and Criminal Law. The Bill was adopted on amended first readings on July 27, 1976 and September 15, 1976, and second readings on November 22, 1976 and December 7, 1976. Signed by the Mayor on January 4, 1977, it was assigned Act No. 1-193 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review.DC CODE § 46-410Current through January 11, 2012; AMD DC B26-0393 Effective from Dec 31, 2025, Expires on Aug 13, 2027]

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