The Native American Suquamish Tribe of Washington State approved Same-Sex Marriage on Monday, Aug 1, 2011 for members of its tribe. The new law allows the tribal court to issue a marriage license to two unmarried people, regardless of their sex, if they’re at least 18 years old and at least one of them is enrolled in the tribe.
It will be up to other courts to decide if unions granted under the Suquamish ordinance will be recognized elsewhere in Washington, said the tribe’s attorney, Michelle Hansen.
* UPDATE: On Wednesday, Feb 8, 2012 the state of Washington voted to approve gay marriage setting the stage for the state to become the seventh in the nation to allow same-sex couples to wed. The Governor signed the bill on Monday, Feb 13, 20121.
1Marriages can start taking place in 90 days unless a referendum by voters is forced, which has been filed and signatures must be collected by June 6, 2012.
OFFICIANTS
(800) 935-3565 As wedding celebrants, we specialize in personalized, custom-designed weddings that can be religious, civil, interfaith, non-denominational or spiritual. We also speak Spanish, Italian & many other languages.
(253) 905-2847 (Lakewood, WA) Tacoma South Sound area Officiant, former Deputy Commissioner of Marriage in CA now offering the same style service in WA
(503) 680-9885 (Boring, OR) Rev. Johanna Respini – Serving all of Oregon and SW Washington
(509) 520-5330 (Auburn, WA) If you are in need of a wedding officiant in the Auburn, Puyallup, Kent, Federal Way or surrounding areas, I would be honored to help you. Whenever you plan to get married I would love to officiate for you!
(Spokane, WA) Providing ceremony preparation, staging and direction. Conveniently serving Spokane and Eastern Washington along with Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls and other areas of Northern Idaho.
(360) 332-9439 (Blaine, WA) Weddings, Commitments, Renewals, Serving Northern Washington State.
(509) 948-6974 (Othello, WA) Non-Denominational Wedding Officiant Serving Eastern Washington and North Eastern Oregon.
(253) 318-0731 (Puyallup, WA) From traditional to original ceremonies, for couples of different faith backgrounds, or those wanting a civil ceremony, I will guide you in creating the wedding ceremony of your dreams. Serving Pierce and Thurston counties.
WASHINGTON STATE LAWS
2011 Washington Code
Title 26 Domestic relations
26.04 Marriage.
26.04.050 Who may solemnize.
The following named officers and persons, active or retired, are hereby authorized to solemnize marriages, to wit: Justices of the supreme court, judges of the court of appeals, judges of the superior courts, supreme court commissioners, court of appeals commissioners, superior court commissioners, any regularly licensed or ordained minister or any priest of any church or religious denomination, and judges of courts of limited jurisdiction as defined in RCW 3.02.010.
[2007 c 29 § 1; 1987 c 291 § 1; 1984 c 258 § 95; 1983 c 186 § 1; 1971 c 81 § 69; 1913 c 35 § 1; 1890 p 98 § 1; 1883 p 43 § 1; Code 1881 § 2382; 1866 p 82 § 4; 1854 p 404 § 4; RRS § 8441.]
Notes:
Court Improvement Act of 1984 — Effective dates — Severability — Short title — 1984 c 258: See notes following RCW 3.30.010.
26.04.060 Marriage before unauthorized cleric — Effect.
A marriage solemnized before any person professing to be a minister or a priest of any religious denomination in this state or professing to be an authorized officer thereof, is not void, nor shall the validity thereof be in any way affected on account of any want of power or authority in such person, if such marriage be consummated with a belief on the part of the persons so married, or either of them, that they have been lawfully joined in marriage.
[1975-'76 2nd ex.s. c 42 § 25; Code 1881 § 2388; 1866 p 83 §§ 10 and 11; 1854 p 405 § 6; RRS § 8442. Formerly RCW 26.04.060 and 26.24.200.]
26.04.070 Form of solemnization.
In the solemnization of marriage no particular form is required, except that the parties thereto shall assent or declare in the presence of the minister, priest, or judicial officer solemnizing the same, and in the presence of at least two attending witnesses, that they take each other to be husband and wife.
[Code 1881 § 2383; 1866 p 82 § 5; RRS § 8443.]
26.04.080 Marriage certificate — Contents.
The person solemnizing a marriage shall give to each of the parties thereto, if required, a certificate thereof, specifying therein the names and residence of the parties, and of at least two witnesses present, the time and place of such marriage, and the date of the license thereof, and by whom issued.
[Code 1881 § 2384; 1866 p 82 § 6; RRS § 8444.]
26.04.090 Certificate for files of county auditor and state registrar of vital statistics — Forms.
A person solemnizing a marriage shall, within thirty days thereafter, make and deliver to the county auditor of the county wherein the license was issued a certificate for the files of the county auditor, and a certificate for the files of the state registrar of vital statistics. The certificate for the files of the county auditor shall be substantially as follows:
STATE OF WASHINGTON
COUNTY OF . . . . . . . . . . . .
This is to certify that the undersigned, a . . . . . ., by authority of a license bearing date the . . . . day of . . . . . . A.D., 19. . ., and issued by the County auditor of the county of . . . . . ., did, on the . . . . day of . . . . . . A.D., 19. . ., at . . . . . . in this county and state, join in lawful wedlock A.B. of the county of . . . . . ., state of . . . . . . and C.D. of the county of . . . . . ., state of . . . . . ., with their mutual assent, in the presence of F H and E G, witnesses.
In Testimony Whereof, witness the signatures of the parties to said ceremony, the witnesses and myself, this . . . . day of . . . . . ., A.D., 19. . .
The certificate for the files of the state registrar of vital statistics shall be in accordance with *RCW 70.58.200. The certificate forms for the files of the county auditor and for the files of the state registrar of vital statistics shall be provided by the state registrar of vital statistics.
[1967 c 26 § 4; 1947 c 59 § 1; 1927 c 172 § 1; Code 1881 § 2385; 1866 p 82 § 7; 1854 p 405 § 7; RRS § 8445.]
Notes:
*Reviser’s note: RCW 70.58.200 was repealed by 1991 c 96 § 6.
Effective date — 1967 c 26: See note following RCW 43.70.150.
26.04.110 Penalty for failure to deliver certificates.
Any person solemnizing a marriage, who shall wilfully refuse or neglect to make and deliver to the county auditor for record, the certificates mentioned in RCW 26.04.090, within the time in such section specified, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction shall pay for such refusal, or neglect, a fine of not less than twenty-five nor more than three hundred dollars.
[1967 c 26 § 6; 1947 c 59 § 3; 1886 p 66 § 2; Code 1881 § 2387; 1866 p 83 § 9; Rem. Supp. 1947 § 8447.]
Notes:
Effective date — 1967 c 26: See note following RCW 43.70.150.
26.04.120 Marriage according to religious ritual.
All marriages to which there are no legal impediments, solemnized before or in any religious organization or congregation, according to the established ritual or form commonly practiced therein, are valid, and a certificate containing the particulars specified in RCW 26.04.080 and 26.04.090, shall be made and filed for record by the person or persons presiding or officiating in or recording the proceedings of such religious organization or congregation, in the manner and with like effect as in ordinary cases.
[Code 1881 § 2389; RRS § 8448.]
26.04.220 Retention of license by person solemnizing — Auditor’s record.
*** CHANGE IN 2011 *** (SEE 5045.SL) ***
The person solemnizing the marriage is authorized to retain in his possession the license, but the county auditor who issues the same, before delivering it, shall enter in his marriage record a memorandum of the names of the parties, the consent of the parents or guardian, if any, and the name of the affiant and the substance of the affidavit upon which said license issued, and the date of such license.
[Code 1881 § 2393; 1866 p 84 § 15; RRS § 8453.]
26.04.240 Penalty for unlawful solemnization — Code 1881.
*** CHANGE IN 2011 *** (SEE 5045.SL) ***
Any person who shall undertake to join others in marriage knowing that he is not lawfully authorized so to do, or any person authorized to solemnize marriage, who shall join persons in marriage contrary to the provisions of *this chapter, shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred, nor less than one hundred dollars.
[Code 1881 § 2395; 1866 p 84 § 17; RRS § 8454. FORMER PART OF SECTION: 1909 c 249 § 419; RRS § 2671 now codified as RCW 26.04.250.]
Notes:
*Reviser’s note: “This chapter” (chapter 182, Code 1881) is codified as RCW 26.04.010, 26.04.050 through 26.04.140, and 26.04.220 through 26.04.240. Code 1881 §§ 2391 and 2392, being part of chapter 182, Code 1881, appear to be superseded by 1909 ex.s. c 16 § 3 (RCW 26.04.210) which is subject to the penalties of RCW 26.04.230.
26.04.250 Penalty for unlawful solemnization — 1909 c 249.
*** CHANGE IN 2011 *** (SEE 5045.SL) ***
Every person who shall solemnize a marriage when either party thereto is known to him to be under the age of legal consent or a marriage to which, within his knowledge, any legal impediment exists, shall be guilty of a gross misdemeanor.
[1979 ex.s. c 128 § 3; 1909 c 249 § 419; RRS § 2671. Formerly RCW 26.04.240, part.]
Notes:
Punishment of gross misdemeanor when not fixed by statute: RCW 9.92.020.
