The Office of the Secretary of the District of Columbia is the official resource for protocol, legal records, history, and recognitions for the public, governments, and the international community.

Capital Program Objectives

The Office of the Secretary of the District of Columbia's sole capital project is the DC Archives, which holds historical and permanently valuable records of the DC Government such as birth and death records, wills, land records, and marriage records.

Summary of Services

The Office of the Secretary of the District of Columbia consists of four offices and one unit. The Office of Notary Commissions and Authentications (ONCA) commissions District of Columbia notaries and authenticates documents for domestic and foreign use. The Office of Documents and Administrative Issuances (ODAI) publishes the D.C. Register and the D.C. Municipal Regulations. The Office of Public Records and Archives manages the District of Columbia Archives, Records Center, and the Library of Government Information. The Office of Protocol and International Affairs manages the Sister City programs and serves as the primary link between the Executive Office of the Mayor and foreign government representatives. The Ceremonial Services Unit is responsible for processing all requests for ceremonial documents from the Mayor.