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Washington marriage records

Who holds it: County auditor of the county that issued the license (recorded license/certificate); Department of Health holds state marriage records from 1968; pre-1968 county marriage records at State Archives regional branches.1

Last checked against official sources on .

On this page
  1. How to search and order
  2. Fees
  3. More details
  4. Related records in Washington
  5. How Washington handles it
  6. Marriage records in Washington counties with a full guide
  7. Official copies vs look-alike sites
  8. Sources

Certified copy fee

$25 per DOH certificate (state); county auditor certified copies per RCW 36.18.010(2): $3 first page, $1 each additional.2

Statewide index

Statewide marriage/divorce indexes 1968-1997 at the State Archives; Digital Archives "Marriage Records" collection online.3

How to search and order

Rules
License may not be used until three days after application; void if marriage not solemnized within 60 days of issuance; officiant returns certificate to the issuing auditor within 30 days.1

Fees

Marriage license fee
Statutory components $8 + $5 + $10 + $100 (RCW 36.18.010(5)); a county may add up to $8 for family court services (RCW 26.12.220). Example total: King County $169.4

More details

State verification
DOH Center for Health Statistics issues marriage certificates (1968-present); anyone may order; $25 base fee.5
Divorce records: who holds it
Divorce decrees: county superior court clerk where the divorce was finalized. DOH issues one-page divorce certificates (1968-present).5
Older records: vital record indexes
Pre-1907 births/deaths and pre-1968 marriages (county auditor records) at regional branches; online death index 1907-2014 (excl. 1960-1964).3

How Washington handles it

  • County auditor (not a register of deeds or county clerk) records deeds and issues marriage licenses; charter counties may assign recording to another official (King County Recorder's Office)6
  • Marriage/divorce certificates only from DOH for 1968+; earlier marriage records via State Archives regional branches3

Marriage records in Washington counties with a full guide

The local office, its official online search and its own fee, for each county with a full guide. Local fees can differ from the statewide figures above.

CountyOfficeSearch onlineFee
Benton CountyBenton County Auditor - Recording Division7——
Clark CountyClark County Auditor's Office - Recording Department8—Certified $3.00 per copy (1-page document); non-certified $1.009
Cowlitz CountyCowlitz County Auditor's Office - Recording10—Certified copy fee: $3.00 certified copy (must be requested)11
Franklin CountyFranklin County Auditor - Recording12——
Grant CountyGrant County Auditor, Recording department13——
Island CountyIsland County Auditor, Recording Department14—Certified copy fee: $3 each, in person or by mail15
King CountyKing County Recorder's Office16——
Kitsap CountyKitsap County Auditor: license application $172.00 (3-day waiting period, valid 60 days after)17——
Lewis CountyCounty Auditor, Document Recording18——
Pierce CountyPierce County Auditor's Office, Recording19—$3 per certified copy20
Skagit CountySkagit County Auditor's Office - Recording Department22Search21Certified copy fee: $3.00 certified copy23
Snohomish CountySnohomish County Auditor - Recording Division24—Certified copy fee: $3.00 per certified copy of a marriage certificate25
Spokane CountySpokane County Auditor - Recording26—Certified copy fee: $3 certified copy of a marriage certificate27
Thurston CountyThurston County Auditor, Recording Services28—Certified copy fee: $3.00 first page, $1.00 each additional page29
Whatcom CountyAuditor issues licenses: application fee $16230——
Yakima CountyYakima County Auditor, Recording Division31——

For any other county, see the county list on the Washington guide.

Official copies vs look-alike sites

A certified copy comes only from the office that holds the record; reports and "research copies" sold by commercial sites are not issued by any Washington office. How to tell an official record source from a paid look-alike.

Rules in other states: marriage records in every state. Everything else in Washington: Washington public records guide.

Sources

Every fact above links to the official page it comes from. Fees and rules change, so check the office's own page before you pay or travel.

  1. RCW Chapter 26.04 MarriageWashington State Legislaturechecked November 4, 2026
  2. RCW Chapter 70.58A Vital statisticsWashington State Legislaturechecked November 4, 2026
  3. Common Research SubjectsWashington State Archives (Secretary of State)checked November 4, 2026
  4. Marriage licensing - Recorder's OfficeKing County, Washingtonchecked November 4, 2026
  5. Ordering a Marriage or Divorce RecordWashington State Department of Healthchecked November 4, 2026
  6. RCW Chapter 65.04 Duties of county auditor (recording)Washington State Legislaturechecked November 4, 2026
  7. Benton County, WA home pageBenton Countychecked November 5, 2026
  8. Recording OverviewClark County Auditorchecked November 4, 2026
  9. Copy Request (marriage certificates)Clark County Auditorchecked November 4, 2026
  10. Cowlitz County Auditorchecked November 4, 2026
  11. Marriage LicensingCowlitz County Auditorchecked November 4, 2026
  12. Recording IndexesFranklin County, WAchecked November 7, 2026
  13. Recording | Grant County, WAGrant County, WAchecked November 7, 2026
  14. Island County: Recording DepartmentIsland County, Washingtonchecked November 8, 2026
  15. Island County: Marriage LicensesIsland County, Washingtonchecked November 8, 2026
  16. King County home pageKing County, Washingtonchecked November 4, 2026
  17. Applying for a Marriage LicenseKitsap County Auditorchecked November 4, 2026
  18. AuditorLewis County, WAchecked November 8, 2026
  19. Pierce County Auditorchecked November 4, 2026
  20. Marriage LicensingPierce County Auditorchecked November 4, 2026
  21. Marriage LicensesSkagit County Auditorchecked November 4, 2026
  22. Recording DepartmentSkagit County Auditorchecked November 4, 2026
  23. Recording Fee ScheduleSkagit County Auditorchecked November 4, 2026
  24. Recording (Auditor)Snohomish County, WAchecked November 4, 2026
  25. Snohomish County Auditor Schedule of Fees, Effective July 27, 2025Snohomish County, WAchecked November 4, 2026
  26. Recording (Auditor)Spokane Countychecked November 4, 2026
  27. Marriage Information (Auditor)Spokane Countychecked November 4, 2026
  28. Recording ServicesThurston Countychecked November 4, 2026
  29. Marriage LicensesThurston Countychecked November 4, 2026
  30. Marriage License InfoWhatcom Countychecked November 4, 2026
  31. RecordingYakima Countychecked November 4, 2026