How Marriage Licenses Work in Washington

Getting a marriage license in Washington means dealing with your county, not a state office. Each of the state's 39 counties runs its own licensing counter. This directory points you to the office that serves your area, from Olympia in the south Puget Sound to Pomeroy in the Blue Mountain foothills. State law sets the rules. The county decides hours, payment methods and whether you need an appointment.

The governing law is Chapter 26.04 of the Revised Code of Washington. It covers who may marry, how the license is issued, who may perform the ceremony and how the signed certificate returns to the county. The Washington State Department of Health keeps vital records at the state level, but it does not issue licenses. Your first stop is the county auditor's office, or whichever county office handles marriage licenses locally.

That local setup surprises couples who expect a single statewide portal. In Washington you choose a county, check its rules and apply there. The license is valid anywhere in the state, so you can apply in one county and hold the ceremony in another. Many couples apply near home and marry at a venue hours away.

Marriage License Offices in Washington, County by County

Our database lists entries such as Thurston County Marriage License at 2000 Lakeridge Drive Southwest in Olympia (360-786-5405), Snohomish County Marriage License at 3000 Rockefeller Avenue in Everett (425-388-3483), and Benton County Marriage License at 5600 West Canal Drive in Kennewick (509-736-2727). Each listing shows an address and phone number. A short call is the fastest way to confirm hours before you travel.

Olympia is the state capital and the only city with two listings in our database, so check the address on each entry before you go.

Western Washington: Puget Sound, the Coast and the Islands

The western side holds most of the state's population and its busiest counters. Snohomish County is one of the most populous counties in the state, so expect more applicants at the Everett office than at a rural courthouse. North of it, Whatcom County Marriage License at 311 Grand Avenue in Bellingham (360-778-5100) serves couples near the Canadian border. Skagit County Marriage License sits at 700 South 2nd Street in Mount Vernon (360-416-1704).

Across the water, Kitsap County Marriage License is at 619 Division Street in Port Orchard (360-337-4935). Island County Marriage License is at 1 Northeast 7th Avenue in Oak Harbor (360-240-5540) on Whidbey Island. On the Olympic Peninsula, Clallam County Marriage License handles applications from 223 East 4th Street in Port Angeles (360-417-2220). For the San Juan Islands, San Juan County Marriage License is at 350 Court Street in Friday Harbor (360-378-2161). Ferry schedules matter out there, so time your trip to the counter around the sailings.

Down the coast and along the Columbia, Grays Harbor Marriage License is at 100 West Broadway Avenue in Montesano (360-964-1557). Lewis County Marriage License is at 351 Northwest North Street in Chehalis (360-740-1156). Cowlitz County Marriage License is at 207 4th Avenue North in Kelso (360-577-3002). Wahkiakum County Marriage License is at 64 Main Street in Cathlamet (360-795-3219). Wahkiakum is one of the state's smallest counties by population, so its office is small too. A quick phone call usually settles questions about timing.

Eastern Washington: Wheat Country, the Columbia Basin and the Northeast

East of the Cascades, counties are large and towns are far apart. Whitman County Marriage License is at 400 North Main Street in Colfax (509-397-6270). Stevens County Marriage License is at 215 South Oak Street in Colville (509-684-7514). Lincoln County Marriage License is at 450 Logan Street in Davenport (509-725-4971), and Columbia County Marriage License is at 341 E. Main Street in Dayton (509-382-4542).

Kittitas County Marriage License serves Ellensburg from 205 West 5th Avenue (509-962-7504). Grant County Marriage License is at 35 C Street Northwest in Ephrata (509-754-2011). In the Tri-Cities area, Benton County is in Kennewick, and Franklin County Marriage License is at 1016 North 4th Avenue in Pasco (509-545-3536). Asotin County Marriage License is in the courthouse at 135 2nd Street in Asotin, on the first floor (509-243-2084). Garfield County Marriage License is at 789 Main Street in Pomeroy (509-843-1411).

Rural offices often run on lean staffing. A clerk may also handle recording, elections or property documents, so a counter can be busy with other duties. Call before a long drive, especially if you are coming from another county.

What to Bring and the Rules That Apply Across Washington

The rules come from state law, so they are largely the same in every county. Here is what most couples need to prepare:

Washington has no residency requirement and no blood test. Same-sex couples use the same application as everyone else, and same-sex marriage has been available in the state since December 2012.

Plan around the waiting period. The license does not take effect until three days after you apply, and it expires after 60 days. Confirm the exact dates with the clerk, because the counting method matters. If your wedding is next week, apply early.

After You Apply: Ceremony, Witnesses and the Certificate

State law lists who may perform the ceremony, including judges, court commissioners and ordained or authorized religious leaders. Confirm that your officiant qualifies before the day. Witnesses must attend, so ask the auditor how many you need and how old they must be.

After the wedding, the officiant completes the certificate and returns it to the county auditor that issued the license. Once it is recorded, you can order certified copies from that same office. You will need them to change your name with the Social Security Administration, the Department of Licensing and your bank.

Choosing Where to Apply in Washington

Pick the office that fits your schedule, not just your zip code. Metro counties such as Snohomish and Thurston have more staff but more traffic. Smaller counties are quieter, though their hours can be shorter. Couples who live in one county and marry in another may apply at either office, since the license is good statewide.

Some couples choose the county nearest the venue so they can pick up the license on the way. Others apply where they live and carry the paperwork across the state. Either way, call ahead, bring ID for both people, and keep the license safe until the ceremony.

Marriage licenses in Washington are issued by county clerks or recorders, with requirements for identification, fees, and waiting periods set by state law. Couples must obtain their license from a county within the state where the ceremony will be performed.

Marriage Licenses locations are available in 38 cities across Washington. They are spread across 39 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration include Olympia, Friday Harbor, Wenatchee, which serve as county seats with the busiest marriage license offices in the state.

Couples in Washington should verify current ID and documentation requirements directly with the issuing county clerk before applying, as requirements for previously divorced or widowed applicants may differ from those marrying for the first time.

Marriage Licenses by Counties

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Couples in Washington should check whether their county clerk offers online appointment scheduling for marriage license applications, which can reduce wait times significantly compared to walk-in visits, especially during the busy spring and summer wedding season.

Browse Marriage Licenses by county across Washington to find the nearest location.

Planning a Washington Wedding Around Your County Office

Geography shapes wedding planning in Washington more than most couples expect. The Cascade Mountains divide the state into two very different regions, and mountain passes can slow winter travel. If you plan to apply in Ellensburg or Colville and marry on the coast, leave extra time in colder months and check road conditions first.

Island and peninsula weddings add ferry timing. Couples marrying on Whidbey Island, in the San Juan Islands or on the Olympic Peninsula should schedule the license pickup and the ceremony so neither depends on a tight sailing. Because the license is valid statewide, you can collect it at a mainland office such as Skagit County in Mount Vernon and carry it to the venue.

The three-day waiting period is the detail that trips people up most. A couple who flies in for a weekend ceremony and applies on Friday may find the license is not yet effective. Apply at least a week ahead, and use a phone call to the clerk to confirm timing.

Finally, think about records. The county that issues your license is also where the recorded marriage certificate is kept, so note the county name and the date. Those two details make future requests for certified copies much easier.

Marriage License Questions Answered for Washington

Washington requires a three-day waiting period between applying and the license taking effect. After that, the license remains valid for 60 days, and the ceremony must take place within that window. If it expires unused, you must apply again and pay the fee again. Because day-counting rules can be technical, ask the clerk at your county office to give you the exact first and last dates when you apply. Couples with a fixed wedding date should apply well ahead of time.

No. Washington has no residency requirement, so out-of-state and international couples can apply, and no blood test is required. You do not have to live in the county where you apply either. Visitors often choose a county close to their venue, such as Whatcom County in Bellingham or San Juan County in Friday Harbor. Bring valid photo ID, and ask the office whether it needs anything extra, such as documents translated into English, if you were previously married abroad.

Yes. A license issued by any Washington county is valid across the state. You might apply at the Thurston County office on Lakeridge Drive in Olympia and marry in Kitsap, Pierce or anywhere else. The officiant returns the signed certificate to the auditor of the county that issued the license, not the county where the ceremony took place. Keep this in mind when you later need certified copies, since you will request them from the issuing county.

Bring valid government-issued photo ID for both applicants, usually a driver's license, state ID or passport. Have your full legal names, birth dates and birthplaces ready, along with parent information if the form asks for it. If either of you was married before, know the date and manner it ended. Bring payment, and call first to ask which methods the office accepts. Smaller courthouses, such as those in Dayton, Pomeroy or Colfax, may handle payments differently from the larger metro offices.

The fee is set by county rather than by a single statewide schedule, and amounts change over time. For that reason, we do not quote a number here. Call the office on the listing, such as Snohomish County in Everett at 425-388-3483 or Benton County in Kennewick at 509-736-2727, and ask for the current fee. Also ask whether it covers a certified copy of the certificate, because copies are often charged separately. Budget for at least one or two certified copies.

Start with the county that issued your license. After your officiant returns the signed certificate, the county auditor records it, and that office can issue certified copies. Contact it by phone to learn whether it accepts requests in person, by mail or online, and what identification it needs. You will usually need a certified copy to change your name with the Social Security Administration and the Department of Licensing. If you cannot remember the county, check your original paperwork or the date of your application first.