Washington Marriage Records

A person must be at least 18 years old to qualify for marriage in Washington. However, state law permits individuals 17 years old or younger to enter a marriage with the written consent of their parents or legal guardians. When a person is 16 years old or under, they must approach a Superior Court Judge from a Juvenile Court to obtain a signed written waiver to enable them to get married. In such a case, the individual must be able to show the court a necessity that requires them to get married at this age. According to reports by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), the marriage rate in Washington has been on the decline over the last few years. The state currently ranks among U.S. states with low marriage rates.

Under Washington law, a marriage may be prohibited in certain cases. For instance, it is forbidden for relatives closer than second cousins, whether half-blood or whole, to get married to each other. Before two individuals can be joined in marriage in the state, they must obtain a marriage license from the Auditor's Office, which signifies the Washington government's legal recognition of a marriage.

After obtaining a marriage license, both parties have a 3-day waiting period after which they can have their marriage ceremony. Afterward, they must return their signed marriage certificate to the Auditor's Office to properly register the marriage, which then forms a part of Washington's marriage records. Except in a few circumstances, Washington marriage records are public records and may be requested by anyone who can provide the required information and necessary identifying documents. Washington marriage records are stored by the state's Department of Health (DOH) and the county auditors where the marriage licenses were filed.

What are Marriage Records?

Washington marriage records are government-issued documents attesting to the legality of the marriage relationship between two individuals in the state. In other words, marriage records certify that a couple whose names appear on the documents are legally married under state law. Washington marriage records contain vital information, including the following:

The full names of the couple
The birthdates and birthplaces of both spouses
The occupations of both spouses
The location and date of the marriage ceremony
The places of residence of both spouses at the time of getting married
The name of the marriage ceremony officiant
Certain information about the parents of both spouses, including their names, occupation, and addresses

Typically, the documents and information submitted when obtaining marriage licenses form a major part of Washington's marriage records. These records are important and exist for many reasons. For instance, with Washington marriage records, the government can keep track of its population and maintain up-to-date demographic data. In addition, marriage records are important in tracing family genealogy. They contain the original information and documents provided by spouses and can provide solid evidence of basic ancestral facts while tracing family genealogy. Other reasons why Washington marriage records are essential include accessing a spouse's health insurance benefits, changing of name after marriage, and filing joint tax returns. They are also required to file divorce petitions.

Washington marriage records exist in various forms, including marriage certificates, marriage registers, marriage index, and marriage license affidavits. The state is an open record state and makes marriage records open to the public under the Washington Public Record Act (Chapter 42.56 RCW), although with a few exceptions. Per RCW 26.04.175, except directed by a court order or requested by a law enforcement agency, the names and addresses in a marriage record may not be disclosed if the program participants notify the relevant county auditor not to make such details available for inspection or copying.

Copies of Washington marriage certificates for events held before January 1, 1968, are held by the Washington State Archives. Otherwise, they should be available at the county auditors' offices, where the marriage licenses were obtained. The state's Department of Health has marriage certificates from January 1, 1968, to 2 months before the present day on file. Sometimes, the Washington State Archives may maintain copies of the certificates within this period. Recent marriage certificates from the last two months are maintained by the county auditors where the marriage licenses were filed. Typically, several county auditors have given the State Archives copies of marriage records held in the offices. These records are available at one of the five Archives around Washington State.

Marriages in Washington

The marriage rate in Washington State has declined over the last two decades. In 2022, the state's marriage rate was 5.8 per 1,000 residents. Even though it was slightly higher than the previous year (2021), the 2022 rate was lower than the national average of 6.2 marriages per 1,000 total population. According to reports, Washington's marriage rates have slowed by 11% since 2011. Similarly, the state's Department of Health confirms there was a 25% decrease in marriages in Washington from 2013 to 2020. The highest marriage rate recorded by the state between 2000 and 2022 was in 2013, with 7.1 marriages per 1,000 people. The divorce rate in Washington in 2022 was 2.8 per 1,000 residents. While it is higher than the national divorce rate of 2.4 per 1,000 total population, it is one of the lowest in the state in over two decades.

About 2.9 million people are currently married in Washington State, but there are more married males than females. While 51% of the male population aged 15 years and older married, only 50% of the female demographic are married. Typically, most men in the state get married at an average age of 27.9, while women get married at a median age of 26. In Washington, the Asian (including Hispanic) community leads other ethno-racial groups based on the number of households with married couples at about 57.6%. An estimated 52.4% of the White (non-Hispanic) race is married, followed by White Hispanics at 45.3%. Only 35.6% of the Black population in the state are married.

Per RCW 26.04.020, marriages under the following circumstances are prohibited in Washington:

When at least one of the parties has a registered domestic partner of a living spouse unless the domestic partner is the other party to the marriage
When both parties are related to each other beyond second cousins, whether whole or half-blood

Also, it is illegal for any individual to marry their child, grandchild, sibling, uncle, nephew, aunt, or niece under Washington State law. Any marriage between two individuals recognized as valid in another state is only valid in Washington if the marriage is not considered unlawful under Subsection 1(a) or 2 of RCW 26.04.020. Two persons with a validly formed legal union other than marriage from another state may obtain a marriage license in Washington, provided the legal union provides considerably the same benefits, rights, and responsibilities as a marriage.

How To Get Married in Washington

According to RCW 26.04.140, two individuals planning to get married to each other in Washington must obtain a marriage license from a county auditor. The two parties must have current photo IDs to be able to apply for a marriage license. Acceptable IDs include current U.S. Passport, permanent resident card, U.S. military ID, foreign government-issued ID, and driver's license. Individuals residing in other states are welcome to obtain marriage licenses in Washington, and applicants do not have to apply for licenses in the county where the marriage ceremony will occur. However, a Washington marriage license may not be used to get married in another jurisdiction or state.

In Washington, an intending couple may obtain a marriage license from a county auditor in person, by mail, or online. Most county auditors' offices in the state manage online portals that enable intending couples to complete and submit their marriage licenses online without appearing in person. The process and applicable fee may differ by county, so it is best to contact a county auditor to learn about their preference, fees, and procedures. No blood test is required to obtain a marriage license in Washington.

An application for a Washington marriage license should reflect the current full legal names of both parties, not the names they intend to bear after marriage. A mailed application must be notarized. There is a statutory 3-day waiting period between obtaining a marriage license and a wedding ceremony. Not even a court order can waive this waiting period. Once the would-be couple receives their marriage license, they may have their marriage ceremony unfailingly within 60 days. A marriage license becomes invalid if the ceremony does not take place 60 days after its issuance, and both parties must reapply for another one.

Individuals authorized to conduct marriage ceremonies under Washington law, as stipulated in RCW 26.04.050 include the following:

Supreme Court Commissioners and Justices
Ordained or licensed priests or ministers of any denomination or church
Court of Appeals Commissioners and Judges
Commissioners and Judges of limited-jurisdiction courts
Judges of federally-recognized tribe tribal courts
Superior Court Commissioners and Judges

Following a marriage ceremony (on the same day), the couple, two witnesses, and the ceremony officiant must sign the Washington State Certificate of Marriage. Afterward, the officiant must complete and return the marriage certificate within 30 days to the office of the auditor in the county where the license was issued, even if the ceremony took place in another county. Failure of the officiant to return a marriage certificate to the county auditor's office after a marriage ceremony within 30 days is considered a misdemeanor under RCW 26.04.110.

Washington Marriage Certificate

A marriage certificate in Washington is the legal and physical proof that a couple is joined in matrimony. The county auditors in the state generate marriage certificates after marriage ceremonies based on the information provided in the marriage licenses. Washington marriage certificates are maintained by the state's Department of Health and county auditors. Copies may also be available at the Washington State Archives, depending on when the marriage ceremony took place.

Interested persons may retrieve marriage certificates from January 1, 1968, to two months before the present date from the Washington Department of Health. Those created before January 1, 1968, may be retrieved from the county auditor where the marriage licenses were issued. Generally, regardless of the date, eligible and interested persons can obtain Washington marriage certificates from the office of the county auditors in the county where the marriage licenses were filed.

How To Find and Access Washington Marriage Records

Interested individuals can find and access Washington marriage records in multiple ways, depending on when the marriage event occurred and where it took place. The records may either be requested offline or online.

Finding and Accessing Washington Marriage Records Offline

Copies of Washington marriage records may be obtained from the office of the auditor in the county where such marriage licenses were filed, either in person or by mail. The procedure for issuance may vary by county, so it is best to contact the county auditor where the marriage record of interest is stored to inquire about their process. Generally, when making a mail or in-person request, the requester must provide the full names of the parties on the record and the approximate date of the marriage ceremony. A mail request should be accompanied by payment (usually check or money order) and a self-addressed stamped envelope with which the county auditor will mail back the record once found. Some county auditors may have dedicated forms for Washington marriage record requests submitted in person or sent by mail.

Similarly, the Washington Department of Health (DOH) allows members of the public to request marriage records (certificates) by mail and in person. For in-person requests, interested persons can visit the local Washington Health Departments to submit their requests. For a mail request, complete a Marriage/Divorce Certificate Mail Order Form and mail it with a non-refundable $25 fee (money order or check made payable to DOH) to the state's Department of Health at:

Department of Health

Center for Health Statistics

P.O. Box 9709

Olympia, WA 98507

Washington marriage records requests sent to the state's DOH are typically fulfilled within 6 to 8 weeks.

Finding and Accessing Washington Marriage Records Online

The Washington Department of Health partners with a third-party company that offers vital records services for individuals looking to obtain marriage records within the state. Generally, requesters will need to provide the name of the city where the marriage licenses were granted, the date of the marriage, and a few other information, as well as make the required payment to use this online service. Marriage records requested online through the DOH's partner are processed within 3 to 7 business days after the DOH receives such orders from the partner.

Furthermore, several county auditors in Washington make records of marriages for marriage licenses filed in their county available online for members of the public. Also, many of the marriage records held by the Washington State Archives have been digitized and may be accessed for free on the Washington State Digital Archives.

References

Counties in Washington

List of Content

What are Marriage Records?
Marriages in Washington
1. How To Get Married in Washington
2. Washington Marriage Certificate
How To Find and Access Washington Marriage Records
1. Finding and Accessing Washington Marriage Records Offline
2. Finding and Accessing Washington Marriage Records Online