Washington Marriage Records

Washington marriage records are official documents that capture the legal union of two individuals in Washington. The systematic recording of marriages statewide in Washington began in January 1968. The national marriage rate has stood at around 6.2 marriages per 1,000 people. Recent data shows that the marriage rate in Washington is slightly lower at 5.6 marriages per 1,000, over 9% above the national average.

Marriage records are useful for verifying marital status, for legal purposes, and for genealogical research. In Washington State, there are two primary types of marriage records:

• Marriage License: A marriage license is the document you obtain from the Clerk of Court before your wedding ceremony. It grants you legal permission to get married. Marriage licenses contain information on the names of both couples, addresses, date of birth, parental information, the application date, and the expiration date. A Washington marriage license is an authorization permitting you to conduct your wedding ceremony in the county where you purchased the license.
• Marriage Certificate: A marriage certificate is the official record of the marriage. Once the wedding ceremony has been conducted and the marriage license signed by the witnesses and officiant, it is returned to the County Auditor's Office, where the license was purchased. The Clerk issues the marriage certificate and files the same with the state, serving as legal proof that the marriage occurred. Marriage certificates included information on the names of both parties, location of marriage, officiant details, witness information, date of recording, and an official seal indicating the record is genuine.

How To Look Up Marriage Records in Washington?

You can look up marriage records in Washington from the following governmental sources:

• The Washington State Department of Health (WDOH) - Office of Vital Records maintains and issues certified copies of marriage certificates from 1968 to the present.
• The Local County Auditor's Offices where the marriage license was issued also maintain records of marriage licenses and some marriage certificates.

You may order marriage records from the state's Office of Vital Records by mail. Complete the marriage record section of the Marriage/Divorce Certificate Mail Order Form. Mail the request to:

Marriage licenses, marriage certificates before 1968, and marriage certificates for marriages less than 5 months old are available at the specific County Auditor's Office where the marriage license was obtained. Each county has its application form available on its website or at the office location.

All request for marriage records in Washington requires the following information and documents:

• Full names of the couple
• Marriage date
• Documents proving identity
• Applicable fees

Are Marriage Records Public in Washington?

Marriage records are considered public records in Washington. This means that unlike some states that make marriage records public after a certain number of years, marriage records are available to anyone who requests them in Washington. However, while the record itself is public, sensitive and personal information is redacted to protect the individuals involved.

How Much Do Washington Marriage Records Cost?

A certified copy of a marriage certificate ordered from the state's Office of Vital Records costs $25.00. The cost of certified copies of marriage licenses differs by county. Expect to pay between $3 to $5 per copy of the certified marriage license requested.

Expedited services for marriage certificates are available through third-party service providers approved by the WDOH Office of Vital Records. The fees start from $40.50.

The standard processing time for mail requests for marriage certificates from the State's Office of Vital Records is 6 to 8 weeks. Mail requests at the county level typically take 2 to 3 weeks for delivery.

Expedited processing through the third-party platform takes 3 to 7 business days. Generally, persons who desire to receive the marriage records on the same day may visit the State Office of Vital Records or the specific County Auditor's Office where the marriage license was issued.

Is It Possible to Make Your Marriage Records Confidential in Washington?

Marriage records are considered public records in Washington. Per state law, marriage records cannot be confidential since the license was not issued as confidential. This means that state law does not offer an option to make your marriage records publicly unavailable. Similarly, while some states allow certain records to be sealed, Washington state maintains that marriage records cannot be sealed. However, the state excludes sensitive details from public disclosure to protect individual privacy.

How Do I Verify the Authenticity of Washington Marriage Records?

From personal documentation to fulfilling legal requirements, there are several reasons why verifying the authenticity of your Washington marriage record is essential. Generally, you may need to verify your marriage record for travel and immigration purposes, claim joint tax benefits, confirm historical relationships, establish rightful claims in estate matters, and resolve legal disputes, such as divorce.

You may verify your marriage record at the WDOH Office of Vital Statistics. If you are an eligible requester -the individual named on the record, an immediate family member, or their legal representatives -you may order a certified copy of the marriage record to confirm details of the record's authenticity. Similarly, you may visit the relevant county Clerk's Office to request an authenticated copy of your marriage record.

An authenticated marriage record in Washington usually includes the full names of both parties, officiants' details, witness signatures, official seal and signatures, unique record number, and a declaration that the document is a true and accurate copy of the original record maintained by the state.

Can I Find Washington Marriage Records Online for Free?

You can find both old and new Washington marriage records online through several non-governmental sources, which offer vital records for free. FamilySearch.org is a free genealogy website that provides extensive indexes and digital images of Washington marriage records. The website offers a free searchable database with records dating back many decades, perfect for genealogical research and tracing family history.

The Washington State Archives provides free access to historical marriage records available on microfilm or as digital copies. You may view the records online, but an in-person visit to the Archives is necessary to obtain copies. PublicRecord.us is a third-party website that aggregates various public records, including marriage records in Washington. The platform serves as a good starting point for your research, providing basic information on current marriage records.

What Is Required to Get a Washington Marriage License?

When applying for a Washington marriage license, you typically need to fulfill the following requirements:

• Both applicants must be 18 years or older
• Both parties must be present at the County Auditor's Office to apply for the license
• Proof of divorce or death certificate from previous marriage
• Proof of identity
• The fees

The marriage license fee varies by county. Expect to pay between $45 to $70 to obtain a marriage license at the County Auditor's Office. There is a 3-day waiting period from the day the license was issued before the couple can conduct their wedding.

A Washington marriage license is valid for 60 days from the date of issuance. If the couple does not get married within that period, the incense becomes invalid, and the couple must obtain a new marriage license before they can get married.

Can You Amend Marriage Records in Washington?

Yes. You may amend errors on your marriage license and certificates in Washington to accurately reflect the facts. You may typically correct the following errors on your marriage license and marriage certificate in Washington:

• Typographical Errors: Minor misspellings of names, dates, or places during the application process.
• Clerical Mistakes: Incorrect address or minor discrepancies in personal information
• Omissions: Information provided at the time of application but left out of the license

Generally, amending your marriage record is strictly for clerical errors. Significant changes that alter the identities of the parties involved, such as changing a legal name, are not permitted without a court order in Washington.

Amending Washington Marriage License

You may correct errors on your marriage license if you notice errors on the document before the wedding. Since marriage licenses are issued at the County Auditor's Offices, contact the county where the marriage license was issued to amend the error. Some county offices will require you to fill out an amendment form specifying the error. You must provide supporting documentation, such as a birth certificate or government-issued ID, to verify the correction.

Amending Washington Marriage Certificate

The process of amending errors on your Washington marriage record begins at the County Auditor's Office or the WDOH Office of Vital Records. For amendments at the county level, contact the specific Auditor's Office that issued the marriage certificate. Usually, they will require you to complete an amendment form, available on their website, and provide documents substantiating your claims.

You may complete the Affidavit of Correction form to commence the process of rectifying the error if applying for the amendment through the WDOH Office. The application form requires you to detail the error and specify the correct information. You must include supporting documentation, such as hospital records, birth certificates, or Social Security Abstract, to validate your correction request. You may submit the request by mail or in person by appointment.

The fee for amending marriage records is between $15 to $20, depending on the office correcting the error. The timeline to amend marriage records at the County Auditor's Office varies, but you can typically get the record between 2 - 4 weeks. Marriage certificate amendments at the WDOH Office of Vital Records are processed within 10 months.