All marriage records are a matter of public record and once it has been recorded, it cannot be "unrecorded." The YouTube channel of the Washington State Government, linking you to videos from state agencies, departments, and elected officials.Visit the Help Center for assistance with locating information and resources to help meet your needs.Marriage licenses are applied for at the county level, usually at the county auditor's office. The King County Recorder's Office, located in the King County Administration Building in downtown Seattle, is currently If your county does not have a website listed below, you can contact your county auditor directly for more information. If you want to change your first or middle name or create a new last name, check with Washington state law does not impose a time limit after the wedding by which a name change must be accomplished. The contents of this webpage are not intended as a comprehensive digest on marriage licensing and should not be construed as legal advice. However, if you are making the change more than a year after your wedding, check with each agency to determine if a certified copy of your marriage license will suffice to change your name with them. Neither the bride nor the groom may perform the ceremony.To schedule a wedding with a judge click on the links below for instructions and contact information:Immediately following the ceremony, the couple, the officiant, and two witnesses must sign the marriage certificate. A marriage in another jurisdiction is valid in Washington State if it is not prohibited by Washington state law.Obtaining the license is just the first step in making your marriage official. The Department of Health issues certified copies of vital records (or “certificates”) for births, deaths, marriages and divorces that took place in the state of Washington. King County wants to make applying for and picking up your marriage license quick and easy.Don’t wait until the last minute! If your record shows a "Marriage Certificate" Doc Type, then you can If you were married in 1990 or earlier, you can request copies from Washington Sate Digital Archives.All marriage license documents are signed with one's current legal name, never the intended new name.There is no legal requirement for a name change after getting married; it is a right a couple may choose to exercise.If you or your spouse want to change your surname after marriage take a certified copy of your marriage license to any organization that you need to notify, such as the ones listed below. We can help you with: Ordering birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates
5. Applicants are not required to have a U.S. Social Security number in order to obtain a marriage license. Due to reduced staffing in the pandemic, the Recorder’s Office cannot guarantee a three-day turnaround.
This cuts down on data entry errors.Your application should reflect your current full, legal names, not the name(s) you intend to take after marriage.Please include at least one phone number where you can be reached during the day.Enclose a check or money order for $69 payable to King County.
Licenses are valid for 60 days after the three-day waiting period.A license issued today would be valid for use between Pick your wedding ceremony date and the dates below it will show when you should obtain your marriage license. The check or money order must include your address. After you’re married, you MUST return the original, signed, marriage certificate to the Auditor’s Office. Return signed marriage certificate and get certified copies. If you do not include a return address, we will use the one on the application.Packets will be returned by Priority Mail or FedEx once your application has been processed.Ceremonies can be conducted by video, but we must receive the actual physical certificate, properly executed, for your marriage to be valid.If you have questions, please contact us at kcrocust@kingcounty.gov or 206-477-6620.When we issue a marriage license, Washington state law requires a three-day waiting period before you can use it. If your county does not have a website listed below, you can contact your county auditor directly for more information. Marriage licenses are applied for at the county level, usually at the county auditor's office. The marriage license is valid for 60 days. Washington State has a mandatory 3-day waiting period that cannot be waived. Starter checks are not accepted.Please provide a physical mailing address where we should return your packet.
Don't wait til the last minute!
Phone and email options for county auditors can be found on the Washington Association of County Officials website.
The officiant can walk into any of If you were married in 1991 or later, check if your certificate has been processed by searching online records. Have the ceremony" tab to review the next step.Ministers from any state may perform marriage ceremonies, but the ceremony must be performed in the State of Washington. boxes are not acceptable. Select the "2. Please print legibly or type the information on your application.
You will need to have the wedding ceremony performed between three and 60 days of the marriage license application. It is the officiant's responsibility to complete and return the license to King County within 30 days after the ceremony.Immediately following the ceremony, the couple, the officiant, and two witnesses must sign the license. A marriage license purchased from any county in Washington State can be used to get married anywhere in the state. The marriage license is only valid in Washington State (it will not be valid if the ceremony takes place in any other state) Marriages are Public Record.
Phone and email options for county auditors can be found on the Return your certificate by mail or in-person, at the Pierce County Annex.