How to Find Washington Marriage Records
How To Find U.S. Marriage Records 
Washington Marriage Records
Finding Washington Marriage Records
The Washington Territory was established in 1853. Marriages were recorded by the county auditor as each county was created. Statehood was granted in 1889. Statewide registration of marriages in Washington began in 1968.
- 1848 – Oregon Territory created, including present day Washington state
- 1853 – Washington Territory organized
- 1889 – Washington granted statehood as the 42nd state of the Union
- 1968 - Statewide registration of marriages began on July 1
The State of Washington is an open record state. Anyone may order copies of Washington marriage certificates, as long as they can provide the required information.
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More information is usually found on the marriage license application or the marriage register. Less information is found on the marriage certificate. |
Next Step: When did the marriage occur? |
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Learn more about U.S. Marriage Records
Marriages Before 1853
- Before 1853, no marriages were recorded by the county or state
- 1853 to 1968 marriages were recorded by the county
If you cannot locate your ancestor in the databases below, try searching for marriage information in other records.
| 1. Look first in | 2. Then search |
| Church Records |
Census Records |
Marriages 1853 to 1968
| Washington Marriage Database - includes index and digital Images | ||||
| Try 1st: | ||||
| 1843 to present Washington State Digital Archives |
Washington State Digital Archives – Free, includes marriage records, license applications and certificates. Coverage varies by county.
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| Try 2nd: | ||||
| FamilySearch.org – Free, partial index, browse images, not complete for all counties | ||||
| Try 3rd: | ||||
| Washington Marriage Records, 1865–2004 Ancestry.com |
Ancestry.com – $ Ancestryinstitution.com – Free at Family History Library, FamilySearch Centers and some public libraries Find your local FamilySearch Center | |||
| Can't find your ancestor in the online index? | Tips for searching online indexes | |||
| No marriage record for your ancestor? |
Search for Gretna Greens-- locations away from the home county where marriage laws were less restrictive. | |||
Marriage Records on Microfilm
Some county marriage records may be available on microfilm at your local Family Search Center. If you know the approximate date and county where the marriage took place, use the Family History Library Catalog (FHLC) to see what is available.
- Search the FHLC by county.
- Select the topic Vital Records. Look for records authored by the county clerk.
- For a small fee, order the microfilm to view at a local Family Search Center.
Order marriage records from the county auditor. If you do not find your ancestor in a marriage index contact the county auditor where you think the marriage took place.
Marriages 1968 to present
Marriage licenses may be found in the records of the county where the marriage occurred.
STEP ONE: Find Marriage Information in Index
Some marriages records after 1968 with digital images are found in the following databases.
| Washington Marriage Database - includes index and digital Images | ||||
| Try 1st: | ||||
| 1843 to present Washington State Digital Archives |
Washington State Digital Archives – Free, includes marriage records, license applications and certificates. Coverage varies by county.
| |||
| Try 2nd: | ||||
| FamilySearch.org – Free, partial index, browse images, not complete for all counties | ||||
| Try 3rd: | ||||
| Washington Marriage Records, 1865–2004 Ancestry.com |
Ancestry.com – $ Ancestryinstitution.com – Free at Family History Library, FamilySearch Centers and some public libraries Find your local FamilySearch Center | |||
| Can't find your ancestor in the online index? | Tips for searching online indexes | |||
| No marriage record for your ancestor? |
Search for Gretna Greens-- locations away from the home county where marriage laws were less restrictive. | |||
STEP TWO: Obtain the Certificate
If you did not find your ancestor in the above database, follow the instructions below.
PART A: You don't know the exact date or place of marriage
- If you know the county of marriage, request a search for a fee from the county auditor.
- If you don't know the county or date of marriage, request a search for a fee from the Washington State Department of Health.
- If you don't know the date or county of marriage, you can also try searching for marriage information in other records.
PART B: You know the exact date and place of marriage from your records
- Order copies from the county auditor –OR–
- Order copies from the Washington State Department of Health
| To Order Marriage Certificates | |||
| From County where marriage occurred | From Washington State Dept. of Health | ||
| Pros | Cons | Pros | Cons |
| May be less expensive and faster than ordering from the state | County websites can be more difficult to use | Offers a search of the state index for an additional fee | May be more expensive than ordering from the county |
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When ordering Washington marriage records: Request the marriage license or the marriage register, rather than the marriage certificate. The license or register usually contains more information. |
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