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How to get a Washington marriage certificate

In Washington, order a certified marriage certificate from the Washington State Department of Health, Center for Health Statistics.1 Marriages before 1968 (and the license record itself) are with the county auditor where the license was issued.2 Each certified copy costs $253. You can order online, by mail, at a local office or by phone. Anyone may order a certified copy. The fastest published option is online: 3 to 7 business days4.

Last checked against official sources.

On this page
  1. Ways to order
  2. What a Washington marriage certificate costs
  3. How long it takes
  4. Who can order a Washington marriage certificate
  5. ID you need
  6. What the application asks for
  7. Which office holds a marriage record
  8. Forms
  9. Years held and older records
  10. Special situations
  11. Warnings from the office
  12. The state office
  13. Questions people ask
  14. Sources

Ways to order

HowCost per copyProcessing timePayment
Online through VitalChek$40.504 for one copy ($254 certificate fee, $8.504 VitalChek fee and $74 DOH processing fee)3 to 7 business days4Card4
By mail$253
+ one extra charge		–Check and money order3
At a local office$35 (King County)––
By phone$40.504 for one copy ($254 certificate fee, $8.504 VitalChek fee and $74 DOH processing fee)3 to 7 business days4Card4

Not offered: online directly with the vital records office and in person.67

Online through VitalChek

Vendor
VitalChek6
Vendor status
The state's only authorized vendor1
Fees
  • Per copy $254
  • VitalChek fee $8.504
  • DOH processing fee $74
  • Total charged $34
  • First copy $40.504
Processing time
3 to 7 business days4
Payment
Card4

Good to know

  • Marriage/divorce certificates are not available until 3 months after the event is finalized with the county; DOH's page says it can take up to 5 months for the record to reach DOH.3

Go to the ordering site1

By mail

Run by
Washington State Department of Health, Center for Health Statistics3
Fees
  • Per copy $253
  • First Class Mail: (No additional charge) $03
Payment
Check and money order3
Make payable to
DOH3
Mail to
Center for Health Statistics, Department of Health, PO Box 9709, Olympia, WA 98507
1

Open the application or mail instructions3

At a local office

Run by
County auditor of the county that issued the license2
Fees
  • Per copy $35

Good to know

  • Most federal agencies do not accept the county auditor's copy.2

Find a local office2

By phone

Run by
VitalChek6
Vendor status
The state's only authorized vendor1
Fees
  • Per copy $254
  • VitalChek fee $8.504
  • DOH processing fee $74
  • Total charged $34
  • First copy $40.504
Processing time
3 to 7 business days4
Payment
Card4

What a Washington marriage certificate costs

First certified copy
$253
Each additional copy, same order
$253
Expedite fee
$78
If no record is found
The fee is kept as a search fee3
Fees in effect since
Law: 2019 c 148 (chapter 70.58A RCW); Effective: Jan. 1, 20219

Types of copies

CopyAccepted forFee
Marriage certificate (certified copy)2–$253
Not available10––
Single status letter2Marrying abroad where the country requires proof you are not currently married.2$252

No-fee copies

  • Veterans Administration claim: no fee for a vital record used for a claim for compensation or pension pending before the VA (official VA documentation required).11

How long it takes

These are the office's own published times. They do not include shipping. Mail and shipping time is extra unless the office says otherwise.

How you orderProcessing time
Online through VitalChek3 to 7 business days4
By phone3 to 7 business days4

Who can order a Washington marriage certificate

Anyone may order a certified copy.2

Records open to the public after
25 years9

ID you need

Photo ID
Not required2
ID copy with a mail order
Not required3

What the application asks for

Have these details ready before you fill in the form or start an online order.3

  • First and last name of one of the parties on the record
  • Approximate date the event occurred (month and year)
  • City or county where the event was filed

Which office holds a marriage record

Certified copies come from the office that recorded the signed license, and also from the state vital records office2; the years each office holds are listed below. Marriage license vs certificate explains the difference and which copy agencies ask for.

Forms

Years held and older records

Years the issuing office holds
1968 to today2
Older records
Before 1968: county auditor of the licensing county (older auditor records also at State Archives regional branches).2

Special situations

Use abroad
Certified marriage certificates and single status letters can be apostilled by the Secretary of State; DOH can forward (+$15).2

Warnings from the office

  • VitalChek is DOH's only contracted vendor; other third-party sites charge high fees. Complaints: WA Attorney General Consumer Protection, 206-464-6684.1

The state office

Office
Center for Health Statistics1
Mailing address
Center for Health Statistics, Department of Health, PO Box 9709, Olympia, WA 98507
1
Walk-in address
Washington State Department of Health, Center for Health Statistics Town Center 2, 111 Israel Road SE, Tumwater, WA 98501
1
Hours
Phone: Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.1
Appointments
Required7

Questions people ask

How much is a certified Washington marriage certificate?

Each certified copy costs $25.3

How long does it take to get a Washington marriage certificate?

Online through VitalChek: 3 to 7 business days. By phone: 3 to 7 business days.4

Can I order a Washington marriage certificate online?

Yes. Online through VitalChek.6

Who do I make the check or money order payable to?

Write it exactly as the office prints it: DOH.3

Where are older Washington marriage certificates kept?

Before 1968: county auditor of the licensing county (older auditor records also at State Archives regional branches).2

Sources

Every fact on this page comes from these official sources, checked on November 6, 2026. Tap a source number next to a fact to read the exact words.

  1. Vital Records | Washington State Department of HealthWashington State Department of Health, Center for Health Statistics
  2. Ordering a Marriage or Divorce Record | Washington State Department of HealthWashington State Department of Health, Center for Health Statistics
  3. Marriage and Divorce Certificate Order Form (DOH 422-104, November 2025)Washington State Department of Health, Center for Health Statisticsdated November 1, 2025
  4. Ordering a Vital Record | Washington State Department of HealthWashington State Department of Health, Center for Health Statistics
  5. Marriage licensing - King CountyKing County Recorder's Office
  6. Certificates and Informational Copies FAQ | Washington State Department of HealthWashington State Department of Health, Center for Health Statistics
  7. Schedule An Appointment for Vital Records | Washington State Department of HealthWashington State Department of Health, Center for Health Statistics
  8. Chapter 246-491 WAC Vital statistics - Certificates (full text)Washington State Legislature (Office of the Code Reviser)
  9. Chapter 70.58A RCW Vital Statistics (full text)Washington State Legislature
  10. Birth/Death Informational Copies Order Form (DOH 422-185, November 2025)Washington State Department of Health, Center for Health Statisticsdated November 1, 2025
  11. Vital Records No Fee in Specific Circumstances | Washington State Department of HealthWashington State Department of Health, Center for Health Statistics