Bothell Marriage Records

Bothell marriage records are handled at the county level, not by the city itself. Bothell is unusual in Washington because city limits cross two county lines: most of the city falls in Snohomish County, and a smaller portion sits in King County. Which county auditor you use depends on your home address. This guide covers both offices, explains the three-day waiting period, and shows you where to find historical records going back to the 1800s. Bothell City Hall does not issue marriage licenses or hold marriage certificates.

Which County Handles Your Bothell Marriage License

Bothell sits across two counties. Most residents apply at the Snohomish County Auditor in Everett. A smaller number, those in the King County portion, apply at the King County Recorder in Seattle. If you are not sure which county your address falls in, check a county boundary map or call either office and give your street address. They can tell you right away.

The two offices charge different fees. Snohomish County charges $170. King County charges $69. Both require the same three-day wait after you apply before the ceremony can happen. Both issue licenses that are valid for 60 days and only good within Washington State.

Both applicants must appear in person at the office. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID for each person. No blood test is required. Washington dropped that requirement years ago.

Snohomish County accepts all common forms of payment at the auditor's window. When you pick up your license, recording staff hand you the license, the Certificate of Marriage, and an information packet explaining what happens next. Keep the certificate with you so your officiant can complete and return it after the ceremony.

The Snohomish County Auditor's marriage license page at snohomishcountywa.gov has current hours and any recent fee changes. Check it before you drive out to Everett.

The lead-in to the Snohomish County license page gives a clear overview of what Bothell applicants need to bring. The page lists current fees, required documents, and payment options accepted at the Everett office.

The Three-Day Wait and License Rules

Washington law under RCW 26.04.180 requires a mandatory three-day waiting period. You cannot get married the same day you apply. The wait starts the day you apply and counts calendar days, not business days.

Here is how the timing works in practice. Apply on Monday, and Wednesday is the first day you can legally hold the ceremony. Apply on Friday, and the earliest date is Monday. Plan accordingly if you have a venue booking or an officiant with limited availability.

Your license expires 60 days from the date of issue. If you do not use it in that window, you have to apply again and pay again. The license is valid only in Washington State, so if you plan to marry out of state you will need to apply through that state's process instead.

Two witnesses are required at the ceremony. Both witnesses must be able to observe the ceremony and sign the certificate. Your officiant must return the completed Certificate of Marriage to the county within 30 days. That return completes the legal record.

Getting Married at Bothell Municipal Court

If you want a judge to perform your ceremony, the Bothell Municipal Court judge is an authorized officiant under RCW 26.04.050. The fee varies by day, time, and location. Court ceremonies outside of regular business hours may cost more.

The court has a few rules you should know before booking. No food or drink is allowed in the courtroom. Two witnesses over the age of 18 are required. Contact the court ahead of time to schedule and ask about current fees and available dates.

The Bothell Municipal Court page at bothellwa.gov has details on scheduling and what to bring. The page covers ceremony fees, witness requirements, and how to book your date with the court.

Other authorized officiants include ordained ministers, religious leaders, and certain civil officials. Washington has a broad list of who can legally perform a marriage. If you use a religious officiant or a friend ordained online, confirm they meet the requirements under RCW 26.04.050 before the ceremony.

Certified Copies of Bothell Marriage Certificates

Certified copies from Snohomish County cost $3 each. Non-certified copies are $1 each. For records from before 1976, there is an additional $8 per hour search fee. Postage for mailed copies is $1 for up to 10 copies. You can request copies online, in person at the auditor's office, by phone, or by mail.

The Snohomish County certified copies page at snohomishcountywa.gov walks you through each request method. You will need the full names of both parties and the approximate marriage year to locate the record.

For King County portion records, certified copies are $3. A single status search (to confirm whether someone was ever married in King County) costs $8 for a 1-5 year window and goes up in $8 increments for longer periods. King County Recorder handles those requests at 201 S Jackson St, Seattle.

The Washington State Department of Health holds all Washington marriage records from 1968 to present. Their fee is $25 per certified copy, ordered through VitalChek. VitalChek processes orders in about 3-7 business days. Mail orders sent directly to DOH take 6-8 weeks. Call 1-866-687-1464 for expedited VitalChek service.

Historical Bothell Marriage Records

Snohomish County historical marriage records are available for free through the Washington State Digital Archives. The collection at digitalarchives.wa.gov holds 396,425 records spanning 1867 to 1999 and 2004 to 2005. There are known gaps in the index: years 1948-1950, 1953-1956, 1960-1964, and 1993 are missing from the digitized set. If the marriage you are looking for falls in one of those gap years, contact the Snohomish County Auditor directly.

The collection includes marriage certificates, marriage licenses, and applications. Bulk scanned certificates cover 1873 to 1919 and 1968 to 1985. The archive is searchable by name and supports Soundex for variant spellings. No account is needed to search or view images.

For the King County portion of Bothell, the Digital Archives holds a separate collection of over 1.6 million King County records from 1855 to 2017 at digitalarchives.wa.gov. King County records are indexed and include images.

One note about records after December 6, 2012: Washington's Marriage Equality Act changed the terms on certificates. Before that date, certificates listed groom and bride. After that date, they use Person A and Person B. Search filters may behave differently depending on which era you are searching.

Search Bothell Marriage Records Online

Start with the free Washington State Digital Archives. For Snohomish County records go to the Snohomish collection page and search by name. For older King County records go to the King County collection.

For records after 2005 (Snohomish) or after 2017 (King County), contact the relevant auditor or recorder directly. Snohomish County also takes mail and phone requests for copy orders. King County has an online ordering portal at kingcounty.gov/recorder.

If you are not sure which county a record is in, the DOH statewide database at doh.wa.gov covers all Washington marriages from 1968 forward. One search, one fee, covers the whole state. You do not need to know the county to order through DOH.

Snohomish County Marriage Records

Bothell is primarily in Snohomish County. All marriage licenses for Snohomish County residents come from the Snohomish County Auditor. Visit the county page for full office details, fee schedules, and historical record resources.

View Snohomish County Marriage Records

Nearby Cities

These cities are near Bothell. Each uses its own county auditor for marriage records.