Find Marriage Records in Des Moines
Des Moines marriage records are managed by King County, not by Des Moines city offices. The King County Recorder in Seattle issues marriage licenses for all King County residents including those in Des Moines, keeps official certificates on file, and handles copy requests. This guide tells you exactly where to go for a new license, how to get certified copies, and how to find historical records. Des Moines City Hall and the Des Moines Library can help with some research tasks, but they do not hold marriage certificates or issue licenses.
Des Moines Overview
King County Recorder - Where Des Moines Gets Licenses
Des Moines residents apply for marriage licenses at the King County Recorder's office. The office is at 201 S Jackson St., Seattle, WA 98104. Both applicants must show up in person. Bring valid government-issued photo ID for each person. No blood test is needed in Washington State.
The fee is $69. Once the license is issued, a three-day waiting period begins. This is required by RCW 26.04.180 and cannot be skipped. Apply on a Monday and the first day you can hold the ceremony is Thursday. Apply on a Wednesday and the earliest is Saturday.
The license is valid for 60 days from the date of issue. If you have not used it by day 60, it expires and you must apply again and pay again. The license is only valid for ceremonies held within Washington State.
| Office | King County Recorder's Office |
|---|---|
| Address | 201 S Jackson St., Seattle, WA 98104 |
| Phone | (206) 296-1655 |
| Website | kingcounty.gov/depts/records-licensing/records.aspx |
| Des Moines City Hall | 21630 11th Ave. South, Suite A, Des Moines, WA 98198 |
| City Phone | (206) 878-4595; City Clerk: (206) 870-6519 |
| Des Moines Library | 21620 11th Ave. S, Des Moines, WA 98198; (206) 824-6066 |
The Recorder's website has current hours and lets you pre-apply online. Filling out the online form before your visit can reduce your time at the window. Pay attention to the days the office is open, as hours may vary.
Des Moines Public Records and City Resources
Des Moines City Hall does not issue marriage licenses or hold marriage certificates. The city clerk handles municipal records: council minutes, ordinances, and city contracts. For marriage-related matters, the city will refer you to King County.
Marriage license and certificate requests go through King County, not through any Des Moines city office.
The Des Moines Library at 21620 11th Ave S can assist with genealogy research. Library staff can help you navigate digital archives, microfilm collections, and historical newspaper databases. The library itself does not hold marriage records, but it is a useful research hub for tracing older records.
Getting Certified Copies of Des Moines Marriage Certificates
Certified copies from King County cost $3 each. Request them in person at the Recorder's office, by mail, or through the online portal. If the marriage happened within the last five months, go directly to King County since the state DOH may not have the record yet.
The Washington State Department of Health holds statewide marriage records from 1968 to the present. Order through doh.wa.gov via VitalChek for $25 per certified copy. VitalChek orders process in 3-7 business days. Mailing directly to DOH takes 6-8 weeks. Call VitalChek at 1-866-687-1464 for expedited service.
Washington maintains an index of over two million marriage records from 1865 to 2004. That index is useful for finding out whether a marriage was recorded and in which county, before you commit to a specific copy request. Contact King County Auditor for pre-1968 records since DOH's collection only starts in 1968.
Historical Marriage Records for the Des Moines Area
King County marriage records go back to 1855. The Washington State Digital Archives holds 1,610,882 King County records spanning 1855 to 2017. That collection is free to search at digitalarchives.wa.gov and includes records from the King County Auditor (1855-1969) and the King County Recorder (1970-2017).
The Digital Archives collection for King County covers marriages from before Des Moines was incorporated. 
Des Moines was incorporated in 1959, but King County records from the area go back much further through the unincorporated King County records. The archive is searchable by name and supports Soundex for variant spellings.
No account is needed to search the archive. You can view images of original certificates and returns online at no cost. This is the best free option for genealogy research involving any King County marriage from 1855 to 2017.
Washington Marriage Law - Key Facts for Des Moines
Two witnesses are required at the ceremony. Both must be present for the full ceremony and sign the Certificate of Marriage. There is no residency requirement to apply in King County. Anyone can apply regardless of where they live, as long as the ceremony is held in Washington State.
Authorized officiants under RCW 26.04.050 include judges, ordained ministers, and other religious officials. The officiant must return the signed Certificate of Marriage to King County within 30 days of the ceremony. That return step is what creates the official legal record in the county files.
Marriage license applications are public records under RCW 26.04.170. Anyone can look up an application. Certificates filed with the county after the ceremony are also public records. Washington's Marriage Equality Act changed the terms on certificates after December 6, 2012, from groom and bride to Person A and Person B.
King County Marriage Records
Des Moines is in King County. All marriage licenses for Des Moines residents come from the King County Recorder. Visit the county page for full office details, fee schedules, and historical record resources.
Nearby Cities
These cities are near Des Moines. Each uses its own county auditor for marriage records.