Look Up Edmonds Marriage Records

Edmonds marriage records are handled by Snohomish County, not by the city of Edmonds. The Snohomish County Auditor in Everett issues marriage licenses, stores official certificates, and processes copy requests for all Snohomish County marriages, including those involving Edmonds residents. This guide covers how to apply for a license, the timing rules you need to know, where to find historical records going back to 1867, and how to order certified copies. Edmonds City Hall does not hold marriage records.

Snohomish County Auditor - Marriage Licenses for Edmonds

Edmonds residents apply for marriage licenses at the Snohomish County Auditor's office in Everett. Both applicants must appear in person. Bring valid government-issued photo ID for each person. No blood test is required in Washington State.

The license fee is $170. Payment is accepted in cash, check, money order, or by card. After the license is issued, the mandatory three-day waiting period begins under RCW 26.04.180. No official can shorten this wait. The license is valid for 60 days and only for ceremonies held in Washington State.

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm. Allow at least 30 minutes before closing to complete the process. Recording staff will hand you the license, the Certificate of Marriage, and an information packet when you pick up the license.

The Snohomish County Auditor's office page gives a full overview of the office's four divisions, which include elections, licensing, recording, and general services. The auditor is a nonpartisan elected official who also registers voters and conducts elections for the county, in addition to issuing marriage licenses.

Timing Your Edmonds Marriage

The three-day wait is strict. Here is how to plan based on your application day. Apply Monday: earliest ceremony is Thursday. Apply Tuesday: earliest is Friday. Apply Wednesday: Saturday. Apply Thursday: Sunday. Apply Friday: Monday. These are calendar days, not business days.

Your license expires 60 days from the date it is issued. Mark that date. If something comes up and the ceremony gets pushed back, you may need to reapply. It is also worth noting the license covers only Washington State. A ceremony held in Oregon or any other state will not make the Washington license valid.

Two witnesses must be present at the ceremony and must sign the Certificate of Marriage. There is no age requirement listed in the statute for witnesses, but they must be able to observe the ceremony and sign their names. After the ceremony, the officiant has 30 days to return the completed certificate to Snohomish County.

Certified Copies of Edmonds Marriage Certificates

Snohomish County charges $3 for certified copies and $1 for unofficial copies. For records from before 1976, there is an $8 per hour search fee in addition to the copy cost. Postage is $1 for 1-10 copies mailed to you.

You can order copies online, by phone, by mail, or in person. The Snohomish County certified copies page at snohomishcountywa.gov walks through each method with contact details and required information for each type of request. You will need the full names of both parties and the approximate marriage year.

Recording staff handle copy orders through the Drewel building first floor at 3000 Rockefeller. Email Recording@snoco.org or call 425-388-3483 for mail and phone requests. Include your return address and a check or money order made out to Snohomish County Auditor if you are mailing a request.

For records from 1968 to present statewide, the Washington State Department of Health is another option. Order through doh.wa.gov via VitalChek for $25 per copy. VitalChek processes orders in 3-7 business days. Mail orders to DOH directly take 6-8 weeks.

Historical Snohomish County Marriage Records

Snohomish County's historical marriage records are available for free through the Washington State Digital Archives. The collection holds 396,425 records spanning 1867 to 1999 and 2004 to 2005. Bulk scanned certificates cover 1873 to 1919 and 1968 to 1985. The archive includes marriage certificates, licenses from 1877 to 1888, and applications from 1976 to 1999.

There are known gaps in the digital index: years 1948 to 1950, 1953 to 1956, 1960 to 1964, and 1993 are missing from the digitized set. Records from those years may exist in physical form at the county auditor's office, so call if your search falls in a gap year. The archive at digitalarchives.wa.gov is free to search and no account is needed.

The Washington State Library also documents this collection at washstatelib.libguides.com. The library guide explains what is included in the Snohomish collection and how to use the Soundex search feature for variant surname spellings.

Soundex searching is particularly useful when the exact spelling of an older surname is uncertain. The system groups similar-sounding names under a code, so a search for one spelling can surface records filed under others.

Marriage Equality and Record Changes

Washington's Marriage Equality Act took effect December 6, 2012. Before that date, all marriage certificates listed groom and bride. After that date, they list Person A and Person B. This change applies to all Washington counties, including Snohomish.

All marriage license applications are public records under RCW 26.04.170. Anyone can request to see an application. Marriage certificates filed with the county after the ceremony are also public records. Washington does not restrict access to marriage records by relationship or identity.

Authorized officiants in Washington are defined in RCW 26.04.050. Judges, ordained ministers, and religious leaders may all perform marriages. Online ordinations are generally accepted, but contact the Snohomish County Auditor if you have questions about a specific case.

Snohomish County Marriage Records

Edmonds is in Snohomish County. All marriage licenses for Edmonds 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 Edmonds. Each uses its own county auditor for marriage records.