Find Frederickson Marriage Records

Frederickson marriage records are processed through Pierce County, not through any local city office. Frederickson is an unincorporated community in Pierce County, which means it has no city hall of its own. All marriage licensing, certificate filing, and copy requests go through the Pierce County Auditor in Tacoma. This guide explains how to apply for a license, what the process involves, how to request copies, and where to find historical records going back more than a century.

Pierce County Auditor - The Office for Frederickson Records

Frederickson residents apply for marriage licenses at the Pierce County Auditor's office in Tacoma. There is no local city office in Frederickson for this purpose. The auditor's office is at 2401 S. 35th St., Room 200, Tacoma, WA 98409. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 12pm and 1pm to 4:30pm.

You can start the application online at piercecountywa.gov. However, both applicants must still come in person to finalize the license. Alternatively, you can mail a notarized application with a check or money order. Call the office at 253-798-7435 to confirm current mail application procedures before sending anything.

The three-day waiting period under RCW 26.04.180 begins the day the license is issued. The wait cannot be shortened. The license is valid for 60 days and is only valid for ceremonies held in Washington State.

All marriage license applications are public record under RCW 26.04.170. Anyone can request to see a marriage application. Certificates filed after the ceremony are also public records available to the general public.

Certified Copies of Pierce County Marriage Certificates

Certified copies cost $3 each. Non-certified photocopies are $1. For records before the 1980s or for requests that need a 5-year index search, an additional $8 fee applies. Processing time for mailed copy requests is about 7 working days.

Mail copy requests to: Pierce County Auditor, Attn: Marriage License, 2401 S. 35th St., Room 200, Tacoma, WA 98409. Include the full names of both parties, the approximate marriage date, and a check or money order made out to Pierce County Auditor. The recorded documents page at piercecountywa.gov/359/Recorded-Documents has additional details on submitting requests.

For marriages from 1968 to present, the Washington State Department of Health holds statewide records. Order certified copies through doh.wa.gov via VitalChek. The DOH fee is $25 per certified copy. VitalChek processes orders in 3-7 business days. Mail orders to DOH take 6-8 weeks. DOH does not hold records from before 1968, so contact Pierce County directly for older records.

Historical Pierce County Marriage Records

Pierce County historical marriage records are available through the Washington State Digital Archives. The free collection at digitalarchives.wa.gov holds 491,019 records. The collection includes certificates from 1889 to 1947 and from 1984 to present, plus marriage applications from 1999 to 2014.

The archive is searchable by name at no cost. No account is needed to search or view images. Soundex searching helps find records where surname spelling varies from what you expect. For marriages in gap years not covered by the digital collection, contact the Pierce County Auditor directly.

Frederickson's marriages will appear under Pierce County records since the community has always been unincorporated. There is no separate Frederickson record set. All searches should focus on Pierce County collections.

The Pierce County marriage guide at piercecountycourts.org offers additional guidance on finding both current and historical marriage and divorce records in Pierce County. It can be a useful supplement to the auditor's official page.

Ceremony Requirements in Washington State

Two witnesses must be present for the ceremony. Both must observe the full ceremony and sign the Certificate of Marriage. The officiant must return the completed certificate to Pierce County within 30 days. That return step is what makes the marriage official in the county records.

Authorized officiants under RCW 26.04.050 include judges, ordained ministers, and religious officials. No blood test is required in Washington. There is also no residency requirement; anyone can apply in Pierce County and marry in Washington regardless of where they live.

Washington's Marriage Equality Act took effect December 6, 2012. Certificates before that date list groom and bride. After that date they use Person A and Person B. If you are searching around that time period, note the change in terminology on documents and search systems.

Online Search Tools for Frederickson Marriage Records

Start your research at the Washington State Digital Archives. The Pierce County collection is free to search at digitalarchives.wa.gov. Search by name and use Soundex to catch variant spellings. No login is needed. You can view images of original certificates at no cost.

For marriages from 1968 to present, the DOH statewide database at doh.wa.gov is a useful option if you are not sure which county holds the record. It covers all Washington counties in one place. The fee is $25 per certified copy through VitalChek.

For records after the Digital Archives cut-off date, or for very recent marriages, contact the Pierce County Auditor directly at 253-798-7435. Staff can search by name and confirm whether a record is on file before you order a copy. The Pierce County marriage guide at piercecountycourts.org also gives a useful breakdown of where different types of marriage and divorce records are held in the county system.

All marriage license applications are public under RCW 26.04.170. Anyone can request to view an application. There is no requirement to show a relationship to the people named in the record.

Pierce County Marriage Records

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

View Pierce County Marriage Records

Nearby Cities

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