Kirkland Marriage Records
Kirkland marriage records are issued and maintained by King County, not by the city of Kirkland. If you need to apply for a marriage license, get a certified copy of a certificate, or search historical marriage records from the Kirkland area, you will work with the King County Recorder's Office in Seattle. The Kirkland City Clerk handles city-level public records but does not process marriage or divorce paperwork. This guide covers where to apply, what the three-day waiting period means for your planning, how to get copies, and where to find historical records from King County going back more than 150 years.
Kirkland Overview
Where Kirkland Residents Get a Marriage License
The King County Recorder's Office issues all marriage licenses for Kirkland residents. The office is located at 201 S Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98104. Both people planning to marry must appear in person at the office. Each person needs a valid government-issued photo ID. The fee is $69 and the license is good for 60 days within Washington State only.
After you apply, you must wait three calendar days before the ceremony can take place. This is a state law under RCW 26.04.180, and it cannot be shortened or waived. Apply on a Monday and the first possible ceremony date is Thursday. If you have a venue booking, account for this wait when picking your application date.
The Recorder's Office website at kingcounty.gov/depts/records-licensing/records.aspx has current hours, instructions for applying, and information on how to order certified copies of existing records.
| Office | King County Recorder's Office |
|---|---|
| Address | 201 S Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98104 |
| License Fee | $69 |
| License Validity | 60 days; Washington State only |
| Records From | 1853 to present |
| Kirkland City Clerk | 123 Fifth Ave, Kirkland, WA 98033; (425) 587-3000 |
The Kirkland City Clerk office is at 123 Fifth Ave, Kirkland, WA 98033, and can be reached at (425) 587-3000. The city clerk handles Kirkland's official documents including council minutes, ordinances, and resolutions. It does not hold marriage licenses or certificates. If you contact the city about marriage records, staff will direct you to King County.
The Kirkland City website provides a useful overview of the city's services and public records functions. 
City Hall handles municipal public records requests, but marriage and divorce paperwork is specifically excluded from city-level processing and must go through King County.
Kirkland City Clerk and Public Records Requests
Kirkland residents sometimes contact the city clerk first when looking for marriage records. The city does take public records requests. The standard response time is within five business days for most requests. But city records do not include marriage licenses or marriage certificates. Those are county records, full stop.
If you submit a public records request to the city for a marriage record, staff will let you know they do not hold that record and direct you to King County. It is faster to contact King County directly. Save yourself a step and go to the Recorder's Office first.
The Kirkland public records request page shows what types of records the city holds and how to submit a request. 
The page explains the five-business-day response window and lists the types of city records available, which do not include marriage or divorce paperwork.
City records that are available through the Kirkland City Clerk include city council meeting minutes, adopted ordinances, resolutions, and permit records. The minimum charge for certified copies of city records is $5 per record, plus copying fees. Those fees apply only to city records, not to King County marriage records.
Certified Copies of Kirkland Area Marriage Records
Certified copies of King County marriage certificates cost $3 each from the Recorder's Office. Non-certified copies are $1 each. A Single Status Search, which confirms whether a person has been married in King County, costs $8 for a search covering one to five years. Each additional five-year range adds another $8 to the fee.
You can request copies in person at the Recorder's Office in Seattle, or by mail. Mail requests should include the full names of both parties, the approximate year of the marriage, a check or money order for the fee, and a return address. The office also has an online portal for some records requests.
For a broader search that covers all Washington marriages from 1968 to present, the Department of Health is the right office. Their fee is $25 per certified copy through VitalChek. VitalChek processes orders in 3 to 7 business days. Direct mail requests to DOH take considerably longer. Use VitalChek if time matters.
Historical Kirkland Marriage Records
The Washington State Digital Archives holds over 1.6 million King County marriage records spanning 1855 to 2017. The collection is searchable by name and is free to use. No account is required to view images. Go to digitalarchives.wa.gov to search. The archive supports Soundex matching, which helps when a surname has variant spellings in old records.
Kirkland was incorporated in 1905. Marriage records from that era and earlier are part of the broader King County record set. Most records from the late 1800s and early 1900s are fully digitized and indexed in the Digital Archives. If you are researching family history and looking for a marriage from that period, start with the free archive before contacting the Recorder's Office.
Records from 2018 and later are not in the Digital Archives. For those, contact the King County Recorder's Office directly. They hold current records and can process copy requests by mail or in person.
After December 6, 2012, Washington certificates switched from listing groom and bride to listing Person A and Person B. This change came with the Washington Marriage Equality Act. If you are searching across that date boundary, keep in mind that the field labels changed even though the underlying records are part of the same collection.
How to Find Kirkland Marriage Records
Start with the Washington State Digital Archives at digitalarchives.wa.gov. It is free and covers 1855 to 2017. Search by the last name of either party. If the search returns no results, try Soundex mode, which groups similar-sounding names together.
For records from 2018 forward, or if you need a certified copy of any King County marriage, contact the King County Recorder's Office. They handle in-person, mail, and online copy requests.
For marriages anywhere in Washington from 1968 to present, the DOH statewide database at doh.wa.gov is an option. You do not need to know the county. One request covers the entire state. The fee is $25 per copy through VitalChek.
Under RCW 26.04.170, all Washington marriage license applications are public records. Anyone can request access to the index. Certified copies are available to any member of the public who pays the fee.
King County Marriage Records
Kirkland is in King County. Marriage licenses for Kirkland residents come from the King County Recorder. The county page has full office details and historical record resources.
Nearby Cities
These nearby cities also use their county auditor for marriage records.