Lakewood Marriage Records Lookup

Lakewood marriage records are created and held by Pierce County, not by the city. Anyone in Lakewood who wants to apply for a marriage license, get a certified copy of a marriage certificate, or search historical records must contact the Pierce County Auditor's Office in Tacoma. The Lakewood City Hall and Lakewood Municipal Court do not issue marriage licenses or hold marriage certificates. This guide covers the full Pierce County application process, the mandatory three-day wait, copy fees, and how to search a free digital archive with nearly 500,000 Pierce County marriage records going back to 1889.

Pierce County Auditor: Where Lakewood Residents Apply

The Pierce County Auditor's Office handles all marriage licensing for Lakewood residents. The office is at 2401 S. 35th St., Room 200, Tacoma, WA 98409. The phone is 253-798-7435. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to noon and 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM. Plan to arrive well before the cutoff if you need to complete an application the same day.

Pierce County allows you to start the application process online before coming in. Both people who plan to marry must then appear in person at the auditor's office to finalize the application. Each person needs a valid government-issued photo ID. Washington does not require a blood test.

After you submit the application in person, the mandatory three-day waiting period begins. State law under RCW 26.04.180 requires this wait and it cannot be waived. The license is then valid for 60 days and only within Washington State. If the license expires before the ceremony, you must apply and pay again.

Lakewood City Hall is at 6000 Main St SW, Lakewood, WA 98499, phone (253) 589-2489. The Lakewood Municipal Court is also at that address, reachable at (253) 512-2258. Neither office handles marriage licensing. The municipal court handles traffic, misdemeanor, and small civil matters, not marriage licensing. Direct all marriage and divorce record questions to Pierce County.

The Three-Day Wait and License Rules

Washington State's three-day wait is a hard rule. Apply on a Monday and the earliest ceremony date is Thursday. Apply on Friday and the earliest date is Monday. The wait counts calendar days, not business days. There is no process to cut it short, even for urgent circumstances.

Two witnesses must be present at the ceremony. They must be able to observe the vows and sign the Certificate of Marriage. After the ceremony, the officiant must return the completed certificate to Pierce County within 30 days. That filing creates the official record. Without it, getting a certified copy becomes difficult until the return is filed.

Authorized officiants under RCW 26.04.050 include judges, court commissioners, and ordained or licensed religious leaders. If you use an officiant who was ordained online, confirm they meet Washington's requirements before the ceremony date.

Certified Copies of Lakewood Marriage Certificates

Certified copies from the Pierce County Auditor cost $3 each. Non-certified copies are $1 each. You can request copies in person at the office in Tacoma during regular business hours. Bring the full names of both parties and the approximate year of the marriage. Staff can usually locate the record quickly with that information.

Mail requests are also accepted. Send the names, approximate year, and payment for the fee to the Pierce County Auditor at 2401 S. 35th St., Room 200, Tacoma, WA 98409. Include a return address. Processing times for mail requests vary by current volume.

For marriages anywhere in Washington from 1968 to present, the Washington State Department of Health holds statewide records. The fee is $25 per certified copy through VitalChek. VitalChek processes orders online, by phone, or by mail, typically in 3 to 7 business days. If you mail directly to DOH, expect 6 to 8 weeks.

The Washington State Department of Health is a central resource for Lakewood residents who need certified copies of recent marriages from anywhere in the state. One request through VitalChek covers all Washington counties from 1968 forward.

Historical Pierce County Marriage Records

The Washington State Digital Archives holds a Pierce County marriage collection with 491,019 records. The collection at digitalarchives.wa.gov covers 1889 to 1947 and 1984 to the present. The archive is free to search. No account is required. Search by name and use the date filter to narrow results. Soundex is available for variant spellings.

Records from 1948 to 1983 are not in the digitized collection. For marriages during that period, contact the Pierce County Auditor directly. The physical records exist but have not been digitized and indexed in the archive.

The collection includes marriage certificates and applications. Images of the original documents are available for most records in the collection. If you find the record in the index but cannot view the image, the auditor's office can provide a copy for the standard fee.

Washington's Marriage Equality Act, effective December 6, 2012, changed the form labels on all new marriage certificates. Before that date, certificates list groom and bride. After that date, they use Person A and Person B. Both types appear in the Pierce County digital collection, and both are equally valid marriage records.

How to Search Lakewood Marriage Records

Start with the Washington State Digital Archives. The Pierce County collection at digitalarchives.wa.gov covers 1889 to 1947 and 1984 to present. It is free and open to anyone. Search by name. If you get no results, try the Soundex option or check the date range you are searching.

For records from 1948 to 1983, or for a certified copy of any Pierce County marriage, contact the Auditor's Office directly at 253-798-7435. They handle in-person and mail requests. Additional resources are listed at piercecountycourts.org for both marriage and divorce records in the county.

For a statewide search without knowing the county, the DOH database at doh.wa.gov covers all Washington marriages from 1968 forward. The fee is $25 per certified copy through VitalChek.

All Washington marriage license applications are public records under RCW 26.04.170. Anyone can request the index or order certified copies by paying the applicable fee.

Pierce County Marriage Records

Lakewood is in Pierce County. Marriage licenses for Lakewood residents come from the Pierce County Auditor. The county page has full office details and historical record resources.

View Pierce County Marriage Records

Nearby Cities

These nearby cities also use their county auditor for marriage records.