Search Lynnwood Marriage Records
Lynnwood marriage records are issued and held by Snohomish County, not by the city. The Lynnwood Municipal Court does not provide marriage licenses. All Lynnwood residents who want to apply for a marriage license, order a certified copy of a marriage certificate, or search historical records must go through the Snohomish County Auditor's Office in Everett. This guide covers the application process, the mandatory three-day wait, how to order certified copies, and how to use the free Washington State Digital Archives to find Snohomish County marriage records going back to 1867.
Lynnwood Overview
Where Lynnwood Residents Get a Marriage License
The Snohomish County Auditor's Office issues marriage licenses for all Lynnwood residents. The office is at 3000 Rockefeller Avenue, Everett, WA 98201. Phone is (425) 388-3693. Both people who plan to marry must appear in person. Each needs valid government-issued photo ID. The fee is $72. The office accepts cash, check, money order, and card.
After you apply, the three-day waiting period under RCW 26.04.180 begins. The wait is mandatory and cannot be waived. Apply on a Tuesday and the earliest ceremony date is Friday. Plan your application date around this if you have a fixed ceremony booking.
Your license is valid for 60 days and is good only within Washington State. If you do not use it in that period, you have to apply again and pay the fee a second time. Washington does not allow you to extend or renew a license.
| Office | Snohomish County Auditor |
|---|---|
| Address | 3000 Rockefeller Avenue, Everett, WA 98201 |
| Phone | (425) 388-3693 |
| License Fee | $72 (cash, check, money order, or card) |
| License Validity | 60 days; Washington State only |
| Website | snohomishcountywa.gov/294/Marriage-Licenses |
The Lynnwood Municipal Court has a specific page addressing marriage information that makes an important point for residents. 
The page confirms that the Lynnwood Municipal Court does not issue marriage licenses and directs residents to the Snohomish County Auditor or, in some cases, the King County Recorder.
The Lynnwood court page at lynnwoodwa.gov is worth checking to understand what city-level resources are and are not available. The main takeaway is that for marriage licensing, you go to the county, not the city.
The Three-Day Wait and How Licenses Work
Washington law sets a hard three-day waiting period between the date you apply and the earliest date you can legally hold the ceremony. This applies to every applicant in the state without exception. The wait counts calendar days. Apply on Friday, the earliest ceremony date is Monday.
Two witnesses must be at the ceremony. Both must observe the vows and sign the Certificate of Marriage. The officiant is then required to return the completed certificate to Snohomish County within 30 days. That return step is what creates the official county record. Missing the 30-day return window does not void the marriage, but it creates complications if you later need a certified copy.
Authorized officiants under RCW 26.04.050 include judges, court commissioners, district court commissioners, and ordained or licensed clergy. If you plan to use a friend ordained online, confirm their ordination qualifies under Washington State law before your ceremony.
Ordering Copies of Lynnwood Area Marriage Certificates
Certified copies of Snohomish County marriage certificates cost $3 each. Non-certified copies are $1. For records from before 1976, there is an additional $8 per hour search fee on top of the copy fee. Postage for mailed orders is $1 for up to 10 copies.
You can order copies online, in person at the auditor's office, by phone, or by mail. The Snohomish County copy ordering page at snohomishcountywa.gov/297 covers each method and lists the information you need to include. For mail requests, include the full legal names of both parties, the approximate marriage year, and payment for the applicable fee.
The Washington State Department of Health holds all Washington marriage records from 1968 to present. The fee is $25 per certified copy through VitalChek. Orders placed through VitalChek process in 3 to 7 business days. If you mail directly to DOH, count on 6 to 8 weeks. VitalChek is the faster route.
Historical Snohomish County Marriage Records
The Washington State Digital Archives holds 396,425 Snohomish County marriage records spanning 1867 to 1999 and 2004 to 2005. The free collection at digitalarchives.wa.gov is searchable by name and supports Soundex matching for variant spellings. No account or login is needed to view images.
There are known gaps in the Snohomish digitized records. The index is missing entries from 1948 to 1950, 1953 to 1956, 1960 to 1964, and 1993. If the record you need falls in one of those gaps, contact the Snohomish County Auditor directly. Physical records are held at the county level even when not yet digitized.
The Digital Archives Snohomish collection includes certificates, licenses, and applications, with bulk scanned certificates available for 1873 to 1919 and 1968 to 1985. For records from 2006 onward, the auditor's office is the right contact. They maintain current records that are not yet in the digital archive.
The Washington State Digital Archives Snohomish County collection is a key tool for genealogical research on Lynnwood-area families. 
The collection spans more than 130 years of Snohomish County marriages and includes both index data and document images.
How to Find Lynnwood Marriage Records Online
The free starting point is the Washington State Digital Archives Snohomish County collection at digitalarchives.wa.gov. Search by name. Try Soundex if your first search comes up empty. The archive covers 1867 to 2005 with some gaps noted above.
For records from 2006 onward, or for a certified copy of any Snohomish County marriage, the Snohomish County Auditor at (425) 388-3693 handles in-person, phone, mail, and online copy requests. The recording office at snohomishcountywa.gov/278/Recording is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
If you do not know which county a marriage took place in, the DOH statewide database at doh.wa.gov covers all Washington marriages from 1968 forward. One request, one fee of $25 through VitalChek, covers the entire state.
Washington marriage license applications are public records under RCW 26.04.170. The index is open to any person. Certified copies are available to any requester who pays the fee.
Snohomish County Marriage Records
Lynnwood is in Snohomish County. Marriage licenses for Lynnwood residents come from the Snohomish County Auditor. The county page has full office details and historical record resources.
Nearby Cities
These nearby cities also use their county auditor for marriage records.