Olympia Marriage Records Search

Olympia marriage records are handled by the Thurston County Auditor at 3000 Pacific Ave SE. As Washington's capital city, Olympia is the county seat of Thurston County, and all marriage licenses, certified copies, and historical records for city residents run through the county. Thurston County holds 179,143 marriage records in the Washington State Digital Archives, with some going back to 1891. The county also has two courts that can perform wedding ceremonies, giving couples options beyond getting the paperwork and finding their own officiant. This page covers licenses, copies, ceremony options, and how to search records.

Thurston County Auditor - Marriage Licensing

The Thurston County Auditor at 3000 Pacific Ave SE, Olympia, WA 98501, is the office that issues marriage licenses for Olympia and all of Thurston County. The main phone is 360.786.5405 and the fax is 360.786.5223. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The first Wednesday of each month, the office opens at 9 a.m. instead of 8. If you are planning an early Wednesday visit, check whether it falls on the first Wednesday of the month.

The license fee in Thurston County is $172, which is higher than most other Washington counties. Payment can be made by cash, check, or credit card. Both parties can appear together in person, or one party can notarize their portion of the application if they cannot be present. The Auditor processes the application on-site and issues the license at that time.

Details on the license process, ID requirements, and the waiting period are at thurstoncountywa.gov. The page also has information about domestic partnerships and links to related forms.

Mail copy requests go to: Thurston County Auditor, Attn: Copy Request, 3000 Pacific Ave. SE, Olympia, WA 98501. Include both parties' names, the year of marriage, a return address, and a check or money order for the appropriate fee.

Washington State Law and the Three-Day Wait

State law under RCW 26.04.180 requires a mandatory three-day waiting period after a marriage license is issued before the ceremony can take place. This rule applies to all couples in Washington and cannot be shortened or waived regardless of circumstances. Apply at least three days before you need to get married.

The license is valid for 60 days from the date of issuance. If the ceremony does not happen within 60 days, the license expires and the couple must apply again and pay the $172 fee a second time. There is no way to extend the validity period once it begins.

Under RCW 26.04.050, authorized officiants include judges, licensed or ordained ministers, and other legally recognized officials. After the ceremony, the officiant must return the completed Certificate of Marriage to the Thurston County Auditor within 30 days. That returned certificate is what creates the legal marriage record. Washington's Marriage Equality Act took effect December 6, 2012, and all licenses use Person A and Person B terminology.

All marriage license applications are public records under RCW 26.04.170. Anyone can view or request a copy of an application.

Court Ceremony Options in Olympia

Olympia offers something most Washington cities do not: two courts that can perform wedding ceremonies. This gives couples a formal, official option if they want a courthouse wedding without finding and booking a separate officiant.

The Thurston County District Court performs wedding ceremonies and the information is at thurstoncountywa.gov. Weekday ceremonies at the courthouse cost $80. Weekend ceremonies cost $180. Offsite or holiday ceremonies are $200. Ceremonies are held Monday through Friday at 5 p.m. for standard weekday slots. Weekend and offsite options are available with advance scheduling. Spanish-language services are available. Call (360) 786-5562 to schedule.

The Thurston County Superior Court also performs wedding ceremonies. The Superior Court is at 2000 Lakeridge Drive SW, Building 2, Olympia, WA 98502. The phone number is 360-754-4108. Schedule in person on weekdays between 9 a.m. and noon or between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Gratuities for Superior Court ceremonies are typically $80 to $200 depending on the judge.

The DOH Thurston County office is also nearby at 2000 Lakeridge Dr SW, Rm 118, Olympia, WA 98502, reachable at (360) 786-5224. This is where you can go for state-level vital records assistance in person.

Certified Copies of Olympia Marriage Records

Certified copies of Thurston County marriage certificates cost $3 for the first page and $1 for each additional page. Photo copies cost $1 per page. You can request copies in person at the Auditor's office or by mail. Mail requests go to: Thurston County Auditor, Attn: Copy Request, 3000 Pacific Ave. SE, Olympia, WA 98501.

The Washington State Department of Health has statewide marriage records from 1968 to the present. A certified copy from DOH costs $25. Orders go through VitalChek online or by phone, or can be mailed directly to DOH. Online and phone orders typically process in 3 to 7 business days. Mail orders take 6 to 8 weeks. DOH vital records are at doh.wa.gov.

For marriages before 1968, DOH does not hold records. Go to the Thurston County Auditor or use the Washington State Digital Archives instead.

Thurston County District Court Wedding Services

The Thurston County District Court offers a structured option for couples who want a courthouse wedding in Olympia. The page below covers ceremony fees, scheduling, and available time slots.

District Court ceremonies are $80 on a standard weekday, $180 on a weekend, and $200 for offsite or holiday ceremonies. Spanish-speaking services are available. Advance scheduling is required. Call (360) 786-5562 to set up a date.

For those who prefer a Superior Court ceremony, Thurston County Superior Court is the other option. The link below goes to Superior Court marriage services for Olympia.

Superior Court ceremonies are scheduled in person at 2000 Lakeridge Drive SW, Building 2. Hours for scheduling are 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays. Gratuities for the presiding judge are typically $80 to $200. Call 360-754-4108 for more information.

Historical Thurston County Marriage Records

The Washington State Digital Archives holds 179,143 Thurston County marriage records at digitalarchives.wa.gov. The collection includes marriage returns from 1891 to 1898, and applications and certificates from 1970 to the present. This is a free resource and images are included for most records in the collection.

For records between 1898 and 1970 that are not covered in the Digital Archives, the Thurston County Auditor holds physical files. Staff can search those records on request. If you are doing genealogy research and cannot find a marriage in the Digital Archives, calling the Auditor at 360.786.5405 is a good next step.

Ancestry.com and FamilySearch also have some Washington marriage collections that include Thurston County records. These third-party databases are good secondary sources, especially for older records where county filing may have been inconsistent.

Thurston County Marriage Records

Olympia is in Thurston County. Marriage licenses for Olympia residents come from the Thurston County Auditor. The county page has full office details, fee schedules, and historical record resources.

View Thurston County Marriage Records

Nearby Cities

These nearby cities also use county auditors for marriage records.