Parkland Marriage Records
Parkland marriage records are handled entirely by the Pierce County Auditor in Tacoma. Parkland is an unincorporated community in Pierce County and has no city government, city clerk, or municipal records office of its own. Residents who need a marriage license, a certified copy of a marriage certificate, or access to historical records must contact the Pierce County Auditor at 2401 S. 35th Street, Room 200, Tacoma. Pierce County holds nearly 500,000 marriage records in the Washington State Digital Archives, spanning from 1889 to the present. This page covers the full process for Parkland residents.
Parkland Overview
Pierce County Auditor - Marriage Records Office
The Pierce County Auditor at 2401 S. 35th Street, Room 200, Tacoma, WA 98409, handles marriage licensing and records for all of Pierce County, including Parkland. The phone number is (253) 798-7435 and the email is Auditor@PierceCountyWa.gov. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The office closes during the lunch hour, so plan your visit around that break.
Parkland has no city hall, no city clerk, and no local government office that handles marriage records. If you contact a Parkland-area school, church, or local organization about marriage records, they will not be able to help and will point you to Pierce County. The auditor is the only office with authority over marriage licensing and certificate records for the Parkland area.
| Office | Pierce County Auditor |
|---|---|
| Address | 2401 S. 35th Street, Room 200 Tacoma, WA 98409 |
| Phone | (253) 798-7435 |
| Auditor@PierceCountyWa.gov | |
| Hours | Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. |
| Certified Copy | $3 per copy |
| Non-Certified Copy | $1 per copy |
| Pre-1980s or 5-Year Search | Additional $8 |
The Pierce County marriage licensing page at piercecountywa.gov/356/Marriage-Licensing has current details on fees, ID requirements, and how to apply. You can start the application online before your in-person visit. Both parties still need to appear in person or one can submit a notarized application by mail in some cases.
Getting a Marriage License as a Parkland Resident
Washington's three-day waiting period under RCW 26.04.180 applies to everyone, including Parkland residents. Apply at the Pierce County Auditor's office at least three days before the ceremony date. The waiting period cannot be shortened for any reason. Apply on Monday, and Thursday is the earliest day you can legally hold a ceremony.
Both parties should appear in person at the Tacoma office with valid photo ID. The Pierce County Auditor accepts online applications to get started, but the in-person visit is still required to pick up the license. If one party cannot be present, they may be able to submit a notarized portion of the application by mail. Call (253) 798-7435 to ask about that process before assuming it will work for your situation.
The license is valid for 60 days from the date of issuance. After 60 days, it expires and the couple must apply and pay again. After the ceremony, the officiant has 30 days to return the signed Certificate of Marriage to the Pierce County Auditor. Under RCW 26.04.050, authorized officiants include judges, licensed ministers, and ordained clergy. All applications are public records under RCW 26.04.170.
Certified Copies for Parkland Marriage Records
Certified copies of Pierce County marriage certificates cost $3 each. Non-certified copies cost $1. For marriages from before the 1980s or for searches covering five or more years, an additional $8 fee applies. These searches take more time because older records are in physical files rather than fully indexed electronic systems.
You can request copies in person at the Tacoma office, by mail, or by phone. Mailed copies typically take about 7 working days to process and return. Mail requests should include both parties' names, the year of marriage, a return address, and a check or money order payable to Pierce County Auditor. For phone orders, a credit card is needed and a convenience fee through VitalChek may apply.
An online records portal at piercecountywa.gov/5554/Records-Available-Online lists what digital records Pierce County makes available for self-service searching. Check there first to see if the record you need is accessible without calling or visiting the office.
For marriages from 1968 to the present, the Washington State Department of Health holds statewide certified copies. DOH charges $25 per copy through VitalChek. Online orders take 3 to 7 business days. Mail orders take 6 to 8 weeks. DOH is at doh.wa.gov.
Washington State Department of Health Records
The Washington State Department of Health maintains certified marriage records for the whole state from 1968 forward. This is useful for Parkland residents who want to order a copy without traveling to Tacoma, or who need a statewide search when county is uncertain. The image below links to the DOH vital records ordering page.
DOH accepts requests online through VitalChek, by phone at 1-866-687-1464, or by mail. Certified copies are $25 each. Anyone can request a certified copy. You do not need to be a party to the marriage. For marriages before 1968, DOH has no records and the Pierce County Auditor is the right office to contact.
Pierce County's historical marriage records are also well-documented in the Washington State Digital Archives. The link below goes to the Pierce County collection, which has nearly 500,000 records.
The Digital Archives collection at digitalarchives.wa.gov has 491,019 Pierce County records covering 1889 to 1947 and 1984 to the present. The search is free, images are included, and no account is needed. This is the best starting point for historical research on marriages connected to Parkland.
Historical Pierce County Marriage Records
The Washington State Digital Archives at digitalarchives.wa.gov holds 491,019 Pierce County marriage records from two major time periods: 1889 to 1947 and 1984 to the present. The collection is one of the larger in Washington, reflecting Pierce County's size and long history.
For records between 1947 and 1984 that fall outside the digitized windows, the Pierce County Auditor holds physical files. A search in that range may carry the additional $8 fee. Staff can search by name and approximate year and issue certified copies of what they find. If you are doing genealogy research and the Digital Archives do not return a result, calling the Auditor at (253) 798-7435 is the right next step.
Pierce County courts also have a useful guide for marriage and divorce records at piercecountycourts.org. This guide covers both the auditor side (marriage licensing and certificates) and the court side (dissolution decrees and divorce records), helping you understand which office holds which type of record and how to request each one.
The Washington State Library holds a Pierce County Auditor marriage record collection covering 1876 to 1947 and 1984 to 2023. That collection can be accessed through partner libraries or remotely through the State Library's digital holdings. Puyallup City records from the same era are also available through the Washington State Digital Archives, which may help with research on the broader Parkland area.
Pierce County Courts Marriage Guide
The Pierce County courts have published a guide covering marriage and divorce records that is helpful for Parkland residents who need to understand the full records landscape. Marriage licenses and certificates go through the Auditor. Divorce and dissolution records go through the courts. These are separate systems with separate fees and processes.
If you need a certified copy of a divorce decree for a Parkland resident, you contact the Pierce County Superior Court, not the Auditor. The courts guide at piercecountycourts.org/marriage-divorce-records/ explains both sides and links to the right offices for each. This is worth reading if your research needs records from both systems.
For general public records requests from Pierce County that do not fit neatly into marriage or divorce categories, contact the Auditor's office at (253) 798-7435 and describe what you are looking for. Staff can direct you to the correct office or process your request directly if it falls within their authority.
Pierce County Marriage Records
Parkland is in Pierce County. Marriage licenses for Parkland residents come from the Pierce County Auditor. The county page has full office details, fee schedules, and historical record resources.
Nearby Cities
These nearby cities also use county auditors for marriage records.