Search Pasco Marriage Records

Pasco marriage records are issued and maintained by the Franklin County Auditor, located right in Pasco at 1016 N 4th Avenue. As the county seat of Franklin County, Pasco is home to the office that handles all marriage licensing, certified copies, and historical record access for the county. Franklin County has marriage records going back to 1889, and many of those records are available through the Washington State Digital Archives. This guide covers everything Pasco residents need to know about getting a license, ordering copies, and researching historical marriages.

Franklin County Auditor - Pasco Marriage Office

The Franklin County Auditor at 1016 N 4th Avenue, Pasco, WA 99301, is the office for marriage licensing and certified copies for all of Franklin County. The recording division can be reached at 509-545-3536. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call to confirm hours before visiting, as holiday schedules may affect availability.

The Franklin County Auditor handles marriage licensing, real property recording, and related public records. For marriage-specific questions, call 509-545-3536 and ask for the recording or licensing division. The office can tell you what ID to bring, what the current fee is, and whether an online application option is available at the time of your visit.

More information about the marriage license process is at franklincountywa.gov/faq.aspx?TID=33. That page covers the application process, what to include in a mail request for copies, the waiting period, and how the 60-day validity window works. It also has the correct mailing address for copy requests.

Marriage License Requirements in Pasco

Washington law under RCW 26.04.180 requires a three-day waiting period between when the license is issued and when the ceremony can take place. This applies to every couple in the state and cannot be waived. Plan to apply at least three days before your ceremony date, but ideally a bit sooner so you have some buffer.

Both people must appear in person at the Franklin County Auditor's office in Pasco. Each person needs valid photo identification. Acceptable ID typically includes a driver's license, passport, or state-issued ID card. The license costs $58, though fees can change, so calling 509-545-3536 before you go is worth doing to confirm the current amount.

The license is good for 60 days from the date of issuance. After 60 days, it expires with no renewal option. Apply again and pay again if you miss the window. After the ceremony, the officiant must return the signed Certificate of Marriage to the Franklin County Auditor within 30 days. Under RCW 26.04.050, authorized officiants include judges, licensed ministers, and ordained clergy. Washington's Marriage Equality Act has been in effect since December 6, 2012, and all licenses use Person A and Person B terminology.

Requesting Certified Copies of Pasco Marriage Records

Certified copies of Franklin County marriage certificates cost $3 per copy. For mail requests, write to Franklin County Auditor, P.O. Box 1451, Pasco, WA 99301. Include both parties' full legal names, the year the marriage took place, a return address, and a check or money order payable to Franklin County Auditor. Mail copies take longer to process than in-person requests, so plan ahead if you need the copy by a specific date.

In-person requests are typically faster. Bring the names and year of the marriage and the $3 fee. Staff will search the records and issue a certified copy the same day in most cases. For older records that require a physical archive search, there may be a short wait or a follow-up contact.

For marriages from 1968 to the present, the Washington State Department of Health holds statewide certified records. DOH charges $25 per copy and handles orders through VitalChek online, by phone, or by mail. Online orders take 3 to 7 business days. Mail orders to DOH take 6 to 8 weeks. DOH is at doh.wa.gov.

Benton-Franklin County Health District Vital Records

The Benton-Franklin County Health District at 7102 W Okanogan Place, Kennewick, WA 99336, serves both Benton and Franklin counties. The Health District can be reached at 509-460-4200 and its website is at bfhd.wa.gov. The image below links to the district's page for vital records information covering the Pasco area.

The Health District is a resource for public health records but marriage licenses themselves go through the Franklin County Auditor. The district may be able to assist with some vital records requests or point you to the right agency depending on what you need. For marriage licenses and certified copies, always start with the Franklin County Auditor at 509-545-3536.

The Franklin County Auditor marriage information page at franklincountywa.gov is another key resource. The image below links to it directly.

That page covers the application steps, what to bring, what to include in a mail copy request, and the mailing address. It is the most direct official source for Franklin County marriage licensing information and is the right place to start before you call or visit the office.

Historical Franklin County Marriage Records

The Washington State Digital Archives at digitalarchives.wa.gov holds 132,113 Franklin County marriage records. The collection includes applications and certificates from 1889 to the present, with certificates from 1910 to 1930 fully digitized and electronic copies from 1999 forward. Records from other years may be in the collection but require a manual search by staff at the Central Regional Branch.

The Central Regional Branch of Washington State Archives at (509) 963-2136 or cebrancharchives@sos.wa.gov handles older Franklin County records that are not yet fully online. If your Digital Archives search does not return a result for an older marriage, contacting the Regional Branch is a good next step. They can assist with research requests and may be able to locate records that are not indexed in the main digital collection.

Franklin County was created from Whitman County in 1882 and has been keeping records since 1889. The county seat has always been Pasco. FamilySearch has a genealogy guide for Franklin County at familysearch.org that covers which offices hold which types of records and what the coverage dates are for each. Ancestry.com also has some Washington marriage collections that include Franklin County data, particularly for the earlier years.

Single Status Search and Other Records

If you need to verify whether someone is currently married or has a marriage record in Franklin County, the Auditor's office can perform a single-status search. Fees and turnaround times for this type of search vary. Call 509-545-3536 to ask about the process and what you need to provide to initiate the search.

For court records related to marriage, such as dissolution decrees or divorce records, contact the Franklin County Superior Court. The Auditor holds marriage licenses and certificates. The court holds records of divorce proceedings. These are separate systems and separate offices. The Auditor cannot provide divorce records and the court cannot provide marriage certificates.

The Washington State Department of Health statewide database at doh.wa.gov covers marriages from 1968 forward. Anyone can request a copy without needing to be a party to the marriage. Searches are available by name and date range, and certified copies cost $25 each.

Franklin County Marriage Records

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

View Franklin County Marriage Records

Nearby Cities

These nearby cities also use county auditors for marriage records.