Spokane Valley Marriage Records Search
Marriage records for Spokane Valley are maintained by the Spokane County Auditor's Office, not by the city. Spokane Valley is a city in eastern Washington that incorporated in 2003, and while it has its own city clerk for municipal records, all marriage licensing and record-keeping runs through Spokane County. This page covers how to apply for a marriage license, get copies of an existing certificate, and find historical records in the Spokane County archives.
Spokane Valley Overview
Spokane County Auditor: Marriage Licensing for Spokane Valley
Spokane Valley residents go to the Spokane County Auditor's Office to apply for a marriage license. The office is at 1116 W Broadway Ave, 1st Floor, in Spokane. Both applicants must appear together. No appointment is needed, but you must arrive at least 30 minutes before the 4pm closing time.
After applying, state law under RCW 26.04.180 requires a three-day waiting period. This is mandatory and cannot be skipped. The license is valid for 60 days from the date it is issued. If you don't use it within that period, you must apply again. There is no residency requirement. You don't have to live in Spokane County or Washington State to get a license here.
| Office | Spokane County Auditor |
|---|---|
| Address | 1116 W Broadway Ave, Spokane, WA 99260 |
| Phone (Marriage) | (509) 477-2271 |
| Hours | Mon-Fri 8:30am-4pm |
| Website | spokanecounty.gov - Marriage Information |
| Certified Copy | $3 |
| Wait Period | 3 days (RCW 26.04.180) |
| License Valid | 60 days from issue |
Spokane Valley City Clerk: What the City Handles
The Spokane Valley City Clerk manages municipal records for the city, not marriage licenses or vital records. Christine (Chris) Bainbridge, MMC, serves as City Clerk and can be reached at (509) 720-5102 or cbainbridge@spokanevalley.org. Carrie Koudelka is the Deputy Clerk at (509) 720-5101. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm.
The City Clerk maintains official municipal records using Laserfiche. This includes council agendas, meeting minutes, ordinances, and resolutions. The clerk is the Public Records Officer per RCW 35A.13.090. Marriage records, however, are not part of the city's records system. For anything related to marriage, you go to the Spokane County Auditor.
The Spokane Valley City Clerk manages official city records through Laserfiche but does not process marriage licenses or maintain marriage records for city residents. The Spokane Valley City Clerk page shows the city's records management system, contact information, and the types of records the city maintains separate from county vital records.
If you need a copy of a city ordinance, council minutes, or similar documents, the City Clerk is the right contact. For marriage records, birth certificates, or other vital records, King County and the county auditor handle those.
Spokane Valley Public Records Requests
The City of Spokane Valley has its own public records process for city documents. Submit requests through the Public Records Center online or by email to prhoades@spokanevalleywa.gov. The office address for in-person requests is 10210 E. Sprague Avenue, Spokane Valley, WA 99206. Fax requests go to 509-720-5075.
The city processes requests under Washington's Public Records Act. Initial responses go out within 5 business days. For larger requests that take longer to fulfill, the city will provide an estimate of when records will be ready. Marriage records, however, are not city records. Any request for marriage licensing or certificates should go to the Spokane County Auditor, not to the city.
The Spokane Valley public records center handles requests for city documents, though marriage records must be requested from the Spokane County Auditor. The Spokane Valley Public Records page explains how to submit public records requests to the city and provides contact information for the city's records team.
It is common for people to contact the city first when looking for marriage records. Knowing ahead of time that the county handles these records saves a step and gets you to the right office faster.
Spokane County Digital Archives: Records Back to 1880
The Spokane County collection in the Washington State Digital Archives is extensive. It holds nearly 299,000 records. The collection includes marriage certificates from 1880 through 1974 and electronic copies of records from 1974 to the present, with new records added on a monthly basis. Access is free at digitalarchives.wa.gov. No login is required.
Genealogists researching Spokane Valley family histories will find this archive valuable. The county's marriage records extend back to 1880, well before the area was formally developed as a separate city. Records from that period show the names of both parties, the date, the location, and sometimes additional details depending on the year and record type.
For physical records or assistance with older collections, contact the Eastern Region Branch of the Washington State Archives at 509-235-7508. The branch holds physical records from Spokane County and other eastern Washington counties and can assist with document requests that are not available through the online archive.
Washington State DOH Vital Records
The Washington State Department of Health maintains marriage records statewide from 1968 to the present. VitalChek processes these orders for $25 per record. Online orders take 3 to 7 business days. Mail orders take 6 to 8 weeks. DOH records cover all Washington counties, including Spokane.
The Spokane Regional Health District at 1101 W. College Ave., Spokane, WA 99201 (509-324-1601) also provides information on vital records for the Spokane area. The district can direct you to the right resource depending on the year of the marriage and the type of copy you need.
For records before 1968, the Spokane County Auditor or the Washington State Digital Archives are your best options. Before 1973, records were also archived at the Washington State Archives rather than the County Clerk's Office, so the chain of custody for older records follows a different path than you might expect.
Officiant Rules and the Three-Day Wait
Washington law governs who can officiate a marriage. Under RCW 26.04.050, authorized officiants include judges, retired judges, court commissioners, and ordained ministers or religious officials. In Spokane County, you can schedule a civil ceremony with a Superior Court Judge (509-477-4707), through District Court online, or with Spokane Municipal Court at 509-622-5867.
The three-day waiting period after applying is firm. It cannot be waived or shortened for any reason. This wait applies to everyone. Plan your application date with the ceremony in mind. If you apply on a Monday, the earliest you can marry is Thursday. The license is then valid for 60 days from the application date.
Two witnesses must be present at the ceremony and sign the marriage certificate. The officiant collects the signed certificate and must return it to the Spokane County Auditor within 30 days of the ceremony. The officiant's obligation to return the certificate is a legal requirement. If it is not returned, the couple may face difficulty getting certified copies later.
Spokane County Marriage Records
Spokane Valley is in Spokane County. Marriage licenses for Spokane Valley residents come from the Spokane County Auditor. The county page has full office details and historical record resources.
Nearby Cities
These nearby cities use county auditors for marriage records.