Search Spokane Marriage Records
Marriage records in Spokane are issued and maintained by the Spokane County Auditor's Office. As the largest city in eastern Washington and the county seat of Spokane County, Spokane has a well-established system for marriage licensing, certified copies, and historical record access. Records in the county date back to 1880. This page explains the full process from applying for a license to finding older records in state and county archives.
Spokane Overview
Spokane County Auditor: Marriage Licensing
The Spokane County Auditor's Office handles all marriage licensing for Spokane and the rest of Spokane County. Both applicants must appear in person together. The office does not allow one-party applications or online-only completion. You must arrive at the office at least 30 minutes before the 4pm closing time.
After applying, a three-day waiting period is required by state law under RCW 26.04.180. This cannot be waived. Your license is then valid for 60 days. The ceremony must take place within that window, or the license expires. There is no fee to extend; you simply apply again if needed.
| Office | Spokane County Auditor |
|---|---|
| Address | 1116 W Broadway Ave, 1st Floor, Spokane, WA 99260 |
| Phone (Licensing) | (509) 477-2270 |
| Phone (Recording) | (509) 477-2271 |
| auditor@spokanecounty.org | |
| Hours | Mon-Fri 8:30am-4pm (arrive 30 min early) |
| Website | spokanecounty.gov - Marriage License |
| Certified Copy | $3 |
| Wait Period | 3 days (RCW 26.04.180) |
| License Valid | 60 days from date of issue |
Who Can Perform Ceremonies in Spokane
Spokane County offers a few paths for couples who want a civil ceremony. Spokane Superior Court Judges are available and can be reached at 509-477-4707 or at scheduleweddings@hotmail.com. Spokane District Court also offers ceremony services through an online scheduling form. For a municipal court ceremony, contact Spokane Municipal Court at 509-622-5867.
Religious or ordained officiants are also authorized under RCW 26.04.050 and are commonly used. These officiants do not need to register with the county, but they must return the signed marriage certificate to the Auditor's Office within 30 days of the ceremony. Failure to return the certificate on time can result in administrative issues and, in some cases, is a misdemeanor offense for the officiant.
No witnesses are required at the license application stage. Two witnesses are required at the ceremony itself and must sign the certificate. Both parties applying for the license must be at least 18 years old. There is no residency requirement for getting a Spokane County marriage license.
Marriage Information and Local Resources
Spokane County maintains a detailed Marriage Information page that covers everything from the application process to choosing an officiant. This page also lists Spokane Regional Health District as a resource for vital records. The Health District is located at 1101 W. College Ave., Spokane, WA 99201 and can be reached at 509-324-1601.
For older records, the breakdown is: marriages from 1891 to 1973 are held at the Washington State Archives; marriages from 1973 to the present are at the Spokane County Clerk's office, reachable at 509.477.2211. This two-agency split is worth knowing if you are researching family history, as calling the wrong office can send you on a longer search than necessary.
The Spokane County Marriage Information page is the central resource for couples and researchers, listing officiants, procedures, and contact information for marriage services in the Spokane area. The Spokane County Marriage Information page covers officiants, the 3-day wait period, recording procedures, and how to get certified copies of Spokane County marriage records.
The Spokane County Auditor also issues county business licenses and process server licenses through the same recording office. Make sure you are in the right line or department when you visit, as the office handles multiple types of documents.
Spokane County Digital Archives
The Spokane County collection in the Washington State Digital Archives is large. It holds nearly 299,000 records dating back to 1880. The collection includes marriage certificates from 1880 through 1974 and electronic copies of records from 1974 onward added on a monthly basis. The archive is free to search at digitalarchives.wa.gov.
For questions about the Eastern Region's physical holdings, contact the Eastern Region Branch at 509-235-7508. The branch holds records from Spokane County and other eastern Washington counties and can provide guidance on requesting records that are not available online.
The online index is searchable by name and date. When you find a record, you can view a scan of the original document in many cases. If you need a certified copy rather than a scanned image, you must request that through the Auditor's Office.
Marriage and Divorce Records Guide
Marriage records are with the Auditor. Divorce records go to the Superior Court Clerk. These are two separate offices. A typical marriage record includes the full names of both parties, the date, the location, the officiant's name, and the certificate number.
Marriage records in Spokane County are public records under RCW 26.04.170. Any member of the public may request them. However, sensitive fields such as Social Security numbers are removed before copies are released. The public record includes the core identifying information about the marriage itself.
Washington DOH: Statewide Vital Records
The Washington State Department of Health maintains marriage records statewide from 1968 to the present. You can order certified copies through VitalChek for $25 per record. Online orders take 3 to 7 business days. Mail orders to the DOH office take 6 to 8 weeks.
Tony Dinaro is the Public Records Officer for the Spokane County Auditor's Office, reachable at 509-477-1721. If you have a public records request that does not fit the standard copy request process, the Public Records Officer can help clarify procedures and timelines.
Washington has used Person A and Person B terminology on marriage licenses since December 6, 2012. Older records use different terminology. Both are valid legal marriage documents. If you are ordering a copy of an older record, be aware that the format may look different from a more recent certificate.
Spokane County Marriage Records
Spokane is in Spokane County. Marriage licenses for Spokane 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.