Tumwater Marriage Records
Marriage records for Tumwater are handled by the Thurston County Auditor's Office in Olympia. Tumwater is part of Thurston County, and all marriage licensing and record-keeping runs through the county auditor rather than through any city office. This guide covers the licensing process, how to get certified copies, what the city clerk handles separately, and where to find historical marriage records in state and county archives.
Tumwater Overview
Thurston County Auditor: Marriage Licensing
The Thurston County Auditor's Office issues marriage licenses for Tumwater and the rest of Thurston County. The office is at 3000 Pacific Ave SE in Olympia. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8am to 4:30pm, except on the first Wednesday of each month when the office opens at 9am. Call 360.786.5405 to confirm hours before your visit.
The marriage license fee in Thurston County is $172. Payment can be made by cash, check, or credit card. Both applicants must appear in person together. If one party cannot appear, that person's portion of the application can be notarized. The notarized portion is then submitted by the other party at the time of the in-person application. Call the office ahead of time if you plan to use this option, as they can walk you through the exact process.
| Office | Thurston County Auditor |
|---|---|
| Address | 3000 Pacific Ave SE, Olympia, WA 98501 |
| Phone | 360.786.5405 |
| Hours | Mon-Fri 8am-4:30pm (9am first Wednesday) |
| Website | thurstoncountywa.gov - Marriage Licenses |
| License Fee | $172 |
| Certified Copies | $3 first page, $1 each additional |
| Photo Copies | $1 per page |
| Wait Period | 3 days (RCW 26.04.180) |
| License Valid | 60 days from issue |
Getting Certified Copies of Marriage Certificates
After a marriage ceremony, the officiant must return the signed certificate to the Thurston County Auditor within 30 days. Once recorded, you can request certified copies. The fee is $3 for the first page and $1 for each additional page. Photo copies (non-certified) are $1 per page.
Certified copies carry the official seal and are accepted for legal name changes, insurance updates, government ID applications, and similar purposes. Get several copies at once. Most couples need at least three or four for various administrative purposes, and ordering them together at the initial request is simpler than making multiple trips or mail requests.
Mail requests are accepted. Include the names of both parties, the date of the marriage, your return address, and a check payable to the Thurston County Auditor. The office will process the request and mail the copies back. Processing times can vary depending on workload, so plan accordingly if you need copies by a specific date.
Thurston County Court Marriage and Divorce Records
The Thurston County courts resource explains the difference between marriage and divorce records in the county. Marriage records come from the Auditor's Office. Divorce records are held by the County Clerk's Office. These are two different county offices, and calling the wrong one will send you in circles.
Marriage records are public records in Washington under RCW 42.56. The public may request to view marriage applications and certificates. Certain sensitive personal information is redacted before copies are released, but core marriage information such as names, date, and location is included in any copy provided to the public.
Tumwater City Clerk: What the City Handles
The Tumwater City Clerk manages official city records, not marriage licenses or vital records. Melody Valiant, MMC, serves as City Clerk, with Tracie Core as Deputy. The office is open Monday through Friday. Contact is clerksoffice@ci.tumwater.wa.us or 360-754-4139. Fax is 360-252-9391.
The City Clerk maintains ordinances, resolutions, council meeting minutes, and related municipal documents. The clerk also handles public disclosure requests for city records. To submit a records request for city documents, email the clerk's office with the specifics of what you need. The city responds within five business days under Washington's Public Records Act.
For marriage records, the City Clerk will direct you to the Thurston County Auditor. The city does not have its own marriage record system or archive. All vital records for Tumwater residents, including marriage, birth, and death records, are handled at the county or state level.
Washington DOH Vital Records
The Washington State Department of Health holds 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 take 6 to 8 weeks. For Tumwater residents who cannot easily get to Olympia, this is a practical alternative.
The DOH office that handles in-person vital records requests is located at 2000 Lakeridge Dr SW, Rm 118, Olympia, WA 98502, and can be reached at (360) 786-5224. This is convenient for Tumwater residents who prefer in-person service over ordering online.
The Washington State Department of Health vital records office serves all of Washington, including Tumwater, for marriage records from 1968 forward. The DOH vital records ordering page provides instructions for ordering Washington State marriage and divorce certificates, including those for Thurston County marriages.
For marriages before 1968, the Thurston County Auditor or the state digital archives are better sources. The DOH does not have records from before that year.
Thurston County Digital Archives
The Thurston County collection in the Washington State Digital Archives holds approximately 179,000 records. The collection includes marriage returns from 1891 through 1898 and marriage applications and certificates from 1970 to the present. The archive is free to search at digitalarchives.wa.gov. No account is required.
Genealogists researching Tumwater family histories will find this archive useful. Tumwater is recognized as the oldest American settlement in Washington State, and marriage records from the area go back well into the 19th century. Records from the earliest period may be available through older county records held at the Washington State Archives rather than the online digital collection.
For records from the gap years not covered in the digital archive, contact the Thurston County Auditor directly. The office can advise on whether physical records exist for specific time periods and how to request copies if they do.
Officiant Requirements in Thurston County
Washington law under RCW 26.04.050 lists who may perform a marriage ceremony. Authorized officiants include judges, retired judges, court commissioners, and ordained ministers or religious officials. Washington does not require officiants to be registered with a central state database, but they must fall into one of these legal categories.
Two witnesses must be at the ceremony and sign the marriage certificate. After the ceremony, the officiant returns the signed certificate to the Thurston County Auditor within 30 days. The state takes this deadline seriously. Missing the deadline can create complications for the couple when trying to get official copies of their record.
No blood tests are required in Washington. No witnesses are needed at the time of the license application. The entire application process takes place at the Auditor's Office with just the two applicants and their IDs. The $172 fee covers the license itself. Certified copies are purchased separately at $3 for the first page.
Thurston County Marriage Records
Tumwater is in Thurston County. Marriage licenses for Tumwater residents come from the Thurston County Auditor. The county page has full office details and historical record resources.
Nearby Cities
These nearby cities use county auditors for marriage records.