Vancouver Marriage Records
Marriage records for Vancouver Washington are issued and maintained by the Clark County Auditor's Office. Vancouver is the county seat of Clark County and Washington's fourth largest city. All marriage licensing runs through the county auditor. Clark County has one of the richest marriage record archives in Washington, with records dating back to 1843 from the territorial period. This page covers licensing, certified copies, court records, and historical archive access.
Vancouver Overview
Clark County Auditor: Marriage Licensing
The Clark County Auditor's Recording Division handles marriage licensing for Vancouver and all of Clark County. The in-person address is 1300 Franklin Street, Suite 175, Vancouver, WA 98660. The mailing address for the Recording Division is PO Box 5000, Vancouver WA 98666. Greg Kimsey serves as Clark County Auditor. The office phone for recording is (564) 397-2208 and email is recording@clark.wa.gov.
Both applicants must appear in person together to apply for a marriage license. The fee is $64. Acceptable payment methods include cash, check, or money order. Credit or debit card payments may include an additional processing fee. Bring valid government-issued photo ID. No blood tests are required. Two witnesses are required at the ceremony but not at the license application.
| Office | Clark County Auditor - Recording Division |
|---|---|
| In-Person Address | 1300 Franklin Street, Suite 175, Vancouver, WA 98660 |
| Mailing Address | PO Box 5000, Vancouver WA 98666 |
| Phone | (564) 397-2208 |
| recording@clark.wa.gov | |
| Website | clark.wa.gov - Marriage Licenses |
| License Fee | $64 |
| Certified Copies | $5 first page, $1 each additional |
| Non-Certified Copies | $0.50/page mailed; $0.25 emailed |
| Wait Period | 3 days (RCW 26.04.180) |
| License Valid | 60 days from issue |
Getting Certified Copies of Vancouver Marriage Certificates
After a ceremony, the officiant must return the signed certificate to the Clark County Auditor's Office within 30 days. Once recorded, the Auditor's Office becomes the official repository for that marriage record. Certified copies cost $5 for the first page and $1 for each additional page. Non-certified copies are cheaper: $0.50 per page if mailed or $0.25 per page if emailed.
Certified copies carry the official seal and are required for legal processes such as name changes, insurance updates, military ID changes, and similar administrative tasks. Non-certified copies are useful for personal reference or informal verification. For any legal or government purpose, you almost always need the certified version.
The certificate is typically available a few business days to a couple of weeks after the ceremony, once the officiant has returned the signed document. If you are planning a name change or other administrative task right after the wedding, order certified copies as soon as the certificate is recorded. You can order by phone, in person, or by mail to the PO Box address.
Clark County Clerk of Court: Court Records
The Clark County Clerk of Court maintains court records including dissolution of marriage cases. The Clerk's Office is at 1200 Franklin Street, Vancouver, WA 98660. Phone is 564-397-2292. Scott G. Weber serves as County Clerk. Certified marriage certificates through the Clerk's Office cost $20 each. Uncertified copies are $0.50 per page.
The Clerk of Court has an online portal for records from 1990 onward. This is separate from the Auditor's records. The Clerk holds court case files such as divorce decrees, restraining orders, and probate matters. The Auditor holds the original marriage licenses and certificates. These are distinct offices with different functions.
If you need records related to a divorce that took place in Clark County, the Clerk of Court is the right office. If you need the original marriage certificate or license, the Auditor's Recording Division is the right office. Calling the wrong office is a common mistake that can be avoided by knowing this distinction.
Clark County Marriage Record Search
Marriage records include the spouses' names, the date and location of the ceremony, the officiant's name, and supporting documents. All marriage records are public records under RCW 42.56. Social Security numbers are removed before copies are released to the public.
The Auditor's Office is the official repository for all Clark County marriage records. The three-day waiting period required by RCW 26.04.180 applies to all licenses, with no exceptions. After the ceremony, the officiant must return the completed license to the Auditor's Office. Once received, the certificate becomes part of the permanent public record and is available for copy requests.
Clark County Public Health also maintains vital records for the area. The office is at 1601 E. Fourth Plain Blvd., Bldg. 17, 4th Floor, Suite 419, Vancouver, WA 98661. Phone is 564-397-8092. The Health Department can help with birth and death records and can direct you to the right office for marriage certificates if needed.
Clark County Digital Archives: Records from 1843
The Clark County collection in the Washington State Digital Archives is one of the oldest in the state. It holds over 467,000 records including marriage returns from 1843 through 1909, marriage certificates from 1843 to the present, and applications from 2000 onward. This collection spans from the territorial period all the way through contemporary records. Access is free at digitalarchives.wa.gov.
Genealogists researching Vancouver family histories will find this archive exceptional. Clark County's records going back to 1843 predate Washington's statehood in 1889 by nearly half a century. Records from the territorial period are particularly valuable for researchers working on 19th-century Pacific Northwest families.
The Washington State Library also holds Clark County marriage records in a separate collection: Washington Marriages in Clark County, in volumes covering 1852 through 1923, catalogued as GEN 979.786 CLARK C v.1-13. These volumes may be useful for marriages not found in the digital archive or for records that require a physical review of the original documents.
The Washington State Digital Archives Clark County collection is one of the most historically deep county collections in the state, with marriage records dating to 1843. The Washington State Digital Archives Clark County marriage collection is freely searchable and covers over 467,000 records from 1843 through the present.
For records from the present that are not yet in the digital archive, contact the Clark County Auditor's Recording Division directly. The archive has a processing lag and may not include very recent records.
Washington State DOH Vital Records
The Washington State Department of Health holds statewide marriage records from 1968 to the present. Certified copies cost $25 through VitalChek. Online orders take 3 to 7 business days. Mail orders take 6 to 8 weeks. The DOH is a good option if you cannot visit the Clark County Auditor's Office.
For records before 1968, the Clark County Auditor's Office or the state digital archives are the right resources. The DOH does not hold records from before 1968. Clark County's archive goes back to 1843, making it far more comprehensive than the state vital records system for older research.
Washington marriage licenses use Person A and Person B terminology since December 6, 2012 when the Marriage Equality Act took effect. Older records use traditional terminology. Both are fully valid legal records under Washington law. The format change does not affect the legal standing of either type of document.
Clark County Marriage Records
Vancouver is in Clark County. Marriage licenses for Vancouver residents come from the Clark County Auditor. The county page has full office details and historical record resources.
Nearby Cities
These nearby cities use county auditors for marriage records.