Walla Walla Marriage Records
Marriage records for Walla Walla are issued and maintained by the Walla Walla County Auditor's Office. The city is the county seat of Walla Walla County in southeastern Washington. Marriage licensing is a county function under state law, and the auditor has maintained marriage records for the area since 1862. This page explains how to apply for a license, request certified copies, and find historical marriage records in county and state archives.
Walla Walla Overview
Walla Walla County Auditor: Marriage Licensing
The Walla Walla County Auditor's Office issues marriage licenses for the city and all of Walla Walla County. The office is at 315 West Main Street, Walla Walla, WA 99362. The mailing address is PO Box 1856, Walla Walla, WA 99362-0356. The main phone number is (509) 524-2530. Hours are 9am to 4pm. Fax is 509-524-2552.
Both applicants must be at least 18. No blood tests are required under Washington law. No witnesses are needed at the application stage. Witnesses are only required at the ceremony itself. Both parties must appear in person with valid government-issued photo ID. After applying, the three-day waiting period required by RCW 26.04.180 begins. The license is then valid for 60 days.
| Office | Walla Walla County Auditor |
|---|---|
| Address | 315 West Main Street, Walla Walla, WA 99362 |
| Mailing | PO Box 1856, Walla Walla, WA 99362-0356 |
| Phone | (509) 524-2530 |
| Fax | 509-524-2552 |
| Hours | 9am-4pm |
| Website | wwcowa.gov |
| Certified Copies | $3 per copy |
| Wait Period | 3 days (RCW 26.04.180) |
| License Valid | 60 days from issue |
Requesting Certified Copies by Mail
Certified copies of marriage records are $3 each. To request by mail, write to the Walla Walla County Auditor at the PO Box address above. Include a check payable to the Walla Walla County Auditor. Your request must include the names of both parties at the time of the application and the date of the marriage. Also include a self-addressed, stamped envelope so the auditor can mail the copies back to you.
You can also request copies in person at the office during regular hours. In-person requests are generally processed faster than mail requests. If you need copies quickly, visiting the office is the better option. Bring your ID and the basic information about the marriage: names and approximate date.
These certified copies carry the county seal and are accepted for legal name changes, insurance updates, and similar administrative processes. Keep several on hand. Most couples need at least two to four copies for various purposes in the weeks and months following the wedding.
Marriage Application Process in Walla Walla County
The Walla Walla County Auditor provides a marriage application with instructions. Both applicants must complete the form. Both must be at least 18. No witnesses or blood tests are required at the application stage. After applying and paying the fee, the three-day wait begins. The ceremony must be held within 60 days of the application date.
Who can perform the ceremony is governed by RCW 26.04.050. Authorized officiants include justices, court commissioners, and religious officials. Ship captains are not authorized to perform marriages in Washington unless they independently meet one of the legal categories. The officiant must return the signed certificate to the Walla Walla County Auditor within 30 days of the ceremony. Failure to do so can result in a misdemeanor charge and a fine of up to $300 for the officiant.
All marriage license applications are public records under RCW 26.04.170. The public may request to view applications. Sensitive personal information such as Social Security numbers is removed before copies are released. The public record includes names, the date, and related identification information.
Walla Walla County Vital Records: Historical Overview
The WAGenWeb resource for Walla Walla County provides a useful overview of what records exist and where they are held. The County Auditor is the primary contact for marriage records dating back to 1862. Land records go back to 1859. Court records go back to 1860. The auditor's office at 315 W. Main Street handles all of these, and the older directory phone number listed in some sources is 509-527-3221.
The WAGenWeb Walla Walla County vital records page is a helpful genealogy resource showing which records the county has maintained and how far back each type goes. The WAGenWeb Walla Walla County vital records page lists available records by type and date range, including marriage records from 1862 and other county records dating back to the pre-statehood period.
The Washington State Library also holds a significant Walla Walla County collection. This includes Marriage Affidavits from 1891 to 1899 and 1917 to 1939, Marriage Certificates from 1922 to 1926, Marriage Records from 1865 through 2024, and a Register of Marriage Statistics from 1891 to 1913. The library's collection can fill gaps in years not well covered by the county's own archive.
Walla Walla County Digital Archives
The Walla Walla County collection in the Washington State Digital Archives holds approximately 72,000 records dating from 1865 to the present. The collection includes a Soundex index, which is a phonetic indexing system useful for finding records when the spelling of a name is uncertain. Access is free at digitalarchives.wa.gov.
Genealogists researching Walla Walla area families will find this archive valuable. The county's records go back to the 1860s, well into the territorial period before Washington became a state in 1889. The digital archive makes it possible to search these old records without traveling to the physical archive.
The Washington State Digital Archives Walla Walla County collection covers over 72,000 records from 1865 to the present, with a Soundex index for easier name searches. The Washington State Digital Archives Walla Walla County collection is freely searchable and covers marriage records from 1865 through the present for the Walla Walla area.
The Soundex feature in this collection is particularly useful for older records where names may have been spelled differently in different documents. If a standard search does not return the results you expect, try the Soundex option or variations of the spelling.
Washington State DOH and Local Health Dept
The Washington State Department of Health holds marriage records statewide from 1968 to the present. Certified copies ordered through VitalChek cost $25 per record. Online orders take 3 to 7 business days. Mail orders take 6 to 8 weeks. This is a good option if you cannot visit the county auditor's office in person.
The Walla Walla County Health Department is at 310 W. Poplar, Walla Walla, WA 99362, phone 509-527-3290. The Health Department can provide guidance on which office to contact for specific types of vital records. For marriage records, the county auditor is the right office. For birth and death records, the Health Department or the state DOH are the primary contacts.
Washington's Marriage Equality Act took effect December 6, 2012. Since that date, all marriage licenses in Washington use Person A and Person B rather than bride and groom. This applies in Walla Walla County as in every other county statewide. Older records use traditional terminology. Both formats are equally valid as legal marriage documents.
Walla Walla County Marriage Records
Walla Walla is in Walla Walla County. Marriage licenses for Walla Walla residents come from the Walla Walla County Auditor. The county page has full office details and historical record resources.
Nearby Cities
These nearby cities use county auditors for marriage records.