Access Clark County Marriage Records

Clark County marriage records are maintained by the County Auditor's Recording Department in Vancouver, Washington. The Auditor is the official source for marriage licenses and marriage certificates in Clark County. With over 467,000 digitized records going back to 1843, Clark County has one of the largest and oldest marriage record collections in Washington State. Whether you need to apply for a license, get a certified copy, or search historical records, this page covers your options and the steps involved for Clark County.

Clark County Auditor Recording Department

The Clark County Auditor's Office is the official repository for all marriage records in Clark County. The Recording Department within the Auditor's office handles marriage license applications, records completed certificates after ceremonies, and processes requests for certified copies. Clark County is the most populous county in southwestern Washington, home to Vancouver and surrounding communities. It sits just north of Portland, Oregon, across the Columbia River.

Clark County is one of the original counties in Washington State. It was first organized by the Oregon Provisional Legislature in 1845 as the Vancouver District, then named Clark County in 1849 after explorer William Clark. That history means the county's records go back further than almost any other county in the state, with some marriage records in the Digital Archives dating to 1843. The Auditor's current in-person service location is at the Public Service Center on Franklin Street in Vancouver. For mail-in requests, use the P.O. Box address.

Clark County Marriage License Requirements

To apply for a marriage license in Clark County, both applicants must come to the Auditor's office in person. Go to the Joint Lobby on the second floor at 1300 Franklin Street in Vancouver. Bring a valid, government-issued photo ID. Washington State does not require blood tests, birth certificates, or witnesses for the license application. You do not need to be a resident of Clark County or Washington State to apply, but the ceremony must take place within Washington.

Washington State law under RCW 26.04.180 requires a three-day waiting period. Your license will not be valid until three days after you apply. That clock starts the day after you hand in your application. The license then remains valid for 60 days. Plan your application date to make sure the license is active by the day of your ceremony, with time to spare in case of any delays. There are no exceptions to the waiting period.

Once your ceremony takes place, the person who performed it must sign and return the license to the Clark County Auditor. That returned license becomes the official marriage certificate. Marriage records in Clark County are public documents under Washington's Public Records Act (RCW 42.56). The certificate shows the names of both spouses, the date and place of marriage, the name of the officiant, and supporting documents filed with the Auditor. Social Security numbers are typically removed from copies provided to the public.

The certified copy fee is $3 per the county's own fee schedule, and the requirement for a valid license is set by RCW 26.04.180.

Both applicants must be 18 years old or older. The requirement to have a license before the ceremony is set by RCW 26.04.140. Any person who performs a ceremony without a valid license in place may be subject to legal penalties under Washington law.

Certified Copies of Clark County Marriage Records

Certified copies of Clark County marriage certificates cost $5 for the first page and $1 for each additional page. Non-certified photocopies cost $0.50 per page when mailed and $0.25 per page if sent by email. Certified copies are what you need for legal purposes such as name changes, updating identification, or providing proof of marriage to an employer or financial institution.

In person: go to the Clark County Public Service Center at 1300 Franklin Street, 2nd Floor, Vancouver, WA 98660. Bring photo ID and the names of both parties and date of marriage. Staff at the Joint Lobby can process your request.

By mail: send a written request to Clark County Auditor, Attn: Marriage License Dept, P.O. Box 5000, Vancouver, WA 98666-5000. Include the names of both spouses, the date of marriage, the number of certified copies you need, and your payment. Contact the office at (564) 397-2208 or recording@clark.wa.gov to confirm current accepted payment methods before mailing.

Online search: the Clark County Auditor offers a free Recorded Documents Search tool on their website. Basic searches show document names and dates at no cost. This tool is useful for confirming a record exists before you make a formal request.

For marriages from 1968 to present, certified copies are also available through the Washington State Department of Health at doh.wa.gov. The DOH charges $25 per certified copy, which is higher than the county fee. Per WAC 246-491-340, DOH requests must include the first and last name of at least one spouse, the month and year of marriage, and the filing county. You can order by mail to Department of Health, P.O. Box 9709, Olympia, WA 98507-9709, or online through the VitalChek service.

Note: The county fee of $5 per certified copy is lower than the state DOH fee of $25. If you can visit or mail to the Clark County Auditor, that is usually the more affordable option for getting a certified marriage certificate.

Historical Clark County Marriage Records

Clark County has the oldest and largest marriage record collection of any county in this section of Washington. The Washington State Digital Archives holds 467,220 Clark County marriage records covering marriage returns and certificates from 1843 to the present, and marriage applications from 2000 to present. These records are free to search online. Clark County was one of the original counties in Washington Territory, and its records predate statehood.

The collection includes records from 1843, which means you can find marriages from the earliest days of organized American settlement in what became Washington State. Marriage returns from 1843 to 1909 and marriage certificates from 1843 to the present are in the Digital Archives. The Washington State Library also maintains printed volumes of Clark County marriages. Their research guide at washstatelib.libguides.com lists 13 volumes covering marriages from 1852 to 1923, with each volume indexed separately. Volume 1 covers 1852 to 1896; the later volumes cover individual years from 1917 through 1923.

For genealogical research, the Digital Archives collection is the most practical starting point. You can search the full 467,220-record collection by name using standard or Soundex searches. Images are available for many records. For records not online, or for help interpreting what you find, the Washington State Archives Southwest Regional Branch is the relevant archive office for Clark County.

Keep the Marriage Equality Act in mind when searching. Records before December 6, 2012 use Groom and Bride as search field labels. Records after that date use Person A and Person B. This affects how you search for marriages involving same-sex couples in the Digital Archives system.

Search Clark County Marriage Records Online

The Washington State Digital Archives at digitalarchives.wa.gov is the best free source for Clark County marriage records online. The Clark County collection has 467,220 records going back to 1843. Search by name and year. Use Soundex for older records where spelling may vary. No account is needed for basic index searches, though some images may require a free login.

Clark County also has a direct digital access record at digitalarchives.wa.gov for individual record lookups. The county's own online Recorded Documents Search tool on the Auditor's website allows free searches of records filed in Clark County. These are unofficial copies for research; request certified copies from the Auditor for legal use.

The Clark County marriage record search guide on Washington Court Records covers the full request process for Clark County certificates.

This guide explains what Clark County marriage records contain, the certified copy fees, and step-by-step instructions for in-person and mail requests to the Auditor.

The Clark County court public records page provides general access information for court and auditor records in the county.

This page covers the Clark County Auditor's Recording Department contact details and fee schedule, as well as the County Clerk's office for court-related records including divorce.

The Washington State Library Guides page for Clark County shows the printed volumes of marriage records spanning 1852 to 1923, held at the state library.

The Library Guides page lists 13 volumes of Clark County marriages from 1852 to 1923 held in the state library's collection, with volume-level date ranges and notes on indexes.

The Washington State Digital Archives collection page for Clark County shows the full 467,220-record database going back to 1843.

The Digital Archives collection for Clark County includes marriage returns from 1843 to 1909, marriage certificates from 1843 to present, and applications from 2000 to present, making it one of the oldest continuous county marriage record collections in Washington.

Cities in Clark County

Clark County includes several cities. Two of the largest have individual pages on this site.

Other communities in Clark County include Battle Ground, Washougal, Ridgefield, La Center, and Orchards. All residents file for marriage licenses through the Clark County Auditor's office in Vancouver regardless of which city they live in.

Nearby Counties

Clark County is in the southwestern corner of Washington State. These counties border or are near Clark County.