Search Cowlitz County Marriage Records

Cowlitz County marriage records are maintained by the County Auditor's Recording Department at the Administration Building in Kelso. The office issues marriage licenses and keeps certified copies of marriage certificates for all marriages performed in the county. Records from 1986 to present are searchable online through the Auditor's Public Record Search tool. If you need to look up a past marriage, get a certified copy, or apply for a new license in Cowlitz County, this page explains the process step by step. The county is one of the first formed by Washington's First Territorial Legislature, and its records go back over 130 years.

Cowlitz County Auditor Recording Department

The Cowlitz County Auditor handles marriage licensing and recording for the entire county. The Recording Department issues marriage licenses and maintains the official index of recorded documents, which is available online to the public. You can search and order certified marriage certificates through the Auditor's online search portal for records from 1986 to present. For older records or in-person visits, head to Room 206 of the Cowlitz County Administration Building in Kelso.

The Auditor also handles voter registration, vehicle and vessel licensing, elections, and county accounting. If you are visiting in person to apply for a marriage license or request copies, the Recording Department is the correct division. Staff are available during regular business hours. Bring valid photo ID for any in-person transaction.

The public is welcome to visit the Auditor's office during regular business hours to use the public records database for genealogy research or other purposes. The index of recorded documents is available online, giving you remote access to marriage records from 1986 onward.

Marriage License Requirements in Cowlitz County

To get a marriage license in Cowlitz County, both applicants must appear in person at the Auditor's office. You do not have to be a Cowlitz County or Washington State resident to apply here, but the ceremony must take place within Washington State. Both people must be at least 18 years old and bring a valid, current photo ID. No blood tests or physical exams are required under current Washington State law.

The three-day waiting period under RCW 26.04.180 begins the day after you submit your application. The license becomes valid on the third day. It stays valid for 60 days from that point. If you do not hold your ceremony within the 60-day window, the license expires and you must apply again.

Washington State requires a license before any marriage can be performed, as set out in RCW 26.04.140. The ceremony can be performed by a judge, retired judge, or an ordained or licensed minister. Marriages performed in Washington after December 6, 2012 use the terms Person A and Person B on the certificate. Marriages performed before that date used Groom and Bride.

Note: If you need the District Court judge to perform your ceremony in Cowlitz County, contact the court ahead of time to make arrangements.

Getting Certified Copies in Cowlitz County

Certified copies of Cowlitz County marriage certificates are available from the Auditor's Recording Department. Each certified copy costs $3. You can request copies in person at Room 206 of the Administration Building in Kelso, or through the online records search. The Auditor's Public Record Search lets you search by file number, name, book, page, document type, and date. Records from 1986 to present are available in that system.

For records from 1968 onward, the Washington State Department of Health also maintains certified copies. The DOH fee is $25 per copy and you can order online through the DOH vital records page. Keep in mind that if the marriage happened within the last five months, the record may not have reached the DOH yet. For recent marriages, the County Auditor is your best option.

In-person requests at the Auditor's office give you the fastest results. Bring the names of both parties and the approximate date of the marriage. Staff can search the system and issue certified copies on the spot during regular business hours. For mail requests, contact the office at (360) 577-3002 for instructions on how to submit payment and the information needed to process your request.

Cowlitz County Historical Marriage Records

Cowlitz County was formed in 1854 from Lewis County, making it one of the oldest counties in Washington State. Marriage records from those early years through 1985 are not yet available in the online search tool, but they can be accessed through other channels. The Washington State Digital Archives holds indexes and images of Cowlitz County marriage applications and certificates from 1986 to present, with records periodically transferred from the County Auditor.

The Washington State Digital Archives - Cowlitz County collection includes 65,134 records and is free to search. You can search by the name of either party and filter by year. The Digital Archives is a good starting point for research even if you already know the county, because it also provides images of original documents. Records not yet digitized may be available by contacting the County Auditor or the Washington State Archives directly.

For genealogy research purposes, the Auditor's office allows public access to its records during business hours. You can search the physical indexes or use the public terminals. Staff can point you to the right series of records for the time period you are researching.

Note: For questions about Cowlitz County historical records not available online, contact the Washington State Archives Southwest Regional Branch.

How to Search Cowlitz County Marriage Records

The fastest way to search Cowlitz County marriage records for 1986 to present is the Auditor's online database. The search tool lets you look up records by name, document type, date range, file number, and other fields. Results include index information and in many cases images of original documents. There is no fee to search the index online.

For records before 1986, you have a few options. Visit the Auditor's office in person during regular business hours, or contact the Washington State Archives for older documents. The Digital Archives at digitalarchives.wa.gov is also worth checking, as additional records are added over time.

Here is a look at the Cowlitz County Recording Department page, where the online records search is hosted.

Visit the Cowlitz County Recording Department to access the online document index and learn about marriage license services.

The Recording Department issues marriage licenses and maintains the public document index for Cowlitz County.

The Auditor's Records Search tool gives direct online access to Cowlitz County marriage records from 1986 onward.

Use the Cowlitz County Auditor's Records Search to look up marriage certificates and other recorded documents online.

Search by name, date, file number, or document type to find Cowlitz County marriage records from 1986 to present.

Cowlitz County Auditor and Digital Archives

The Cowlitz County Auditor main page gives an overview of all services, including marriage licensing, recording, and elections.

See the Cowlitz County Auditor's official page for office information and service descriptions.

The Auditor's office is the primary office for marriage records in Cowlitz County, located in the Administration Building in Kelso.

The Washington State Digital Archives holds over 65,000 Cowlitz County marriage records, making it one of the larger county collections in the state archives system.

Search the Washington State Digital Archives - Cowlitz County for free access to marriage records from 1986 to present.

The Digital Archives collection for Cowlitz County includes 65,134 records and provides images of original marriage applications and certificates.

Cities in Cowlitz County

Cowlitz County includes the city of Longview, which has its own page on this site. All marriage license applications and record requests go through the Cowlitz County Auditor in Kelso regardless of which city you live in.

Other communities in Cowlitz County include Kelso, Castle Rock, Woodland, and Kalama. Marriage license applications and records requests for all of these areas are handled at the Auditor's office in Kelso.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Cowlitz County. Each has its own auditor's office for marriage records and licenses.