Douglas County Marriage Records

Douglas County marriage records are managed by the County Auditor's office in Waterville, Washington. The Auditor is the main source for marriage licenses, recorded marriage certificates, and certified copies for all marriages performed in the county. Historical records go back to 1884 and a large portion of those older records are now available at no cost through the Washington State Digital Archives. If you need to search for a past Douglas County marriage, get a certified copy, or apply for a new license, this page lays out how each process works and where to find the right office.

Douglas County Auditor Office

The Douglas County Auditor's office in Waterville is the central office for marriage records in the county. The Auditor handles marriage licensing, document recording, voter registration, vehicle and vessel licensing, and elections. Marriage records have been kept by the county auditor since 1907, with some marriage certificates dating back to 1884 in the state archives. If you need to apply for a license or get a certified copy of a marriage certificate, the Auditor's office is where you go.

The Auditor serves as the official recorder of documents in Douglas County. All marriage licenses are issued here, and the completed marriage certificates are returned and recorded here after the ceremony. Once recorded, those documents become part of the permanent public record. Staff can help you search the index for past records or process your copy request.

The Public Records Officer for Douglas County is Tiana Rowland, located at 140 19th Street NW, Suite A, East Wenatchee, WA 98802. For marriage-specific records, the Auditor at 203 S Rainier St in Waterville is the right contact. Call (509) 745-9063 with questions.

Marriage License Requirements in Douglas County

Both applicants must appear in person at the Douglas County Auditor's office to apply for a marriage license. Neither person has to be a Washington State resident. You do need to be at least 18 years old and bring a current photo ID. No blood tests or physical exams are required. The ceremony must take place within Washington State.

Washington State imposes a three-day waiting period before a marriage license becomes valid. This requirement comes from RCW 26.04.180. The waiting period starts the day after your application and cannot be waived under any circumstances. Your license is valid for 60 days beginning on the third day. If the ceremony does not happen within that window, the license expires.

Under RCW 26.04.140, a license must be obtained before a marriage can be performed in Washington. The ceremony must be performed by a judge, retired judge, or an ordained or licensed minister. Douglas County has a District Court in Waterville. Call the court if you want a judge to perform your ceremony.

If you were previously married, you do not need to show proof of how the prior marriage ended. You are responsible for making sure the prior marriage was legally dissolved before you apply. For marriages performed in Douglas County after December 6, 2012, the terms used on the certificate are Person A and Person B rather than Groom and Bride.

Certified Copies of Douglas County Marriage Records

Certified copies of Douglas County marriage certificates are available from the Auditor's office. To request a copy, provide the full names of both parties and the date of the marriage. You can visit in person or submit a written request by mail. The Auditor's office can tell you the current fee and accepted payment methods when you contact them at (509) 745-9063.

For marriages from 1968 to present, you can also order certified copies from the Washington State Department of Health. The DOH charges $25 per copy. Orders can be placed through the DOH vital records page online or by mail. Processing times for online orders are typically 3 to 7 business days for shipping. Mail orders take 6 to 8 weeks. If the marriage happened within the last five months, contact the Douglas County Auditor instead, as the record may not have reached the DOH yet.

Marriage records in Washington are public records. Most people can request copies without any special authorization. The name and date of marriage are the key pieces of information needed to locate the record.

Historical Douglas County Marriage Records

Douglas County was established on November 28, 1883, from Lincoln County. Marriage records have been collected since the county was formed, and certificates in the archives date as far back as 1884. The Washington State Archives has digitized a substantial portion of these older records and made them available through the Digital Archives portal.

The Washington State Digital Archives - Douglas County holds 10,842 records covering three record types: Marriage Certificates (1884 to 1975), Marriage Returns (1931 to 1941), and Marriage Licenses (1942 to 1970). These records were transcribed and proofread by Washington State Archives staff. You can search by name of either party and filter by year range. The collection is free to use and provides images of the original documents where available.

For Douglas County marriage records after 1975, or for any records not yet available online, contact the Auditor's office directly. The FamilySearch Douglas County genealogy page notes that the County Auditor holds marriage records from 1907 forward, along with burial, land, death, divorce, probate, and court records.

The Washington State Archives Central Regional Branch in Ellensburg may also hold Douglas County records. Call them at (509) 963-2136 or email cebrancharchives@sos.wa.gov for more information.

Note: For records not yet digitized, written requests to the Douglas County Auditor are the most reliable way to get certified copies of older marriage certificates.

How to Find Douglas County Marriage Records

To search Douglas County marriage records, start with the Washington State Digital Archives for records before 1975. That collection is free and includes images of original certificates and licenses. For records after 1975, contact the Douglas County Auditor directly at (509) 745-9063 or visit the office at 203 S Rainier St in Waterville.

The Douglas County Public Records page provides guidance on how to request records online and in person. Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates are available through the Washington State Department of Health for records from 1968 onward. For records before 1968, the county auditor or state archives are the right source.

The screenshot below shows the Douglas County Auditor's page, the starting point for marriage licensing and records in the county.

Visit the Douglas County Auditor's office page for contact information and service details.

The Auditor's office in Waterville handles marriage licensing, recording, and certified copy requests for Douglas County.

The Public Records page below explains how to request marriage and other records from Douglas County offices.

See the Douglas County Public Records page for instructions on submitting records requests online or in person.

The public records page lists available record types and directs you to the correct office or online system for each one.

Court Records and Digital Archives

Douglas County court records are also part of the records ecosystem for researchers and families. While marriage certificates are held by the Auditor, the Superior Court Clerk handles divorce and other court records.

Contact the Auditor's office or the Superior Court Clerk for guidance on the correct office for your specific Douglas County record request.

For historical research, the Digital Archives is the best free tool for Douglas County marriage records predating 1975.

Search the Washington State Digital Archives - Douglas County for free access to 10,842 marriage records from 1884 to 1975.

The Digital Archives collection includes marriage certificates, returns, and licenses from Douglas County dating back to 1884.

Cities in Douglas County

Douglas County includes East Wenatchee and other communities in north-central Washington. No cities in Douglas County meet the population threshold for individual city pages. All marriage license applications and record requests are handled through the Douglas County Auditor in Waterville.

Nearby Counties

These counties share borders with Douglas County. Each county auditor handles marriage records for their own county.