Find Marriage Records in Ferry County

Ferry County marriage records are maintained by the County Auditor's office in Republic, Washington. The office handles marriage licenses, records certified copies of marriage certificates, and provides access to historical records going back to 1900. Ferry County is a small, rural county in northeastern Washington, named after Washington's first governor, Elisha P. Ferry. Despite its size, the county has a well-organized records collection, with over 3,000 historical marriage records now available through the Washington State Digital Archives. This page explains how to apply for a marriage license in Ferry County, get a certified copy, or research historical records.

Ferry County Auditor Office

The Ferry County Auditor's office in Republic handles marriage licensing, voter registration, recording, and other county services. The Auditor issues marriage licenses and maintains the official record of marriage certificates for the county. To apply for a license or request a copy, contact the Auditor's office directly. The office is in the county seat of Republic in the northeastern part of the state.

Ferry County was created in 1899 out of Stevens County. The Auditor's office has been the keeper of marriage records for the county since it was established. For current records and new license applications, the Auditor at 350 E Delaware Avenue is the right place to start. For older records, the Washington State Digital Archives may already have what you need online.

The Auditor's office also provides auditor public records, marriage licenses, and voter registration services. For divorce records, contact the Ferry County Clerk of Superior Court at the same building, extension 1402.

Marriage License Requirements in Ferry County

Both applicants must apply in person at the Ferry County Auditor's office to get a marriage license. You do not need to be a Washington State resident. Both people must be at least 18 years old and present a valid photo ID. Washington does not require blood tests, physical exams, or any waiting period waiver. No proof of a prior divorce or death of a former spouse is required, though you are responsible for ensuring any prior marriage has been legally dissolved.

The three-day waiting period required by RCW 26.04.180 begins the day after you apply. Your license becomes valid on the third day and remains valid for 60 days. If the ceremony is not performed before the license expires, you will need to apply again. The marriage ceremony must take place in Washington State.

Under RCW 26.04.050, ceremonies may be performed by active or retired judges, Supreme Court justices, Court of Appeals judges, or any regularly licensed or ordained minister or priest. Ministers from any state may perform the ceremony in Washington.

The fee for a marriage license in Ferry County is approximately $64. Call the Auditor's office at (509) 775-5225 ext. 1400 to confirm the current fee and acceptable payment methods before your visit.

Note: Marriages in Washington are public record unless the person is enrolled in the state's Address Confidentiality program. Once a marriage certificate is recorded, it stays on the permanent record.

Certified Copies of Ferry County Marriage Records

Certified copies of Ferry County marriage certificates are available through the Auditor's office. For marriages from 1968 onward, you can also get certified copies from the Washington State Department of Health. The DOH fee is $25 per copy. Orders can be submitted through the DOH vital records ordering page. Online orders typically ship within 3 to 7 business days. Mail orders take 6 to 8 weeks.

If the marriage happened in the last five months, the record may not have reached the DOH yet. In that case, contact the Ferry County Auditor at (509) 775-5225 ext. 1400 and request the county-certified white copy directly from the office where the license was obtained.

For marriages before 1968, certified copies are available only through the county. Call the Auditor's office for current fees, payment options, and mail request instructions. Vital records law in Washington is codified under RCW 70.58, which governs how birth, death, marriage, and divorce records are maintained and accessed across the state.

Historical Ferry County Marriage Records

Ferry County has marriage records going back to 1900 when the county was first organized. The Eastern Region Branch of the Washington State Archives, with help from Eastern Washington University interns, transcribed and imaged these older records. Both marriage returns (1900 to 1947) and marriage certificates (1940 to 1999) were digitized as part of that project. The result is a free, searchable collection of Ferry County marriage records spanning nearly a century.

The Washington State Digital Archives - Ferry County holds 3,079 records. You can search by the full name of either party and filter by year range. A Soundex search option helps with older records where spelling may vary. The collection includes images of original documents where available. All records in the collection are open for research.

The FamilySearch Ferry County genealogy page also references Ferry County Auditor marriage records from 1900 to 1999 at the Washington State Archives, along with Department of Health marriage certificates from 1968 to 1997. These overlap with the Digital Archives collection but the FamilySearch entry may point to additional indexes or microfilm copies that could help fill gaps in your research.

For records outside the digitized range, contact the Ferry County Auditor or reach out to the Washington State Archives Eastern Region Branch. Staff there can direct you to the right record series and help you submit a copy request.

How to Search Ferry County Marriage Records

The Washington State Digital Archives is the best place to start for Ferry County marriage records from 1900 to 1999. The collection is free and open to anyone. For records after 1999 or if you need a certified copy, contact the Ferry County Auditor directly at (509) 775-5225 ext. 1400. For marriages from 1968 onward, the DOH vital records system is a parallel option.

The public records resource page for Ferry County lists the Auditor's address and phone number alongside information about birth, death, and other vital record types. It is a useful starting point for research on any type of county record. Call the office before visiting to confirm current hours and payment requirements, as small county offices can have variable schedules.

Here is a look at the Washington State Digital Archives page for Ferry County marriage records, which covers returns and certificates from 1900 to 1999.

Search the Washington State Digital Archives - Ferry County for free access to 3,079 marriage records from 1900 to 1999.

The Digital Archives collection for Ferry County includes both marriage returns and marriage certificates, with images of original documents where available.

Cities in Ferry County

Ferry County's county seat is Republic. No cities in Ferry County meet the population threshold for individual city pages. All marriage license applications and record requests for the county are handled at the Ferry County Auditor's office at 350 E Delaware Avenue in Republic.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Ferry County in northeastern Washington. Each has its own auditor's office for marriage records.