Garfield County Marriage Records Search

Garfield County marriage records are maintained by the County Auditor's office in Pomeroy, Washington. The Auditor handles marriage licensing, document recording, and certified copy requests for all marriages performed in the county. Online search is available for current records, and historical marriage records going back to 1882 are accessible through the Washington State Digital Archives at no cost. Garfield County is a small, rural county in southeastern Washington, named after President James A. Garfield and created from Columbia County in 1881. This page explains how to search for past records, apply for a new license, and get certified copies in Garfield County.

Garfield County Auditor Recording Office

The Garfield County Auditor in Pomeroy is responsible for marriage records in the county. The office issues marriage licenses, records completed marriage certificates, and handles requests for certified copies. It also provides accounting and genealogical records services, manages elections, and handles public disclosure. Marriage records in the Auditor's possession go back to 1892, and the office continues to be the primary point of contact for both new license applications and copy requests.

The Auditor's Recording page provides an online records search tool. You can use it to look up recorded documents, including marriage records, without visiting the office in person. Certified copies of marriage records are $4 each. The office is located at the county courthouse in Pomeroy. Regular office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, which aligns with the courthouse schedule.

The Garfield County Health District can also issue birth, marriage, and death certificates while you wait, which can be a faster option for those who need same-day access to a certified copy.

Marriage License Requirements in Garfield County

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

The three-day waiting period under RCW 26.04.180 starts the day after your application date. The license is active on the third day and valid for 60 days. The waiting period cannot be waived under any circumstances. If the ceremony does not happen before the license expires, you will need to start the process over.

Under RCW 26.04.140, a valid license must be in hand before any ceremony takes place. Ceremonies may be performed by active or retired judges, Supreme Court justices, Court of Appeals judges, or licensed or ordained ministers. Ministers from out of state can perform ceremonies in Washington. After the ceremony, the officiant returns the completed certificate to the Garfield County Auditor for recording.

The license fee in Garfield County is $136. Contact the Auditor's office to confirm acceptable payment types before your visit. Marriage records in Washington are public unless the person is enrolled in the Address Confidentiality Program.

Note: You can obtain a Washington State marriage license from any county auditor, not just the one in the county where you plan to hold the ceremony.

Certified Copies of Garfield County Marriage Records

Certified copies of Garfield County marriage certificates cost $4 each through the Auditor's office. You can request copies in person at the courthouse in Pomeroy during regular business hours, or by submitting a written request by mail to PO Box 915, Pomeroy, WA 99347. Include the names of both parties and the date of the marriage so the office can locate the correct record. The office does not do research on your behalf, so the more detail you provide, the faster the request can be processed.

For marriages from 1968 onward, the Washington State Department of Health offers another option. The DOH charges $25 per certified copy. You can order through the DOH vital records page online or by mail. If the marriage happened within the past five months, the record may not yet be at the DOH. In that case, request the county-certified copy from the Garfield County Auditor.

The Garfield County Court Clerk's office also has marriage records available for searching online. Copies through the Clerk cost $1 for the first page, $0.50 for each additional page, and $0.50 for certification. Contact Court Clerk Shellie Kraft for questions about court-level records. Most records at the Clerk's office are open for public inspection.

Historical Garfield County Marriage Records

Garfield County has a well-preserved historical marriage record collection. The county was formed on November 29, 1881, and the Auditor's records go back to 1892. The Washington State Archives Eastern Region Branch digitized and indexed the older marriage records with the help of Eastern Washington Genealogy Society volunteers. That work produced a collection of 3,821 records now freely available online through the Digital Archives.

The Washington State Digital Archives - Garfield County includes marriage certificates from 1882 to 1979 and marriage returns from 1907 to 1939. All records in the collection are open for research. You can search by last name, first name, and middle name for both parties and filter by year range. Soundex search is available to help with phonetic variations and spelling inconsistencies in older records. Where available, images of the original documents are viewable in the system.

For records not yet in the Digital Archives, or for certified copies with a raised seal, contact the Garfield County Auditor. The Eastern Region Branch at (509) 235-7508 or eabrancharchives@sos.wa.gov can assist with research questions on records held at the archives.

The RAOGK Garfield County page notes that many records have been transferred to the state archive's regional branches. The County Clerk's office specifically states it does not conduct research. So for any research project, plan to use the Digital Archives online or contact the Eastern Branch directly.

How to Search Garfield County Marriage Records

For records before 1980, the Washington State Digital Archives is the fastest and most convenient option. The collection is free and accessible from any device. For more recent records, use the online search tool on the Garfield County Recording page, or contact the Auditor's office directly. If you need a certified copy, request it from the Auditor or, for marriages from 1968 onward, from the DOH.

The online search tool on the Garfield County Recording page lets you look up recorded documents without visiting in person. The recording page also lists the current license fee ($136) and certified copy fee ($4), so you know the costs upfront before making the trip to Pomeroy.

Here is a view of the Garfield County Recording page, which includes the online records search and marriage license fee information.

Visit the Garfield County Recording page to access the online document search and find current fee schedules.

The Recording page lists the $136 marriage license fee and $4 certified copy fee, and provides access to the online document search tool.

The Digital Archives holds 3,821 Garfield County marriage records from 1882 through 1979, digitized by Eastern Region Archives staff and genealogy volunteers.

Search the Washington State Digital Archives - Garfield County for free access to historical marriage certificates and returns.

The Digital Archives collection for Garfield County covers certificates from 1882 to 1979 and returns from 1907 to 1939, all free to search and view.

Garfield County Court Access and Records

The Garfield County Court Clerk's office has made marriage records available for online search, in addition to the Auditor's records. Most records at the Clerk's office are open for public inspection.

The Garfield County Court Clerk's contact information is available at the courthouse in Pomeroy. Court Clerk Shellie Kraft handles requests for court-related records. Copies cost $1 for the first page, $0.50 for each additional page, and $0.50 for certification.

Cities in Garfield County

Pomeroy is the county seat and largest community in Garfield County. No cities in the county meet the population threshold for individual city pages. Marriage license applications and record requests for all Garfield County communities are handled at the Auditor's office in Pomeroy.

Nearby Counties

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