Grant County Marriage Records
Grant County marriage records are issued and maintained by the Grant County Auditor's Recording Department in Ephrata, where couples must apply in person and where completed marriage certificates are filed after the ceremony. The county has records dating back to 1909 and a well-indexed Digital Archives collection that covers over 23,000 historical documents, making it one of the more complete online research resources for central Washington marriages.
Grant County Overview
Grant County Auditor Recording Department
The Grant County Auditor's Recording Department handles all marriage license applications and maintains the official marriage record index for the county. The office is located at the courthouse in Ephrata. Both parties must appear in person to apply. There is no remote or mail-in application option. Bring a valid, government-issued photo ID for both applicants.
The license fee is $159. Grant County accepts cash and personal checks only. Credit cards and debit cards are not accepted at this office, so plan ahead. License applications are taken Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The general office hours are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, but the last application is processed at 4:00 PM sharp.
| Office | Grant County Auditor, Recording Department |
|---|---|
| Address | 35 C Street NW Ephrata, WA 98823 |
| Phone | (509) 754-2011 Ext. 2705 |
| Fax | (509) 754-6081 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM License applications: 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM |
| Payment | Cash or personal check only (no credit or debit cards) |
| Website | grantcountywa.gov/272/Recording |
The Grant County Recording Department page provides current information on fees, hours, and document services. Check here before visiting to confirm any changes to procedures or office schedules.
The Recording Department page covers marriage license requirements, fees, and how completed certificates are returned to the county after a ceremony.
Getting a Marriage License in Grant County
Washington State law at RCW 26.04.180 requires a mandatory three-day waiting period after a license is issued. This period cannot be waived for any reason. The ceremony must take place within 60 days of the license issue date. If you miss that window, the license expires and you must apply again and pay the full fee.
Both applicants must be at least 18 years old with valid photo identification. No blood test is required. No witnesses are needed at the time of application, though two witnesses are required to be present at the ceremony itself. Under RCW 26.04.140, a valid license must exist before any ceremony takes place.
Officiants authorized to perform marriages in Washington include judges, retired judges, court commissioners, and ordained ministers or religious officials. After the ceremony is complete, the officiant must return the signed certificate to the Grant County Auditor within 30 days. Failure to do so is a misdemeanor under state law and can result in a fine. The certificate, once recorded, becomes the official Grant County marriage record.
Certified copies of Grant County marriage certificates are available through the Recording Department. Contact the office at (509) 754-2011 Ext. 2705 for copy requests and current fees. If you need a statewide certified copy, the Washington State Department of Health maintains records from 1968 to present and charges $25 per copy through VitalChek via DOH.
All marriage license applications in Grant County are public record under RCW 26.04.170. This means the application information may be published in a local newspaper. If you are enrolled in the Address Confidentiality Program, notify the office so your address can be protected from public disclosure.
Search Grant County Marriage Records Online
Grant County offers an online document search through the EagleWeb system hosted by Tyler Technologies. This tool allows you to search recorded documents by name, document type, or date range. The index is available at any time and does not require an account to use as a guest.
The EagleWeb system lets you search the Grant County recorded document index by name or document type, including marriage certificates and marriage returns.
For historical records, the Washington State Digital Archives holds 23,854 Grant County marriage records spanning from 1909 to 2003. The collection includes marriage returns from 1909 to 1935 and certificates from 1909 through 2003. A Soundex phonetic index is available, which helps when searching names that may be spelled multiple ways. The Digital Archives are free to access.
The Digital Archives collection for Grant County covers marriage returns from 1909 to 1935 and certificates from 1909 to 2003, with Soundex searching available for phonetic name matching.
For records not yet digitized, or for certified copies of recent marriages, contact the Recording Department directly. Physical records and microfilm collections held by the Washington State Archives Central Region Branch in Ellensburg may also be relevant for research. That branch can be reached at (509) 963-2136. Staff there can help identify which records are held at the state level versus the county level.
Grant County Marriage Records History
Grant County was created in 1909 from Douglas County and named after President Ulysses S. Grant. The county's marriage records begin in 1909, the same year the county was established. Early records were handwritten registers and returned license forms. Modern records take the form of certified paper certificates and, more recently, electronic transfers to the state archives.
Before Washington's Marriage Equality Act took effect on December 6, 2012, marriage certificates listed a Groom and a Bride. Records created on or after that date list Person A and Person B instead. This is relevant when searching older records versus newer ones, as the field names differ in digital indexes.
Marriage returns from 1909 to 1935 are one of the most valuable early sources for Grant County genealogical research. These returns were filed by officiants and include the names of both parties, the date, the location of the ceremony, and often the names of witnesses. They predate the modern certificate format and are worth checking for early 20th-century marriages in the region.
For records predating 1909, Douglas County, from which Grant County was formed, may hold relevant documents. The Washington State Archives Central Region Branch in Ellensburg holds many such materials for the region and can help identify what exists for this area before Grant County's formation.
Grant County Auditor Services
The Grant County Auditor oversees a wide range of recording services beyond marriage licenses. These include real estate documents, deeds, liens, plats, and surveys. The same office that issues marriage licenses also records completed marriage certificates when they are returned by officiants after a ceremony.
The Grant County Auditor main page covers all services offered by the office, including marriage licensing, recording, and voter services.
The Auditor's main page at grantcountywa.gov/268/Auditor lists all departments and contact information. If you are unsure whether to contact the Recording Department or another division, the main Auditor page is a good starting point. The office can direct you to the right staff for your specific request.
Cities in Grant County
Grant County spans a large area of central Washington. Marriage licenses for all communities in the county are handled through the Auditor's office in Ephrata.
Other communities in Grant County include Ephrata, Quincy, Royal City, Soap Lake, Warden, and George. All residents file marriage records through the Grant County Auditor in Ephrata.