Find Marriage Records in Island County

Island County marriage records are maintained by the County Auditor in Coupeville. Whether you need to apply for a new marriage license or request a certified copy of an existing certificate, the Auditor's office handles both. The county has marriage records dating back to 1855, and more than 30,000 of them are searchable for free through the Washington State Digital Archives. This page explains the license application process, fees, how to get copies, and where to find historical records going back to Island County's earliest years.

Island County Auditor Office

The Island County Auditor manages marriage licensing, recording of official documents, elections, voter registration, and vehicle and vessel licensing. The Marriage Licenses division can be reached directly at (360) 240-5540. For recording-related questions, call (360) 240-5549. The office is located at the courthouse in Coupeville.

You can find detailed information on Island County marriage licenses at the Auditor's dedicated license page: islandcountywa.gov/164/Marriage-Licenses. That page covers application requirements, fees, the three-day waiting period, and who may perform a wedding ceremony in Washington State.

The Island County Auditor's main page lists all office divisions, phone numbers for each service, and links to online resources for marriage licensing and recording.

Marriage License Requirements

Both parties must appear together at the Auditor's office to apply for a marriage license. The office accepts applications between 8 AM and 4 PM, Monday through Friday. All paperwork must be completed in black ink only. Each applicant signs an affidavit swearing that they are unmarried, that they are aware of their co-applicant's sexually transmitted disease status, and that they are at least 18 years of age. The affidavit must be signed in front of a deputy auditor or notary public.

The fee for an Island County marriage license is $160, collected once the application is properly completed. Payment is accepted by cash, check, money order, or debit and credit card. Note that card payments carry a $2 surcharge. Under RCW 26.04.180, there is a mandatory three-day waiting period from the date the license is issued. This waiting period cannot be reduced or waived for any reason, including special circumstances or planned ceremony dates. Once the waiting period passes, the license is valid for 60 days and may only be used for a wedding in Washington State.

Who can perform a ceremony is defined under RCW 26.04.050. Justices of the Washington Supreme Court, Court of Appeals judges, Superior Court judges and commissioners, judges of courts of limited jurisdiction, and regularly licensed or ordained ministers or priests may all solemnize a marriage. To arrange a ceremony at the courthouse, call Island County Superior Court at (360) 679-7361. After the ceremony, the officiant has 30 days to return the completed paperwork to the Auditor's office.

Marriage license issuance is a public record in Washington. The Auditor's office cannot withhold that information. Once issued, a license cannot be "unrecorded." Of the $160 fee, $15 goes toward programs supporting displaced homemakers and abused children.

The Island County marriage license page outlines every requirement, the fee structure, acceptable payment methods, and information on who may perform ceremonies in the county.

Certified Copies of Marriage Certificates

Certified copies of Island County marriage certificates cost $3 per page. You can request them in person or by mail through the Auditor's office. Certified copies are the standard document needed when changing your name with the Social Security Administration, the Department of Licensing, or other agencies. A certified copy confirms that the marriage took place and carries the county seal.

For marriages that occurred on or after January 1, 1968, you can also order certified copies through the Washington State Department of Health. The DOH fee is $25 per copy. Online orders through the DOH vital records portal typically take 3 to 7 business days. Mail requests take around 6 to 8 weeks. You will need the full names of both spouses and the county where the license was obtained.

The Recording Department at the Auditor's office also handles certified copies of recorded documents. Their contact number is (360) 240-5549. For information on their fee schedule or veteran benefits for recording DD214 forms, visit islandcountywa.gov/415/Recording-Department.

The Island County Recording Department page covers recording hours, the fee schedule for certified copies, and the process for requesting documents from the official record.

Historical Island County Marriage Records

The Washington State Digital Archives holds 30,869 Island County marriage records. The collection covers marriage returns from 1930 to 1947 and marriage certificates from 1855 to 1994 and again from 2001 to the present. Records from 1855 to 1994 were transcribed and digitized by Northwest Regional Branch staff and volunteers. More recent records are transferred electronically from the Auditor's office on a periodic basis.

The search fields include groom or person A last name, first name, and middle name, and bride or person B in the same format, plus a year range. Soundex search is available for finding name variants. Records filed before December 6, 2012 use the terms Groom and Bride. Records from after that date reflect the Marriage Equality Act and use Person A and Person B instead.

For questions about the collection or older records not yet digitized, contact the Washington State Archives Northwest Regional Branch at (360) 650-3125 or nwbrancharchives@sos.wa.gov. The Washington State Library notes that Island County marriage records from 1855 to 1994 and from 2001 to 2023 are available.

The Digital Archives collection page for Island County shows all available document types, searchable fields, record coverage dates, and the total count of 30,869 marriage records in the free database.

Island County was formed in 1853, making its oldest records among the earliest in Washington. The county Auditor's office in Coupeville has served as the official repository for these records for well over a century. For genealogy research that extends beyond the Digital Archives collection, original documents may be held at the Auditor's office or at the Northwest Regional Branch of the Washington State Archives.

Searching Island County Marriage Records Online

The Washington State Digital Archives at digitalarchives.wa.gov is the primary free tool for searching Island County marriage records online. You can search by name, year range, or use Soundex for broader results. The database covers records back to 1855 for much of the collection, and new records are added as the Auditor transfers them periodically.

For very recent marriages, the county Auditor maintains its own records system. Staff can search by date or party name during office hours. If you need a certified copy of a recent license and it has not yet appeared in the Digital Archives, contact the Auditor's office directly at (360) 240-5540.

Note: The three-day waiting period under RCW 26.04.180 applies statewide and cannot be shortened. If you are planning a ceremony, factor in at least three full days between the day you pick up the license and the day of your wedding.

Cities in Island County

Island County includes Oak Harbor, Coupeville, Langley, Freeland, and other communities across Whidbey Island and Camano Island. All marriage licenses for the county are issued through the Auditor's office in Coupeville, regardless of where in the county you live. None of the cities in Island County currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site.

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