Search King County Marriage Records

King County marriage records are maintained by the King County Recorder's Office in Seattle. The county has kept marriage records since 1855, and more than 1.6 million records are now searchable through the Washington State Digital Archives. Whether you need to look up a historical marriage, verify marital status, get a certified copy of a certificate, or apply for a new marriage license, this page covers how the King County system works, where to search, and what it costs.

King County Recorder's Office

The King County Recorder's Office manages marriage license applications, recording of official documents, and records requests. It is the primary office for marriage records in the county. The Recorder maintains records going back to 1855 and processes certified copy requests, single status searches, and in-person document lookups.

King County is the most populous county in Washington, covering Seattle, Bellevue, Kent, Renton, Federal Way, Auburn, Kirkland, Redmond, Sammamish, Shoreline, and many other communities. All marriage licenses for residents anywhere in the county are issued through this office.

Single status searches are available through the Recorder's Office. You submit a Single Status Search Request Form and pay a fee based on the number of years searched. Searches cover 1 to 5 years for $8, 5 to 10 years for $16, 10 to 15 years for $24, and 15 to 20 years for $32. A valid photo ID is required. This type of search is often used to confirm whether a person has a marriage on file with the county.

Marriage License Requirements in King County

Both applicants must apply in person at the Recorder's Office. Each person needs a valid government-issued photo ID. Washington State does not require blood tests, birth certificates, or medical records to apply for a marriage license. Both applicants must be 18 years of age or older.

Under RCW 26.04.180, every Washington marriage license has a mandatory three-day waiting period from the date of issue. This waiting period applies everywhere in the state and cannot be reduced or waived for any reason. Once the waiting period is satisfied, the license is valid for 60 days. The license is only valid for a ceremony held within Washington State. If the license expires before you use it, you must apply again and pay the full fee.

After the ceremony, the officiant is required to return the completed marriage return certificate to the Recorder's Office within 30 days. That return creates the official recorded marriage document. Washington requires that officiants be active or retired judges, regularly licensed or ordained ministers, or others authorized under RCW 26.04.050. Ministers from any state may perform ceremonies in Washington.

All marriage records are public records in King County. The only exception is for participants enrolled in Washington's Address Confidentiality Program, who may have address information protected. Once a license is recorded, it cannot be removed from the public record.

Certified Copies and Records Requests

Certified copies of King County marriage certificates are available from the Recorder's Office. You can request them in person at King Street Center or by mail. Bring or provide the names of both parties and the approximate year of the marriage. A valid photo ID is required for in-person requests.

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. Their online vital records portal processes orders in 3 to 7 business days. Mail requests take approximately 6 to 8 weeks. You will need the full names of both spouses and the county where the license was obtained. For marriages within the last five months, contact the county Recorder directly rather than the DOH.

Certified copies are used for legal name changes, passport applications, court proceedings, insurance claims, and other matters that require formal proof of marriage. The Recorder can issue multiple certified copies in a single visit or request.

King County Historical Marriage Records

The Washington State Digital Archives holds over 1.6 million King County marriage records, making it the largest county marriage collection in the state by a wide margin. The collection covers marriage applications, returns, and certificates from 1855 through 2017. Records from 1855 to 1990 were digitized from holdings at the Washington State Archives Puget Sound Regional Branch and King County Archives. Electronic copies from 1991 to the present are transferred directly from the King County Recorder.

The document types in the collection include marriage applications, marriage license certificates, voided marriage documents, and marriage returns. You can search by groom or person A name, bride or person B name, or year range. Soundex search is available to handle variant spellings. Records filed before December 6, 2012 use the terms Groom and Bride. Records from after that date use Person A and Person B, reflecting Washington's Marriage Equality Act signed in 2012.

For questions about the archives or older original documents, contact the Washington State Archives Puget Sound Regional Branch at (425) 564-3940 or psbrancharchives@sos.wa.gov. The Washington State Library also references King County marriage license registers from 1880 to 1894 and the broader King County marriage records collection from 1855 to 2017. Marriage records on microfilm and microfiche are also held at the King County Recorder's location at 500 Fourth Ave, Room 311, Seattle.

The Digital Archives collection page for King County shows the 1,610,882 available records, coverage from 1855 to 2017, all searchable document types, and instructions for using Soundex to expand your results.

Searching King County Marriage Records Online

The Washington State Digital Archives at digitalarchives.wa.gov is the best free tool for historical marriage record searches in King County. No account is needed. The database covers over 160 years of records and links to scanned images of original documents where available. It is updated as the Recorder transfers new records on a periodic basis.

For name-based lookups and single status verification, the Recorder's Office at King Street Center handles in-person requests during business hours. The Single Status Search Request Form lets you search for recorded marriages by name and year range. Fees are based on the number of years searched, starting at $8 for a 1-to-5-year search.

King County Superior Court at its courthouse location at 516 Third Avenue, Seattle, also holds family law case records including dissolution filings that may contain marriage-related information. The County Clerk's office there can be reached at (206) 296-9300 for questions about court records as opposed to license and certificate records.

Note: Very recent marriages may not yet appear in the Digital Archives. If you need a record for a marriage that happened within the last few months, contact the King County Recorder directly at (206) 296-1655.

Cities in King County

King County covers a large number of cities and communities across the greater Seattle area. All marriage licenses in the county are issued through the King County Recorder's Office in Seattle.

Nearby Counties