Kitsap County Marriage Records

Kitsap County marriage records are kept by the County Auditor's Office in Port Orchard. The Auditor issues marriage licenses, records completed certificates, and handles certified copy requests. Kitsap County has kept marriage records since 1860, and over 153,000 of them are searchable for free through the Washington State Digital Archives. This page covers how to apply for a marriage license, the current fee, how to get certified copies, and where to search both recent and historical records for the county.

Kitsap County Auditor's Office

The Kitsap County Auditor's Office in Port Orchard handles marriage licensing and recording for all of Kitsap County. The office is the official repository for marriage applications and certificates filed in the county. You can start the marriage license application online, but both parties must complete the process in person at the Port Orchard office.

The Auditor's online search portal at psearch.kitsapgov.com provides free access to recent marriage records. You can search by document number, marriage date, or name. Basic or advanced search options are available. Viewing documents online is free; certified copies printed from the portal cost $5 for the first page and $1 for each additional page.

The Kitsap County Auditor's marriage license page covers the full application process, fee schedule, waiting period rules, and information on who may perform ceremonies in the county.

Applying for a Kitsap County Marriage License

Couples can begin the marriage license application online through the Kitsap County Auditor's website. However, both parties must still come into the Port Orchard office to finalize the application. Both must sign the application in front of a deputy auditor. Alternatively, if applying by mail, both must sign in front of a notary public before submitting.

The current marriage license fee in Kitsap County is $172. This fee is collected when the completed application is received. Payment can be made by cash, check, money order, or by card (card payments may carry an additional processing fee). Important: beginning July 27, 2025, the fee increases by $100. If you plan to apply before or after that date, confirm the current fee with the Auditor's office before your visit.

Under RCW 26.04.180, there is a mandatory three-day waiting period from the date the license is issued. This wait cannot be shortened for any reason. Once it passes, the license is valid for 60 days from the end of the waiting period. The license is only valid for a ceremony in Washington State. If you let it expire, you must apply again and pay again.

Ceremonies may be performed by active or retired judges and ordained ministers, consistent with RCW 26.04.050. Ministers from any state may perform ceremonies in Washington. At least two witnesses must be present at the ceremony. For a judge to perform the ceremony, call Kitsap County District Court at (360) 337-7033. Previous marriages or domestic partnerships must have been legally dissolved before a new license can be issued in Kitsap County.

All Kitsap County marriage records are public unless the applicant is enrolled in Washington's Address Confidentiality Program. Once recorded, a marriage application cannot be removed from the public record.

Note: No blood tests, witnesses at the time of application, birth certificates, or divorce decrees are required to apply for a Kitsap County marriage license, though prior dissolutions must be valid under the laws of the state where they occurred.

Certified Copies of Marriage Certificates

Certified copies of Kitsap County marriage certificates cost $10 each and are available from the Auditor's Office at 619 Division Street in Port Orchard. You can request them in person or by mail. Mail requests should include the names of both parties, the year of the marriage, your return address, and a check or money order for the correct amount.

You can also request certified copies through the online document search at psearch.kitsapgov.com. Viewing is free; certified copies ordered through the portal cost $5 for the first page and $1 for each additional page. Basic or advanced search options let you look up records by document number, date, or name.

For marriages that took place on or after January 1, 1968, certified copies are also available through the Washington State Department of Health. The DOH fee is $25 per copy. Orders placed through the DOH vital records portal process in 3 to 7 business days. Mail requests take 6 to 8 weeks. For marriages within the last 5 months, the DOH recommends contacting the county Auditor directly.

Historical Kitsap County Marriage Records

The Washington State Digital Archives holds 153,158 Kitsap County marriage records. The collection covers marriage returns from 1900 to 1910 and marriage certificates from 1860 to 2014. Records before January 1, 1968 that are not online can be accessed at the Washington State Archives Puget Sound Regional Branch or through the county Auditor's office in Port Orchard.

The document types in the Digital Archives collection include marriage applications, marriage certificates, amended marriages, antenuptial and prenuptial agreements, community property agreements, marriage license duplicates, and revocations of community property agreements. Search fields include groom or person A name, bride or person B name, and year range. Soundex search is available. Records before December 6, 2012 use Groom and Bride; records after that date use Person A and Person B.

The county Auditor has held birth records from 1891 to 1907, death records from 1892 to 1907, and marriage records from 1892. The County Clerk holds divorce and court records from 1888. For questions about older holdings or records not yet digitized, contact the Washington State Archives Puget Sound Regional Branch at (425) 564-3940 or psbrancharchives@sos.wa.gov.

The Digital Archives collection page for Kitsap County lists all 153,158 records, coverage dates from 1860 to 2014, all available document types, and search options including Soundex.

How to Search Kitsap County Marriage Records

Kitsap County offers two main online tools for searching marriage records. The county's own search portal at psearch.kitsapgov.com covers recent records and is updated frequently. You can search by name, date, or document number. Viewing documents online is free. The Washington State Digital Archives covers records from 1860 to 2014 and is also free to search. Use the Digital Archives for genealogy research or any records more than a few years old.

For records not accessible online, you can visit the Auditor's office in person or submit a mail request. Staff can search by name or date during business hours. The office at 619 Division Street in Port Orchard handles all in-person requests. Bring a valid photo ID and be ready to state the names of both parties and the approximate year of the marriage.

Note: The county Auditor maintains records filed within the most recent period. Records before January 1, 1968 that are not in the Digital Archives may be available at the Washington State Archives or through the Auditor's office directly.

Cities in Kitsap County

Kitsap County includes Bremerton, Bainbridge Island, Port Orchard, Silverdale, and other communities on the Kitsap Peninsula. All marriage licenses in the county are issued through the Auditor's office in Port Orchard.

Nearby Counties