Find Marriage Records in Klickitat County
Klickitat County marriage records are maintained by the County Auditor's Recording Department in Goldendale, and the county offers both in-person and mail-in application options for couples who cannot both appear together. The Digital Archives collection spans records from 1867 to the present, making it one of the longer-running county-level collections available for free online research in Washington State.
Klickitat County Overview
Klickitat County Auditor's Office
The Klickitat County Auditor handles all marriage licensing and certificate recording for the county. Heather Jobe serves as the County Auditor. The Recording Department is located on the second floor of the Klickitat County Courthouse in Goldendale. Couples who want to apply in person should come to Room 203 at 205 S Columbus Avenue.
The license fee is $139. Klickitat County accepts cash, money orders, and cashier's checks. Personal checks are not listed as accepted payment, so confirm payment options when you contact the office. One certified copy of the marriage certificate is included in the application fee. Additional certified copies cost $3.00 each.
| Office | Klickitat County Auditor, Recording Department |
|---|---|
| Auditor | Heather Jobe |
| Address | 205 S Columbus Ave, Room 203 Goldendale, WA 98620 |
| Phone | (509) 773-4001 |
| Fax | (509) 773-4244 |
| recording@klickitatcounty.org | |
| Payment | Cash, money order, or cashier's check |
| Website | klickitatcounty.gov |
A drop box is available at the south entrance of the courthouse, near the accessibility ramp. This can be used to drop off mail-in application materials outside of regular business hours, but do not leave cash in the drop box. Use a money order or cashier's check for any mailed payments.
Klickitat County Marriage License Requirements
Washington State law requires a mandatory three-day waiting period before a marriage license becomes valid. This is set by RCW 26.04.180 and cannot be waived under any circumstances. Once issued, the license is valid for 60 days. The ceremony must take place within Washington State during that window.
Both applicants must be 18 or older. No blood test is required. No witnesses are needed for the application itself, but two witnesses must be present at the ceremony. Under RCW 26.04.140, a valid license must exist before any ceremony can legally occur.
Klickitat County offers a remote application process for situations where one or both parties cannot appear in person. The absent party completes the application form and has it notarized. The notarized application is then mailed to the Recording Department. Allow at least 15 calendar days for this process. Mail applications to: Klickitat County Auditor's Office, Attn: Recording/Marriages, 205 S Columbus Ave Room 203, Goldendale, WA 98620.
After the ceremony, the officiant must return the completed, signed certificate to the Auditor's office within 30 days. Under Washington State law, failure to return the certificate is a misdemeanor and may result in a fine up to $300. The returned certificate becomes the official county marriage record once it is recorded and indexed.
Authorized officiants under RCW 26.04.050 include judges, court commissioners, retired judges, and ordained ministers or religious officials. If you are planning a ceremony in Klickitat County and need a civil officiant, contact the county courthouse for local judge availability.
Searching Klickitat County Marriage Records
The Washington State Digital Archives holds 26,261 Klickitat County marriage records. This collection spans from 1867 to the present and is updated monthly with electronic transfers from the Auditor's office. The archive is free to search and does not require an account. Search by name using the Soundex phonetic option, which is helpful when you are unsure of exact spelling.
The Digital Archives Klickitat County collection runs from 1867 through the present day, with Soundex phonetic searching and monthly updates from the Auditor's office.
One important note for pre-1938 Klickitat County research: before 1938, the county used two separate document types for each marriage. There was a license issued before the ceremony and a "Return" document filed afterward by the officiant. If you are searching for a marriage from before 1938, you should request both the license and the Return to get the complete record. The Return often contains additional details such as the date, place, witnesses, and the name of the officiant. Contact the Recording Department at recording@klickitatcounty.org to request copies of both document types for early marriages.
For more recent marriages not yet indexed in the Digital Archives, the Klickitat County Auditor's office maintains the official record. You can request a certified copy by contacting the office directly. The first certified copy is included in the original license fee. Additional copies are $3 each.
Court Records and Related Documents
Marriage records and divorce records are kept by different offices in Klickitat County. The Auditor's Recording Department holds marriage licenses and certificates. Divorce records, probate records, and civil court filings are kept by the Klickitat County Clerk.
The Klickitat County Superior Court handles divorce cases, legal separations, and annulments. These records are separate from marriage records and are filed with the County Clerk rather than the Auditor. If you need both a marriage certificate and a divorce decree for the same individuals, you will need to contact both offices separately.
Washington State DOH maintains statewide vital records from 1968 to present. If the specific marriage certificate you need is not available through Klickitat County or the Digital Archives, you can order a certified copy through the Department of Health VitalChek service for $25 per copy. This is a useful option for marriages where the original county filing may not be easily accessible.
Public Record Status and Privacy
Marriage license applications in Washington are public records under RCW 26.04.170. This means the information on the application, including names and addresses, may be published in a local newspaper. In Klickitat County, as in other Washington counties, the newspaper publication practice varies.
If you are concerned about address disclosure, Washington's Address Confidentiality Program (ACP) allows certain individuals to use a substitute address on public records. ACP participants should notify the Auditor's office at the time of application so the substitute address is used in place of the residential address. Contact the ACP through the Washington State Attorney General's office for enrollment details.
No witnesses are required to be present at the time of the license application. However, two witnesses must be present at the ceremony itself and must sign the marriage certificate. Their names will appear on the official record. Witnesses must be 18 years of age or older.
Cities in Klickitat County
Klickitat County is a largely rural county in south-central Washington. All marriage licenses and records for the county are handled through the Auditor's office in Goldendale.
Communities in Klickitat County include Goldendale, White Salmon, Bingen, Lyle, Trout Lake, and Wishram. None of these cities currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page. All residents apply for marriage licenses at the Klickitat County Auditor in Goldendale.