Search Pierce County Marriage Records

Pierce County marriage records are issued and maintained by the Pierce County Auditor in Tacoma, one of the busiest marriage licensing offices in Washington State, serving a population of nearly 950,000 people. The county's Digital Archives collection at Washington State Digital Archives holds nearly half a million records going back to 1889, and recent records can be requested through the Auditor's office, which strongly recommends scheduling appointments for marriage licensing.

Pierce County Auditor's Office

The Pierce County Auditor handles marriage licensing for the county. The office is at 2401 S. 35th St., Room 200, Tacoma. This is a high-volume office. Appointments are strongly recommended for marriage licensing to avoid long waits. Walk-ins are accepted but may face delays. Call or check the county website before visiting.

Certified copies of marriage certificates cost $3 each. For questions about licensing, call (253) 798-7435. For recording and copy requests, call (253) 798-7440. The general Auditor line is (253) 798-7427. You can also reach the office by email at Auditor@PierceCountyWa.gov.

The Pierce County Marriage Licensing page has current information on fees, requirements, and the appointment scheduling process. Check this page before visiting.

This page covers the application process, what to bring, the 3-day waiting period, and how Pierce County handles the return of completed certificates.

Marriage License Requirements in Pierce County

Both parties must appear in person together at the Pierce County Auditor's office with valid government-issued photo ID. Alternatively, couples can complete the application online, then both parties must still come to the office together in person to finalize it. The online form just saves time at the counter; it does not replace the required in-person visit.

A mail option is also available. Couples can complete the application online, print it, and have both parties sign in front of a Notary Public. The notarized application, along with payment by check or money order, is then mailed to the office at 2401 S. 35th St., Room 200, Tacoma, WA 98409.

Washington State law at RCW 26.04.180 requires a mandatory three-day waiting period. This cannot be waived. The license is valid for 60 days from the date of issue and is only valid for ceremonies within Washington State. Both applicants must be 18 or older. No blood test is required.

After the ceremony, the completed certificate must be returned to the Pierce County Auditor at the same address, Attn: Marriage License. The officiant is responsible for ensuring the certificate is returned within 30 days. Failure to return the certificate is a misdemeanor under Washington law. Certified copies cost $3 each and can be requested from the Recording Division.

All marriage license applications are public record under RCW 26.04.170. Application information may be published in a local newspaper. Participants enrolled in Washington's Address Confidentiality Program should notify the Auditor's office at the time of application.

Recorded Documents and Copy Requests

Pierce County's recording system gives the public access to recorded documents including marriage certificates. The county maintains an index searchable by name, document type, and date range. The Recording Division manages all recorded real estate, marriage, and other official documents.

The Pierce County Recorded Documents page provides access to the county's document index and outlines how to request certified copies of marriage certificates and other recorded records.

For copy requests, contact the Recording Division at (253) 798-7440. Certified copies cost $3 per copy. Include the names of both parties and the date of the marriage in your request. You can also check the Pierce County Recorded Documents page for any online access options to the document index.

Historical Pierce County Marriage Records

The Washington State Digital Archives holds 491,002 Pierce County marriage records. This is one of the largest county collections in the state. The collection includes marriage certificates from 1889 to 1947 and 1984 to present, marriage applications from 1999 to 2014, and community property agreements from 1999 to the present. Pierce County was organized in 1852 and named after President Franklin Pierce, so records span a long period of county history.

The Digital Archives are free to search at digitalarchives.wa.gov. You can search by name with date range filters. Soundex phonetic searching may be available for some date ranges. For marriages from 1948 to 1983, records may not be fully digitized. In that case, contact the Pierce County Auditor directly for certified copies.

The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department also maintains local vital records. Their Vital Records office is located at 3629 South D Street, Tacoma, WA 98418, and can be reached at (253) 798-6413. This office may hold birth and death records for Tacoma and Pierce County separately from the statewide DOH database.

The Washington State Department of Health maintains statewide marriage records from 1968 to present. Certified copies can be ordered through the DOH VitalChek service for $25 per copy. This is another option if the county-level copy is unavailable.

Pierce County Courts and Related Records

Pierce County Courts provide a guide to marriage and divorce records in the county. Divorce records are separate from marriage records and are filed with the Pierce County Clerk rather than the Auditor. The Pierce County Courts marriage and divorce records guide explains which office holds each type of record and how to access them.

If you need both a marriage certificate and a divorce decree for the same individuals, you must contact both the Pierce County Auditor (for the marriage record) and the Pierce County Clerk (for the divorce record). These are separate systems with different fees and processes. The Clerk's office is at the Pierce County Courthouse in Tacoma.

The Pierce County Auditor main page covers all Auditor services, including marriage licensing, recording, elections, and licensing. It is the main hub for contact information and department links.

Authorized officiants under RCW 26.04.050 include judges, retired judges, court commissioners, and ordained ministers. Pierce County has several courts with judges who can perform ceremonies. Two witnesses must be present at the ceremony and sign the marriage certificate. Their full names will appear on the official record.

Cities in Pierce County

Pierce County is one of the most populous counties in Washington. Several major cities have dedicated pages for marriage record information.

All communities in Pierce County apply for marriage licenses through the Auditor's office at 2401 S. 35th St., Room 200, Tacoma.

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