San Juan County Marriage Records
San Juan County marriage records date back to 1878 and are maintained by the County Auditor in Friday Harbor on San Juan Island, with flexible application options that include online submission, phone, email, or mail requests for couples who need to apply before they arrive at the islands. The county offers one of the more accessible licensing processes in Washington, though the in-person visit is still required at some point before the three-day waiting period begins.
San Juan County Overview
San Juan County Auditor's Office
The San Juan County Auditor handles marriage licensing and record-keeping for all the San Juan Islands. The office is at the San Juan County Courthouse in Friday Harbor on San Juan Island. The Auditor holds marriage records from 1878 onward. Divorce, probate, and court records are held separately by the County Clerk.
The license fee is $162 and includes one certified copy of the marriage certificate. Additional certified copies cost $3 each. Uncertified copies are available for $1 each. The office accepts credit cards, cash, and checks. Hours are Monday through Friday, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
| Office | San Juan County Auditor |
|---|---|
| Address | San Juan County Courthouse 350 Court Street Friday Harbor, WA 98250 |
| Mailing | PO Box 638, Friday Harbor, WA 98250 |
| Phone | (360) 378-2161 |
| auditor@sanjuancountywa.gov | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM |
| Payment | Credit card, cash, or check |
| Website | sanjuancountywa.gov/165/Auditor |
The San Juan County Auditor page covers all recording services, including marriage licensing, certified copy requests, and general Auditor functions for the San Juan Islands.
Marriage License Process
San Juan County accepts applications by several methods. You can apply online, by phone at (360) 378-2161, by email at auditor@sanjuancountywa.gov, or by mail with notarization for any absent party. This flexibility is especially useful given the island location of the county seat, which requires ferry travel for residents on other islands.
Both applicants must be at least 18 years old and present valid picture identification. No blood test is needed. No witnesses are required at the application stage, though two witnesses must attend the ceremony. There is no residency requirement. Couples from anywhere can get a San Juan County marriage license as long as the ceremony takes place within Washington State.
Washington law at RCW 26.04.180 mandates a three-day waiting period that begins after the license is issued. This waiting period cannot be waived. The license is valid for 60 days from the date it is issued.
The San Juan County Marriage Licenses page covers application options, fees, waiting period rules, and what applicants need to bring or submit for a valid license.
Same-sex marriage has been legal in Washington since December 6, 2012. San Juan County marriage records before that date list a Groom and Bride. Records from December 6, 2012 onward list Person A and Person B. This distinction can matter when searching historical indexes, since the field names in digital search tools differ between pre- and post-2012 records.
All applications are public records under RCW 26.04.170 and may be published in a local newspaper. If you are enrolled in Washington's Address Confidentiality Program, let the Auditor's office know at the time of application so your address is protected from disclosure.
Ceremony and Certificate Return
Authorized officiants under RCW 26.04.050 include judges, retired judges, court commissioners, and ordained ministers or religious officials. The San Juan Islands are a popular location for destination weddings, so a wide variety of officiants are available. Make sure the officiant you choose is legally authorized under Washington State law before the ceremony.
Two witnesses must be present at the ceremony and must sign the marriage certificate. After the ceremony, the officiant is responsible for completing their section of the certificate and returning the signed document to the San Juan County Auditor within 30 days. Failing to return the certificate is a misdemeanor under Washington law and can result in a fine up to $300.
Once the certificate is returned and recorded, it becomes the official San Juan County marriage record. Certified copies are $3 each after the initial copy included in the license fee. Contact the office at (360) 378-2161 or auditor@sanjuancountywa.gov to request additional copies.
Historical Records and Research
The Washington State Digital Archives holds 1,853 San Juan County marriage records. The collection covers certificates from 1874 to 1914 and returns from 1923 to 1939. These are the earliest surviving marriage records from the county. The county was established in 1873, and the Auditor has marriage records from 1878 onward, making San Juan one of the older county-level records collections in the state.
The Digital Archives San Juan County collection includes certificates from 1874 to 1914 and marriage returns from 1923 to 1939. These records can be searched free of charge at digitalarchives.wa.gov.
The Washington State Archives Northwest Regional Branch in Bellingham maintains physical and microfilm records for the region. That branch can be reached at (360) 650-3125. Staff can help identify which records from San Juan County are held at the state level versus what remains with the county office in Friday Harbor.
For records not yet in the Digital Archives, or for certified copies of more recent marriages, contact the San Juan County Auditor directly. The Auditor holds the official record for all marriages in the county from 1878 to the present. For statewide records from 1968 to present, the Washington State Department of Health provides certified copies through DOH VitalChek for $25 per copy.
Before December 2012, San Juan County marriage records name a Groom and a Bride. After that date, records use Person A and Person B as a result of Washington's Marriage Equality Act. If you are researching a specific person, check both field types when running searches in any index system that spans both periods.
Cities in San Juan County
San Juan County is an archipelago county in the northwest corner of Washington. All marriage licenses and records for the county are handled through the Auditor in Friday Harbor.
Communities in San Juan County include Friday Harbor, Eastsound (on Orcas Island), Lopez Village (on Lopez Island), and Roche Harbor. None of these communities meet the population threshold for a dedicated city records page. All island residents apply for licenses at the San Juan County Auditor in Friday Harbor.