Find Marriage Records in Snohomish County
Snohomish County marriage records are held and issued by the County Auditor's Recording Division in Everett. The office processes new marriage license applications, records completed certificates after ceremonies, and provides certified copies of past marriages. Snohomish County is one of the largest counties in Washington, covering Everett, Lynnwood, Marysville, Edmonds, and many other communities. Records go back to 1867, and the Washington State Digital Archives holds one of the largest Snohomish County marriage collections available free online.
Snohomish County Overview
Snohomish County Auditor - Recording Division
The Recording Division of the Snohomish County Auditor's office is the primary point of contact for marriage records in the county. This office issues marriage licenses, records returned certificates, and provides certified copies. It is located in the Drewel Building on the first floor at 3000 Rockefeller Avenue in Everett. The mailing address includes a mail stop code: M/S 204.
Staff at the Recording Division can search for marriage records by name or date range. For records prior to 1976, there is an hourly search fee of $8. This reflects the additional time needed to locate and review older paper records. For records from 1976 onward, the index is more readily accessible.
| Office | Snohomish County Auditor - Recording Division |
|---|---|
| Address | 3000 Rockefeller Ave (M/S 204) Everett, WA 98201 |
| Phone | (425) 388-3483 |
| Fax | (425) 388-3094 |
| Recording@snoco.org | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM (allow 30 minutes before closing) |
| Website | snohomishcountywa.gov/278/Recording |
The Snohomish County Health Department notes that marriage and divorce records are maintained by the Auditor's office and are subject to public records disclosure under RCW 42.56. The law requires the county to provide access to existing records but does not require creating new documents in response to a request.
Snohomish County Marriage License
Both parties must appear in person at the Auditor's office to apply for a marriage license. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID. The fee is $170. Washington State requires a three-day waiting period under RCW 26.04.180 before the license becomes valid. Once issued, the license is valid for 60 days. The ceremony must take place within that 60-day period and within Washington State.
After the ceremony, the officiant must complete their section on the certificate, ensure both parties and two witnesses have signed, and return the certificate to the Snohomish County Auditor within 30 days. Late filing or failure to return the certificate can result in legal penalties for the officiant. The filed certificate becomes the official county marriage record.
Washington State has allowed same-sex marriage since December 6, 2012, when the Marriage Equality Act took effect. Records issued before that date use the terms "Groom" and "Bride." Records from that date onward use "Person A" and "Person B." The Digital Archives collection notes these conventions in its record descriptions, which is helpful when searching historical Snohomish County marriage records.
Note: There is an additional fee for credit or debit card payments in some cases. Confirm accepted payment methods with the office before your visit.
Certified Copies of Snohomish County Marriage Records
Certified copies of Snohomish County marriage certificates cost $3 per copy. Unofficial copies are available for $1 each. Unofficial copies are useful for personal reference but are not accepted for legal purposes. If you need a certified copy for a name change, passport application, insurance update, or immigration matter, always request the certified version with the official seal.
For records before 1976, the office charges an hourly search fee of $8 in addition to the copy fee. This covers staff time to locate older records in non-digitized formats. Postage and handling for mail orders is $1 for up to 10 copies, with additional fees for larger orders.
Mail requests can be sent to the Recording Division at 3000 Rockefeller Ave (M/S 204), Everett, WA 98201. Include the names of both parties and the date of marriage, your contact information, and payment. Use the Snohomish County order certified copies page for detailed instructions and any updated fee information.
The Washington State Department of Health also holds statewide records from 1968 onward. DOH certified copies cost $25 each. The DOH can be a good option if you are not sure which county the marriage was recorded in, or if the Auditor's copy is unavailable for some reason.
Online Search for Snohomish County Marriage Records
The Snohomish County Auditor provides an online public records search at snoco.org/recordeddocuments. You must agree to terms and conditions before accessing the system. The search tool lets you look up recorded documents including marriage certificates. High-volume automated downloading or data mining is prohibited.
Images available on the website have not been certified as true and correct copies. The online system is useful for finding record details and confirming that a record exists. To get a certified copy, you need to contact the Recording Division directly, either in person or by mail.
The Snohomish County Recording Division page provides direct links to the online search system and gives contact information for the office. Use this page if you need to confirm current hours, search instructions, or fee schedules before starting your search.
Historical Snohomish County Marriage Records
Snohomish County has one of the most extensive marriage record collections in western Washington. The Washington State Digital Archives holds 396,425 Snohomish County marriage records at digitalarchives.wa.gov Snohomish County collection. The collection includes marriage certificates from 1867 to 1999 and 2004 to 2005, marriage licenses from 1877 to 1888, and marriage applications from 1976 to 1999 and 2004 to 2005. That is a wide span of records available free to the public.
The bulk of scanned certificates in the collection come from 1873 to 1919 and 1968 to 1985. There are some gaps in the record: years 1948 to 1950, 1953 to 1956, 1960 to 1964, and 1993 are missing or incomplete. If you are searching for a record from one of those years, you may need to contact the Auditor's office directly, as they may hold physical records not yet digitized.
The Digital Archives system is searchable by last name, first name, middle name, and marriage year range. A Soundex option helps find records where names were spelled differently or phonetically. The platform notes that records before December 6, 2012 use "Groom and Bride" terminology, while records after that date use "Person A and Person B" in accordance with Washington's Marriage Equality Act.
For genealogy research, Snohomish County's archive depth is a real asset. Records going back to 1867 mean you can trace family marriages from the county's earliest settlement period. If the Digital Archives does not have the record you need, contact the Auditor's Recording Division by email at Recording@snoco.org or call (425) 388-3483.
Snohomish County Marriage Record Resources
The Snohomish County Auditor official records search allows public access to the county's indexed document database including marriage certificates.
This system requires acceptance of terms and conditions and prohibits bulk downloading, but allows individual document searches by name or date.
The Washington State Digital Archives Snohomish County collection holds 396,425 marriage records covering 1867 to 1999 and 2004 to 2005.
Search free by name and year range with Soundex support for older records where spellings may vary.
The Snohomish County Auditor's Recording Division page provides contact details, office hours, and links to the online document search system.
Use this page as your starting point for all recording and marriage records services offered by the Snohomish County Auditor.
The Snohomish County order certified copies page details fees, search charges for pre-1976 records, and mail order instructions.
Certified copies cost $3 each, with an $8 per hour search fee for records from before 1976. Mail orders include postage and handling fees.
Cities in Snohomish County
Snohomish County covers a large area with many incorporated cities and towns. All marriage records are filed through the County Auditor in Everett, regardless of which city the couple lives in.
Other communities in Snohomish County include Monroe, Mukilteo, Stanwood, Arlington, and many more. All residents use the Auditor's office in Everett for marriage licensing and records.