Spokane County Marriage Records
Spokane County marriage records are maintained by the County Auditor at the Spokane County Courthouse, where couples apply for licenses and where completed certificates are filed. Spokane is the second largest county in eastern Washington and has records going back to 1880, including one of the most up-to-date Digital Archives collections in the state. Whether you need a certified copy of a marriage certificate, want to search historical records, or plan to get married in Spokane County, this page explains the process and available resources.
Spokane County Overview
Spokane County Auditor's Office
The Spokane County Auditor serves as the official custodian of records under RCW 65 and RCW 36. This includes marriage licenses and certificates as well as real estate documents, liens, military discharge records, maps, and surveys. The Recording Department also issues County Business Licenses and Process Server Licenses. Public access computers are available in the office if you want to search the index on-site.
The office verifies proper fees, document titles, indexing information, legibility, and correct formatting for all recorded documents. An online index of recorded documents is available, and maps, plats, and surveys can be viewed online. Some other document types, including deeds of trust, are not publicly viewable online due to the presence of personal identifiers.
| Office | Spokane County Auditor - Recording Department |
|---|---|
| Address | Spokane County Courthouse 1116 W Broadway Ave Spokane, WA 99260 |
| Phone | (509) 477-2270 |
| auditor@spokanecounty.org | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM (excluding county holidays) |
| Website | spokanecounty.gov/299/Recording |
Note: The office closes for county holidays. Check the county website before visiting to confirm the office is open on the day you plan to go.
Spokane County Marriage License Process
Both parties must appear in person at the Auditor's office to apply. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID. The minimum legal age is 18. No witnesses or blood tests are required at the time of application. Under state law at RCW 26.04.180, the three-day waiting period cannot be waived. The ceremony must occur between 3 and 63 days after the application date. A ceremony outside that window is not valid under the license.
Washington allows marriage to be performed by a judge, retired judge, or ordained minister or religious official. Spokane County Superior Court judges can be reached at (509) 477-4707. District Court judges can be scheduled via an online form. Municipal Court judges are reachable at (509) 622-5867. Airway Heights Municipal Court can be reached at (509) 862-8088.
After the ceremony, the officiant must complete their information on the certificate and make sure both spouses and two witnesses sign it. The certificate must be returned to the Auditor's office within 30 days. Failure to return it can result in a misdemeanor charge and a fine of up to $300. Once the certificate is received and recorded, it becomes the official county marriage record.
Certified copies of Spokane County marriage certificates cost $3 each. Contact the office at auditor@spokanecounty.org or (509) 477-2270 for copy requests or further information about the process.
Search Spokane County Marriage Records
The Spokane County Auditor maintains an online index of recorded documents. You can search by name, document type, or date range through the Recording Department page. The index covers a wide date range. Public access computers are also available in the office at the Courthouse if you prefer to search on-site.
For broader searches or historical research, the Washington State Digital Archives holds a continuously updated collection of Spokane County marriage records at digitalarchives.wa.gov Spokane County collection. The archive holds marriage applications, licenses, returns, and certificates from 1880 to the present, with monthly updates from the Spokane County Auditor. Records from 1880 to 1974 and marriage returns from 1891 to 1907 were digitized by the Washington State Archives Eastern Region Branch. Electronic copies of applications and certificates from 1974 onward are transferred directly from the Auditor monthly.
You can search the Digital Archives collection by Groom/Person A name and Bride/Person B name, with a marriage year range filter. The collection currently shows 298,988 records and grows each month as new data is transferred. This is one of the most current Digital Archives collections in the state.
What Spokane County Marriage Records Contain
A Spokane County marriage record typically includes the full names of both parties, the date and place of the marriage, the name of the officiant, and the names of the witnesses. Marriage applications include additional identifying information such as date of birth, prior marital status, and place of residence at the time of application.
For historical records, marriage returns from 1891 to 1907 provide a snapshot of early marriages in the county. These are simple registers listing names and dates. Certificates from the 1880s onward provide more detail. The Digital Archives collection notes that different document types are included, among them community property agreements, marriage affidavits, marriage applications, marriage certificates, and marriage returns.
Most Spokane County marriage records are public and accessible to anyone. You do not need to be related to the parties to request a copy or search the index. If you need a certified copy for legal use, contact the Auditor's Recording Department at (509) 477-2270 or by email at auditor@spokanecounty.org. The fee is $3 per certified copy.
Detailed information about the marriage license application and record process is also available on the Spokane County Marriage Information page. This page covers officiant requirements, signing obligations, and the process for returning the completed certificate to the county.
Spokane County Marriage Records Online
The Spokane County Auditor Marriage License page outlines the license application process, waiting period rules, and certified copy fees for Spokane County.
This page covers the 3-day waiting period, the 3 to 63 day ceremony window, legal age requirements, and the $3 certified copy fee.
The Spokane County Recording Department page provides the main access point for the online document index and recording services.
From this page you can access the online index, find contact information for the Recording Department, and learn about the document filing process.
The Spokane County Marriage Information page covers officiant types, signing requirements, certificate return procedures, and contact numbers for county judges.
If you are an officiant or planning the ceremony logistics, this page explains your legal obligations under Washington State law.
Cities in Spokane County
Spokane County covers a large part of eastern Washington. All marriage licenses are issued through the County Auditor at the Spokane County Courthouse.
Other communities in Spokane County include Cheney, Medical Lake, Airway Heights, Liberty Lake, and Deer Park. All residents of the county file marriage records through the Auditor in Spokane.