Access Stevens County Marriage Records

Stevens County marriage records go back to 1861 and are maintained by the County Auditor in Colville, with two separate Digital Archives collections covering certificates, affidavits, and license applications spanning over 28,000 records. The county has a long history of record-keeping that includes contributions from church records, newspapers, and genealogical volunteers who have helped index materials not found in the official county register.

Stevens County Auditor's Office

The Stevens County Auditor in Colville is the primary office for marriage licensing and record-keeping in the county. The office is at 215 S Oak Street, Room 106, in Colville. For questions about marriage records or copies, call (866) 513-2741. The County Auditor has marriage records going back to 1861, though many older records have been transferred to the Washington State Archives Eastern Region Branch in Cheney for preservation.

For divorce records, probate records, and civil court filings, contact the Stevens County Clerk separately at (509) 684-7575. The Clerk's office is also at 215 S Oak in Colville. Marriage records and court records are maintained by different offices even though they share the same building.

The Stevens County Courthouse in Colville houses both the Auditor's office and the Clerk's office, each holding different types of records for the county.

Marriage License Requirements

To get a marriage license in Stevens County, both applicants must appear at the Auditor's office with valid government-issued photo ID. Both must be at least 18 years old. No blood test is required. Washington State law at RCW 26.04.180 requires a three-day waiting period after the license is issued. This period cannot be waived or shortened.

The license is valid for 60 days from the date of issue. The ceremony must take place within Washington State during that window. Under RCW 26.04.140, a valid license must be in hand before any marriage ceremony takes place. Two witnesses must be present at the ceremony and sign the completed certificate.

Authorized officiants under RCW 26.04.050 include judges, retired judges, court commissioners, and ordained ministers. Contact the Stevens County Courthouse for information about local judges who perform civil ceremonies.

After the ceremony, the officiant must return the signed certificate to the Stevens County Auditor within 30 days. Failure to do so is a misdemeanor and may result in a fine up to $300. The certificate, once received and indexed, becomes the official county marriage record. Certified copies can be obtained from the Auditor's office. Call (866) 513-2741 for current fees and copy request procedures.

All marriage license applications are public under RCW 26.04.170. Application information may appear in a local newspaper. Washington's Address Confidentiality Program can protect your residential address if you are enrolled. Notify the Auditor at the time of application.

Digital Archives: Certificates and Historical Records

The Washington State Digital Archives holds two separate Stevens County collections. The first covers 24,431 records including marriage certificates from 1945 to 2008 plus names gathered from Catholic Church records, newspapers, and other sources spanning 1859 to 1947. This collection was indexed by Eastern Region Branch staff and volunteers from the Northeast Washington Genealogical Society (NeWGS).

This Digital Archives collection for Stevens County includes records from as far back as 1859, with contributions from church records and newspaper notices indexed by regional genealogical volunteers.

The involvement of NeWGS volunteers is notable. The Northeast Washington Genealogical Society has accessed probate microfilms and other county sources to supplement the official record. If you are doing serious genealogical research on a Stevens County family, the NeWGS may have indexed records that are not in the standard Digital Archives collection. Their resources can be especially useful for the 1859 to 1944 period.

Digital Archives: Marriage Affidavits and Index

The second Stevens County collection at the Digital Archives holds 3,624 records. These are marriage affidavits and license applications from 1907 to 1939, along with a Marriage Index covering 1940 to 1947.

This second Stevens County Digital Archives collection covers marriage affidavits and license applications from 1907 to 1939 and a marriage index for 1940 to 1947, filling in gaps not covered by the primary certificate collection.

Both Digital Archives collections are free to search at digitalarchives.wa.gov. You can search by name and apply date range filters. For best results, try both the standard name search and the Soundex phonetic option, since early name spellings varied. For records after 2008 that are not yet in the Digital Archives, contact the Auditor's office directly.

Washington's Marriage Equality Act became law on December 6, 2012. Marriage records before that date show a Groom and a Bride. Records from that date onward use Person A and Person B. This distinction applies to both the county index and the Digital Archives records when searching across the 2012 boundary.

State Archives and Related Resources

Many Stevens County records have been transferred to the Washington State Archives Eastern Region Branch for long-term preservation. The Auditor's office in Colville can still provide certified copies of these records, but the physical documents may be held at the state level in Cheney. If you contact the Auditor and the record is not found at the county office, ask about the Archives transfer.

The Washington State Department of Health maintains statewide marriage records from 1968 to present. Certified copies can be ordered through DOH VitalChek for $25 per copy. This is a useful option if you need a certified copy quickly and the specific Stevens County record is not readily available at the county level.

For pre-1861 records or records from the territorial period, the Washington State Archives holds the earliest surviving documents for the region. Research into very early marriages in this part of Washington may require consultation with both the Eastern Region Branch and territorial-era records at the state level in Olympia.

Cities in Stevens County

Stevens County is a largely rural county in northeastern Washington. All marriage licenses and records for the county are handled through the Auditor's office in Colville.

Communities in Stevens County include Colville, Chewelah, Kettle Falls, Marcus, Northport, and Republic (which is in Ferry County). None of the Stevens County communities currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated city records page. All residents apply for licenses at the Stevens County Auditor in Colville.

Nearby Counties