Seattle Marriage License
Seattle residents apply for a marriage license through the King County Records and Licensing Services office, not through Seattle City Hall or the Seattle City Clerk. As Washington's largest city and the county seat of King County, Seattle is home to the main licensing office where couples across the county come to apply. This page covers where to go, what to bring, how much it costs, how the waiting period works, and where to find Seattle marriage records after a wedding is complete.
Seattle Overview
Getting a Marriage License in Seattle
The office that issues marriage licenses in Seattle is the King County Records and Licensing Services department. The physical location is at 201 S Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98104. The mailing address is 500 4th Ave, Seattle, WA 98104. Call them at (206) 477-6620 or visit kingcounty.gov/en/dept/records-licensing. This is the correct office for any Seattle resident who needs a marriage license. The Seattle City Clerk at 600 4th Ave does not issue licenses. Neither does Seattle Municipal Court.
Both people getting married must appear at the office together. Washington law under RCW 26.04.160 requires both parties to apply in person. You cannot apply by mail or online only. One exception: if one person has already signed the application in front of a notary, the other can go in alone to finish it. For most couples, plan to go together. King County offers an online pre-application form through their website that can save time at the counter. It is worth filling out before your visit.
The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Because King County is the state's most populous county, it processes a large number of applications. Come early in the day if you can. Having all your documents ready before you walk in will make the visit faster.
| Office | King County Records and Licensing Services |
|---|---|
| Physical Address | 201 S Jackson St Seattle, WA 98104 |
| Mailing Address | 500 4th Ave, Seattle, WA 98104 |
| Phone | (206) 477-6620 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | kingcounty.gov/en/dept/records-licensing |
Seattle Marriage License Requirements
Washington sets the requirements for marriage licenses through RCW Chapter 26.04. Both applicants must be at least 18 years old. There is no residency requirement. Couples from out of state or from other countries can apply for a license in King County and hold their ceremony here. You do not have to live in Washington or in Seattle to get a license through this office.
Each person must bring a valid government-issued photo ID. A driver's license, state ID card, passport, or military ID all work. You must show your birth date on the ID. Social Security numbers are required for both people, though you do not need to bring the actual cards. If either person was married before, you will need to know the date that marriage ended and how it ended, whether by divorce, annulment, or death. Washington does not require a blood test or medical exam. No witnesses are needed at the application step.
The county also asks for your parents' full legal names, your mother's maiden name, and your parents' birthplaces for both applicants. This can catch some couples off guard, especially if they do not have all the information memorized. Take a few minutes before your visit to gather this data. The King County website has a list of everything you need. Using the online pre-application through the King County Records site lets you enter this ahead of time so your time at the counter is shorter.
Note: If you are unsure about your previous marriage end date, check your divorce decree or death certificate before you visit the office.
Fees and Waiting Period for Seattle Marriage Licenses
The fee for a King County marriage license is $169 as of July 2025. The fee went up from $69 when House Bill 1498 passed. The bill created the Domestic Violence Co-Responder Grant Program and added surcharges to marriage license fees across Washington. The King County office accepts cash, check, money order, and credit or debit cards. The fee is non-refundable once paid, even if the license is not used.
After you apply, Washington law under RCW 26.04.180 requires a three-day waiting period. The earliest your ceremony can take place is three days after the application date. This waiting period is mandatory and cannot be waived in King County. Plan your application date with that in mind. If you apply on a Monday, the first available ceremony date is Thursday. The license is valid for 60 days from the date it is issued, so you have a ceremony window that runs from day three to day 63.
Certified copies of a marriage certificate cost $3 each from the King County office. You will likely need at least two or three copies for name changes and other legal uses. The county's online portal allows you to order copies without coming back to the office. Confirm the current fee and processing time when you call.
The Seattle City Clerk's office handles domestic partnership registration under City Ordinance 117244, a program open to any two people regardless of where they live. This is separate from the marriage license process, which goes through King County.
Seattle Municipal Court Marriage Ceremonies
The Seattle Municipal Court at 600 5th Ave, Seattle, WA 98104 performs civil marriage ceremonies on weekdays. Judges at Seattle Municipal Court are empowered to officiate weddings under Washington law. Ceremonies take place Monday through Friday with a check-in time of 4:30 PM. The court does not issue marriage licenses. You must already have your King County license in hand before your court ceremony date. Call (206) 684-5600 for court contact information.
To schedule a ceremony at Seattle Municipal Court, submit a Marriage Ceremony Request online through the court's website. Requests can be submitted no earlier than eight weeks before your planned ceremony date. You will get an email confirmation within about one week. The court asks that you arrive ready to check in by 4:30 PM on the day of the ceremony. Photos are permitted in the courthouse 30 minutes before check-in time and during the ceremony itself, but not after it ends. The court also does not handle name changes. For name change matters, contact the King County Recorder's Office at (206) 477-6620.
Seattle Municipal Court judicial officers perform civil marriage ceremonies on weekday evenings. Couples must have a valid King County marriage license before their scheduled ceremony date.
Seattle Marriage License Records
After your ceremony, the officiant signs and returns the license to King County. The county records it, and it becomes the official marriage certificate on file. King County has maintained marriage records going back to 1853. The Recorder's Office is the right starting point for finding recent records. Call (206) 477-6620 or visit 500 4th Ave, Seattle, WA 98104. Certified copies cost $3 each and can be ordered in person or online through the county's records portal.
The Washington State Digital Archives holds King County marriage records dating back to 1853. This free online database is run by the Washington State Archives and is useful for genealogy research or locating older family records. If a record is not in the county's current system, check the digital archives first. The archive covers records from counties across the state and includes documents from long before electronic record keeping was standard.
Washington State also keeps marriage records at the state level. The Washington State Department of Health vital records office holds statewide records starting around 1968. Certified copies can be ordered directly from DOH. For third-party ordering, VitalChek connects to both state and county records and offers online ordering. The Washington State Association of County Auditors can also point you toward the right county office if you are not sure where to start.
A marriage record from King County will typically show full legal names for both parties, birth dates, birthplaces, home addresses at the time of application, parents' names and birthplaces, the ceremony date and location, the name of the officiant, and witness signatures. Social Security numbers collected during the application process are not public and are kept confidential.
Seattle Domestic Partnership Registration
The Seattle City Clerk runs a separate domestic partnership program under City Ordinance 117244. This is not related to the marriage license process and does not require King County involvement. Any two people who are at least 18, not married, not related by blood in a way that would bar marriage in Washington, and not already in another domestic partnership can register. The program is open to people regardless of where they live. You do not need to be a Seattle resident.
Registration costs $25. A replacement certificate costs $10. To register, both partners must complete the form, sign it in front of a notary, and submit it to the Seattle City Clerk along with the fee. You can apply in person, by mail to 600 4th Ave, Floor 3, Seattle, WA 98104, or by dropping it in the secure drop-box in the lobby of City Hall near the 5th Avenue entrance. Email registration is also available by sending the notarized form to leg_domesticpartnership@seattle.gov and paying the $25 fee online after receiving an invoice. In-person processing takes about 15 minutes. Mail takes up to three business days. Email applications are processed by the next business day. Contact the Seattle City Clerk at (206) 684-8344 for more details.
King County Marriage License Resources
Seattle is the county seat of King County. All marriage license applications for Seattle and surrounding King County cities go through the same office. Visit the King County page for the full list of resources, application details, and county-level information.
Nearby Cities
These cities near Seattle are also in King County and use the same King County Records and Licensing Services office for marriage license applications.