Find a Marriage License in Shoreline
Shoreline is a King County city, and marriage license applications for Shoreline residents go through the King County Records and Licensing Services office in Seattle. The Shoreline City Clerk and city hall do not issue marriage licenses. This page explains where to apply, what documents you need to bring, how much the fee is, what the waiting period looks like, and where to search for Shoreline and King County marriage records after a wedding takes place.
Shoreline Overview
Getting a Marriage License in Shoreline
Shoreline City Hall is at 17544 Midvale Ave N, Shoreline, WA 98133, and the main city line is (206) 801-2230. The city website is shorelinewa.gov. That said, none of those city contacts handle marriage licenses. To apply for a marriage license as a Shoreline resident, you need to go to the King County Records and Licensing Services office. The physical address is 201 S Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98104. Call (206) 477-6620 or check their website at kingcounty.gov/en/dept/records-licensing before your visit.
Under Washington law, both people getting married must appear at the office in person. RCW 26.04.160 sets this requirement. You cannot apply online only or by mail. One limited exception applies: if one person has already signed the application before a notary, the other applicant can go to the office alone to complete it. For most couples, both of you go together. King County has an online pre-application form on their website. Filling it out before your visit can reduce your time at the counter, though it does not replace the in-person requirement.
The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Shoreline is just north of Seattle, so getting to the King County office in Seattle should not take long. Arriving earlier in the day tends to mean shorter wait times. The King County website also has a ceremony date calculator that shows the earliest possible date for your ceremony based on when you apply, which is a useful planning tool.
| Office | King County Records and Licensing Services |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Shoreline Marriage License Requirements
Washington State requirements for marriage licenses are found in RCW Chapter 26.04. King County follows these rules for all applicants, including those from Shoreline. Both applicants must be at least 18 years old. There is no Washington residency requirement. Out-of-state couples and international visitors can apply here as long as their ceremony takes place in Washington.
Each person must present a valid government-issued photo ID that shows their birth date. A driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID are all accepted. Social Security numbers are required for both applicants. You do not need to bring the actual card, but you need to know the number. If either person was previously married, you need the date that marriage ended and how it ended, whether by divorce, annulment, or death. The application also asks for your parents' full names, your mother's maiden name, and both parents' birthplaces for each applicant. Having this information ready before you go makes the process faster.
No blood test or medical exam is needed. Witnesses are not needed at the application stage. After the ceremony, your officiant signs the license and returns it to the county to be recorded. At that point it becomes the official marriage certificate.
Note: Washington has no minimum residency period. New Shoreline residents can apply for a marriage license right away without waiting.
Fees and Waiting Period
King County charges $169 for a marriage license as of July 2025. That is an increase from the previous $69 fee. House Bill 1498 raised the rate to fund the Domestic Violence Co-Responder Grant Program. The fee is paid at the time of application and is not refunded if plans change after the license is issued. Call (206) 477-6620 to confirm what payment methods are accepted before your visit.
Once you have the license, a three-day waiting period applies before you can hold your ceremony. This is required under RCW 26.04.180. The waiting period is mandatory and King County does not offer a waiver. The license itself stays valid for 60 days, so your ceremony window runs from day three to day 63 after the application date. Your ceremony can take place anywhere in Washington State.
Certified copies of a marriage certificate cost $3 each. Most people need at least two or three for name changes, passport applications, and other legal purposes. You can order copies online through the King County records portal or by returning to the office in person.
The Washington State Digital Archives at digitalarchives.wa.gov provides free access to King County marriage records dating back to 1853, which includes historical records from the Shoreline area.
Marriage License Records for Shoreline
Marriage records for Shoreline residents are kept by King County. After a ceremony is complete and the license is returned and recorded, the document becomes part of the county's permanent records. To get a copy, contact King County Records and Licensing Services at (206) 477-6620 or visit 500 4th Ave, Seattle, WA 98104. Certified copies cost $3 each and can be ordered in person or through the county's online portal. Certified copies are needed for name changes with the Social Security Administration, the Department of Licensing, and other agencies.
For older records, the Washington State Digital Archives is a good resource. This free database holds King County marriage records going back to 1853. The archive is maintained by the Washington State Archives and covers records from counties throughout the state. It is especially useful for genealogy research and for locating marriages that took place before modern electronic records were kept. If you are looking for a record from many decades ago and the county's current system does not have it, the Digital Archives is the right place to check.
The Washington State Department of Health also keeps marriage records at the state level, generally starting from 1968. You can order certified copies directly from DOH. Third-party ordering through VitalChek is available if you prefer online ordering without going through the state or county directly. The Washington State Association of County Auditors is another reference point if you need help finding the right office for a record search.
King County Marriage License Resources
Shoreline is part of King County. All marriage license applications for Shoreline residents go through the King County Records and Licensing Services office. Visit the King County page for full details on the application process, fees, hours, and other resources.
Nearby Cities
These cities near Shoreline are also part of King County and use the same licensing office in Seattle.