Spokane Valley Marriage License Lookup
Spokane Valley is a Spokane County city, and marriage license applications for Spokane Valley residents go through the Spokane County Auditor's Office. The Spokane Valley City Clerk at 10210 E Sprague Ave does not issue marriage licenses. This page explains where to apply, what documents to bring, what the fee is, how the waiting period works, and how to look up Spokane Valley and Spokane County marriage records.
Spokane Valley Overview
Getting a Marriage License in Spokane Valley
Spokane Valley City Hall is at 10210 E Sprague Ave, Spokane Valley, WA 99206 and the main city number is (509) 720-5400. The city's website is spokanevalley.org. The Spokane Valley City Clerk manages city records and the municipal code but does not issue marriage licenses. To get a marriage license, Spokane Valley residents need to go to the Spokane County Auditor's Office at 1116 W Broadway Ave, Spokane, WA 99260. Call the auditor's office at (509) 477-2270 or check their marriage information page at spokanecounty.gov/323/Marriage-Information.
Washington State law under RCW 26.04.160 requires both applicants to appear at the county office in person. You cannot apply remotely or by mail. There is one limited exception: if one party signs the application in front of a notary before the visit, the other can go to the auditor's office alone to finish the process. For most Spokane Valley couples, plan to make the trip to the Spokane County Auditor in Spokane together. The drive is typically 15 to 20 minutes from Spokane Valley to the auditor's office.
Once you arrive with your documents and both parties are present, the process moves fairly quickly. The auditor's office handles applications for all of Spokane County, including Spokane Valley. Make sure to check current office hours before you go since those can change. The county's marriage page has the latest information.
| Office | Spokane County Auditor's Office |
|---|---|
| Address | 1116 W Broadway Ave Spokane, WA 99260 |
| Phone | (509) 477-2270 |
| Website | spokanecounty.gov/323/Marriage-Information |
The City of Spokane Valley's official website at spokanevalley.org covers city services and local resources. Marriage license applications for Spokane Valley residents go through the Spokane County Auditor, not city hall.
Spokane Valley Marriage License Requirements
Requirements for a Spokane County marriage license are set by Washington State law in RCW Chapter 26.04. Both applicants must be at least 18. Washington does not require either person to be a state resident. Couples from out of state and from other countries can apply and get married here. The ceremony just has to take place somewhere in Washington.
Each person must bring a valid government-issued photo ID with their birth date on it. A driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID all satisfy this requirement. Both applicants need to provide their Social Security numbers. If either person was married before, you need to know the date that marriage ended and how it ended, whether by divorce, annulment, or death. The application also collects parents' full names, the mother's maiden name, and birthplaces for both parents for each applicant. Gathering all this before your visit means less time at the counter.
Washington does not require a blood test or medical exam. Witnesses are not needed at the application stage. After your ceremony, the officiant returns the signed license to the Spokane County Auditor, and the county records it as the permanent official marriage certificate.
Note: Washington has no minimum residency period for marriage license applicants. New residents of Spokane Valley can apply right away.
Fees and Waiting Period
Spokane County charges $76 for a marriage license. The fee is paid when you apply at the Spokane County Auditor's Office. Call (509) 477-2270 ahead of time to confirm what payment methods the office accepts. The fee is not refunded once paid, even if you do not end up using the license.
After you apply, a three-day waiting period must pass before your ceremony can take place. This is required under RCW 26.04.180 and applies to all Washington counties. There is no way to shorten or skip the wait. Apply with enough lead time so the waiting period clears before your ceremony date. The license stays active for 60 days from the date of issue. A ceremony must happen during that window or the license expires.
Your ceremony can take place anywhere in Washington. It does not have to be in Spokane Valley or Spokane County. Any legally authorized officiant can perform it. After the ceremony, the officiant signs the license and returns it to the county. The county records it and the marriage becomes part of the permanent public record.
Spokane Valley Marriage License Records
Marriage records for Spokane Valley residents are kept by Spokane County. After a ceremony is complete and the license is returned and recorded, you can request certified copies from the Spokane County Auditor at 1116 W Broadway Ave, Spokane, WA 99260, or by calling (509) 477-2270. Certified copies are used for name changes with the Social Security Administration, the Washington Department of Licensing, passport applications, and similar purposes. Ask about current copy fees and turnaround times when you contact the office.
For older Spokane County marriage records, the Washington State Digital Archives is a good place to look. This free online database is run by the Washington State Archives and contains marriage records from Spokane County and other counties across the state. It covers records going back many decades and is especially useful for genealogy research. If a record is not available through the county's current system, check the digital archives before assuming it does not exist.
The Washington State Department of Health also maintains statewide marriage records from around 1968 forward. Certified copies can be ordered from DOH directly without going through the county. For online ordering through a third party, VitalChek handles requests for both state and county records. The Washington State Association of County Auditors is a useful reference if you are not sure which office holds the record you need.
Spokane County marriage records typically list 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, and the officiant's name. Social Security numbers are collected during the application process but are not disclosed as part of the public record.
Spokane County Marriage License Resources
Spokane Valley is part of Spokane County. All marriage license applications for Spokane Valley residents go through the Spokane County Auditor's office. Visit the Spokane County page for full details on the application process, current fees, and county-level information.
Nearby Cities
These cities near Spokane Valley are also in Spokane County and use the same Spokane County Auditor's office for marriage license applications.