Walla Walla Marriage License
Walla Walla residents who need a marriage license apply at the Walla Walla County Auditor's Office, not at city hall. The city and county share the same name, which can cause some confusion, but the license process runs through the county auditor. This page covers where to go in Walla Walla, what documents to bring, how much the fee is, how the three-day waiting period works under Washington law, and how to find or request marriage license records tied to the area. If you are planning a wedding in or around Walla Walla, this is the right place to start.
Walla Walla Overview
Getting a Marriage License in Walla Walla
Marriage licenses in Walla Walla are issued by the Walla Walla County Auditor's Office. The city clerk at 15 N 3rd Ave handles municipal records and city code, but does not issue marriage licenses at any point in the process. If you contact the city and ask about a marriage license, staff will point you to the county. Go directly to the county auditor at 315 W Main St, Room 201, which sits in the center of Walla Walla.
Both applicants must appear in person at the auditor's office to complete the application. Washington law under RCW 26.04.160 requires both parties to be present when the application is signed and submitted. You cannot send one person to apply on behalf of both. Staff will look over your documents, collect the required information, and issue the license on the same visit if everything checks out. The whole process usually does not take long if you arrive with your documents ready.
Walla Walla County offers a mail-in application option for some parts of the process. Call the auditor's office at (509) 524-2530 ahead of time to ask what applies to your situation. The Walla Walla County Auditor's website also has current details on the marriage license process, hours, and any updates to the procedure. The Washington State Association of County Auditors maintains a directory of all county auditor offices if you need to compare across counties.
| Office | Walla Walla County Auditor |
|---|---|
| Address | 315 W Main St, Room 201 Walla Walla, WA 99362 |
| Phone | (509) 524-2530 |
| Website | wwcowa.gov/departments/auditor |
Marriage License Requirements
Washington State sets baseline requirements for all marriage licenses under RCW Chapter 26.04. Walla Walla County follows these statewide rules without additional local conditions. Both applicants must be at least 18 years old. Anyone under 18 needs a court order before the county can issue a license, which adds time to the process. Washington has no residency requirement, so couples from other states can apply here as long as the ceremony takes place in Washington.
Bring a valid, current government-issued photo ID. A state driver's license, state ID card, or passport all work. The ID must not be expired. You also need your Social Security number. You do not need to bring the physical card, just know the number. If either party was previously married, have the exact date that marriage ended, whether by divorce, death, or annulment. Do not estimate or guess at the date. Gather this before you go to avoid delays at the counter.
The application also asks for both parents' full legal names, the mother's maiden name, and birthplaces for both parents of each applicant. This information becomes part of the public record. No blood test is required anywhere in Washington. The process is straightforward as long as you come prepared. If you have a specific question about eligibility that is not addressed here, the county auditor's staff can help when you call ahead.
Note: Washington has no residency requirement, so out-of-state couples can apply in Walla Walla County as long as the wedding takes place in Washington.
Fees and Waiting Period
The Walla Walla County marriage license fee is $159. You pay this when you apply. The fee is not refunded if the wedding is canceled or if the license expires unused. Call (509) 524-2530 to confirm which payment methods the office accepts before your visit. Check whether they take credit or debit cards, since not all county offices do.
Under RCW 26.04.180, Washington law requires a three-day waiting period between the day the license is issued and the earliest date the ceremony can take place. This waiting period cannot be waived or shortened. Apply on a Monday, and the first day you can hold the ceremony is Thursday. Plan your application visit with that in mind. Leaving just barely enough time can cause problems if something comes up and the ceremony needs to shift by even one day.
The license is valid for 60 days from the date it is issued. If no ceremony occurs within that window, the license expires. You would need to start over, pay the full $159 again, and observe another three-day waiting period. Make sure your ceremony date falls comfortably inside the 60-day valid period before you go to the auditor's office. After the ceremony, the officiant must sign the license and return it to the Walla Walla County Auditor so the marriage can be recorded.
The Walla Walla County Auditor's Office at wwcowa.gov handles all marriage license applications and maintains official marriage records for the entire county.
Marriage License Records in Walla Walla
Walla Walla County holds official marriage records for the city and all surrounding communities. After the officiant returns the signed license, the county auditor records the marriage and keeps it on file. You can request a certified copy of a marriage record from the auditor in person or by mail. Certified copies are needed for legal name changes, passport applications, Social Security updates, and estate-related paperwork.
For records going back many decades, the Washington State Digital Archives is the best free option. The Walla Walla County collection at the Digital Archives is searchable online at digitalarchives.wa.gov at no cost. This is a strong resource for genealogy research or for finding records that predate the county's current digital systems. The archive is maintained by Washington State and covers marriage records from counties across the state.
The Washington State Digital Archives holds Walla Walla County marriage license records going back many years, all searchable online for free.
For certified copies of more recent records, the Washington State Department of Health vital records office holds statewide marriage records going back to 1968. The DOH can issue certified copies for marriages recorded anywhere in Washington. If going to the office in person is not an option, third-party services like VitalChek can process certified copy requests online and mail them to you. Start with the county auditor for the fastest turnaround on records from Walla Walla specifically.
Walla Walla County Marriage License
Walla Walla city is the county seat of Walla Walla County. All marriage license applications for residents of the city go through the county auditor. The county also handles recording, storage, and retrieval of marriage records for the entire county area. Whether you live inside the city limits or in a smaller community nearby, your application goes to the same auditor's office on W Main St in downtown Walla Walla.
The county page has full details on the marriage license process, office hours, current fees, and any recent updates. If you need more than what is covered here, check there for additional information.
Nearby Cities
These Washington cities are in the region. Each uses its own county auditor for marriage license applications.