Benton County Marriage License

Benton County marriage licenses are issued through the County Auditor's Office in Prosser, serving residents of Kennewick, Richland, Pasco, and all surrounding communities in the Tri-Cities area. Both parties must appear in person to apply, and the mandatory 3-day waiting period under Washington State law applies before any ceremony can occur. The office has kept marriage records since 1905, and records through 1947 are available for free at the Washington State Digital Archives. This page explains how to apply, what the fees are, and how to search Benton County marriage records.

Benton County Auditor's Office

The Benton County Auditor's Office in Prosser issues all marriage licenses for the county. Benton County is one of the more populous counties in eastern Washington, home to Kennewick, Richland, and West Richland, along with the county seat of Prosser. The auditor's office has served the county since its creation in 1905, and it maintains marriage records from that year forward. An online application kiosk is available at the office to help speed up the in-person process.

The auditor handles elections, vehicle and vessel licensing, property document recording, and marriage licensing all in one place. For marriage license questions specifically, contact the licensing division. The Fraud Guard notification service is also available through this office for residents who want email alerts when documents are recorded in their name.

The Benton County Auditor's website provides information on marriage license applications, fees, and document recording services. The auditor's office is the primary source for current marriage license records in the county.

The Benton County Auditor's Office website provides details on marriage license requirements, fees, and how to apply or request records from the Prosser office.

Benton County's historical marriage records are also preserved at the Washington State Digital Archives. The collection covers marriages from 1905 through 1947 and includes original document images for many records.

The Washington State Digital Archives at digitalarchives.wa.gov holds the Benton County marriage records collection, with indexed entries and document images available at no cost to the public.

Marriage License Requirements in Benton County

Benton County follows Washington State law under RCW 26.04.160 for all marriage license applications. Both people must appear in person at the Prosser office. There is no residency requirement, so couples from any state or country may apply here. You do not have to live in Benton County, or even in Washington, to get a marriage license here.

Both applicants must bring a valid government-issued photo ID showing their date of birth. A driver's license, state ID card, passport, or military ID all qualify. No birth certificate is needed. If either party was previously married, that marriage must be fully dissolved before applying. You do not need to bring divorce paperwork, but you will declare your prior marital status on the form. Social Security numbers are required from both parties. If you prefer not to provide one, you may sign an exemption.

The application also requires the full names of both parents, including the mother's maiden name, and the state or country where each parent was born. Both parties must be at least 18 years old under RCW Chapter 26.04. Your marriage ceremony must take place inside Washington State. A license issued in Benton County is not valid for ceremonies held in other states.

Benton County also accepts mail-in applications. Request forms from the auditor's office, have both parties sign before a notary public, then mail the notarized forms with payment. Include your wedding date and specify whether you want the packet mailed back or held for pickup. Allow one to two weeks for processing, and remember the 3-day waiting period still applies after the application is received.

Benton County Marriage License Fees and Waiting Period

Benton County charges $59 to $61 for a marriage license, making it one of the more affordable counties in Washington State. Call the auditor's office at (509) 786-5618 to confirm the exact current fee before your visit. Payment is accepted by cash, check, or money order. Contact the office to confirm whether credit or debit cards are currently accepted. The fee is non-refundable once the application has been processed.

Under RCW 26.04.180, a mandatory 3-day waiting period applies to every marriage license in Washington State. The waiting period begins the day after you submit your application. For example, if you apply on a Monday, the earliest you can hold your ceremony is Thursday. This rule cannot be waived. Once the waiting period passes, the license is valid for 60 days from the date it was issued. If you do not hold a ceremony within those 60 days, the license expires and you must reapply and pay the fee again.

Certified copies of marriage certificates cost $3 per document. Non-certified copies run $1 per page. If you need records for a recent marriage that may not yet be in the state database, contact the Benton County Auditor directly. For marriages from 1968 onward, the Washington State Department of Health also offers certified copies for $25 each. Orders can be placed through VitalChek online or by phone at 1-866-687-1464.

Note: If you need an extensive records search, Benton County charges $8 per hour for research requests beyond a simple document lookup.

Searching Benton County Marriage License Records

Benton County marriage records go back to 1905. The auditor's office has an online recorded document search through the county website, where you can search by name, document number, or recording date. For records prior to 1947, the Washington State Digital Archives provides free online access at digitalarchives.wa.gov. Both platforms are worth checking depending on the time period of the record you need.

To search the Digital Archives for Benton County, go to the site and select the Benton County marriage collection. You can search by the name of either party, by the marriage year, or use Soundex search for names that may have been recorded with different spellings. Original document images are available for many of the historical records and can be viewed or downloaded at no cost.

For in-person searches at the Prosser office, contact the recording division at (509) 786-5618 ext. 200. Staff can look up records by name, date, or document number. Bring a photo ID and as much detail as you can about the record you need. For marriages from 1968 to the present, the Washington State Department of Health maintains statewide records. Online orders through VitalChek typically ship in three to seven business days. Mail orders take six to eight weeks.

What Benton County Marriage Records Contain

A Benton County marriage record is made up of the license issued before the ceremony and the certificate returned after. The license shows what was declared at the time of application. The certificate adds the details of the actual ceremony. Together they form the complete public record of the marriage.

The record includes the full legal names of both parties, listed as Person A and Person B for marriages after 2012 following Washington's Marriage Equality Act. Ages and dates of birth appear for both applicants, along with birthplaces by city, state, or country. Current residential addresses at the time of application are recorded. Father's full name and birthplace, and mother's full maiden name and birthplace, appear for each party. Previous marital status is declared on the application, noting whether each person was single, divorced, or widowed. Social Security numbers are collected but are not shown on public copies of the record.

After the ceremony, the date and location by city and county are added, along with the officiant's name, title, and signature. Two witnesses sign the certificate. The date the certificate was returned to the county, the marriage license number, and the recording information are all part of the final document. Benton County marriage records are public, and anyone may request copies.

Cities in Benton County

Benton County includes several cities in the Tri-Cities area and surrounding communities. All marriage licenses for the county are issued at the Auditor's Office in Prosser.

Other communities in Benton County include Prosser, West Richland, Benton City, and Finley. Residents of all these areas apply for a marriage license at the Benton County Auditor's Office in Prosser.

Nearby Counties

Benton County borders several counties in south-central and southeastern Washington. Pasco, which is across the Columbia River, is part of Franklin County rather than Benton County.