Marriage License in Douglas County

Douglas County processes marriage license applications through the County Auditor's Office in Waterville. Both applicants must appear together in person to apply and get a license. Douglas County has kept marriage records going back to 1883, and older records through 1947 are now searchable through the Washington State Digital Archives. If you need to apply for a new marriage license or look up a past record in Douglas County, this page explains what you need, where to go, and what you can expect to find.

Douglas County Auditor's Office

The Douglas County Auditor's Office in Waterville handles marriage license applications for the entire county. Auditor Thera (Tee) Heglund oversees the office, which also manages recording, elections, and vehicle licensing. Staff can assist you with applying for a marriage license, searching recorded documents, and requesting certified copies of marriage certificates. The office maintains marriage records from 1883 to the present.

Douglas County was created in 1883 from Lincoln County and sits in north-central Washington along the Columbia River. The county is relatively small in population, which means the Auditor's Office often provides more direct service than larger county offices. You can find general information about the county at douglascountywa.net and the auditor's division at douglascountywa.net/departments/auditor.

The Washington State Digital Archives holds Douglas County marriage records from 1883 to 1947. The image below shows the Digital Archives portal, where you can search those older records by name at no cost.

The Washington State Digital Archives provides free online access to Douglas County marriage records from 1883 to 1947, with name-based searching available.

Marriage License Requirements in Douglas County

Both parties must appear in person at the Douglas County Auditor's Office to apply for a marriage license. Washington State law under RCW 26.04.160 sets this requirement, and it applies to all 39 Washington counties. You cannot send a representative or complete the process remotely. There is no Washington residency requirement. Couples from out of state or from other Washington counties can apply in Douglas County.

Each applicant must present valid government-issued photo ID showing their date of birth. A driver's license, state-issued ID, U.S. passport, or military ID all qualify. The office collects Social Security numbers for both applicants. If you prefer not to provide your Social Security number, you can sign an exemption form. You also need to supply your parents' full legal names, including your mother's maiden name, and the birthplaces of both parents. If either party was previously married, that must be disclosed on the application. No proof of divorce or a prior spouse's death is required. You just need to declare it accurately. Both applicants must be at least 18 years old. No blood test or medical examination is required under current state law.

Douglas County also accepts mail applications in some cases. Contact the Auditor's Office to request the application form or ask about downloading it. Both parties must sign the completed form before a notary public. Mail the notarized application with payment, your wedding date, and a return address. Specify whether you prefer to pick up the license or have it mailed back to you. Allow extra time if using the mail process, especially if your ceremony date is close.

Note: Call the office ahead of time to confirm the current fee amount and accepted payment methods, as these can change.

Fees and Waiting Period

Douglas County charges approximately $65 to $70 for a marriage license. Confirm the exact amount with the Auditor's Office before you apply, since fees can be updated. The fee is non-refundable. Contact the office to find out which payment types are accepted, such as cash, check, or card. Certified copies of a recorded marriage certificate cost $3 per document. Non-certified or plain copies cost $1 per page.

Washington State requires a three-day waiting period for all marriage licenses. This rule comes from RCW 26.04.180 and applies to every county in the state. There are no exceptions or waivers. The three-day count starts on the day you submit the application. After those three days pass, the license becomes active and stays valid for 60 days from the issue date. Your ceremony must take place between day three and day 63. A ceremony held before day three or after day 63 would not be valid, and you would need to restart the application process.

Douglas County marriage licenses are valid anywhere in Washington State. You apply in Douglas County but can have your ceremony in a different part of the state if you wish. The ceremony just needs to happen within Washington's borders.

Searching Douglas County Marriage License Records

For current or recent marriages, the Douglas County Auditor's Office is the primary source. Staff can look up recorded documents by name or document number. Depending on what the county's online search portal covers, you may also be able to search recorded documents through the county website. Contact the office to ask about current online access options.

Older Douglas County marriage records from 1883 to 1947 are indexed and searchable through the Washington State Digital Archives Douglas County collection. The Digital Archives search tool is free to use and allows name-based searches. Some records include document images you can view or download. This is the most complete resource for researching historical Douglas County marriages and is widely used for genealogical research.

For marriages from 1968 to the present, the Washington State Department of Health maintains a statewide record. Certified copies through the DOH Vital Records office cost $25 each. Order online via VitalChek, by phone at 1-866-687-1464, or by mail. Online VitalChek orders typically ship within 3 to 7 business days. Mail orders can take six to eight weeks. No proof of relationship to the parties is required to order a marriage record from the DOH.

Note: The DOH may not have records from marriages that occurred within the past five months. For recent marriages, go to the Douglas County Auditor's Office directly.

What Marriage Records Contain

Douglas County marriage records include information from both the license application and the completed certificate. The license captures full legal names of both parties, ages and dates of birth, birthplaces, current addresses, and the date of application. Parents' names and birthplaces are also recorded. The license number, issue date, and expiration date appear as well. Social Security numbers are collected during the application but do not appear in the public record.

After the ceremony, the officiant returns the signed certificate to the Auditor's Office. The completed certificate adds the date and location of the ceremony, the officiant's name, title, and signature, the names and signatures of two witnesses, and the date the certificate was returned. Recording information, including book and page number, is added when the document is officially recorded. This full document becomes the official marriage record on file in Douglas County.

A Douglas County marriage record can show:

• Full legal names at the time of marriage
• Ages and birth dates of both parties
• Birthplaces and current addresses
• Parents' full names and birthplaces
• Date the license was issued and the application date
• Date and location of the marriage ceremony
• Officiant information and witness signatures

Certified copies are the version you need for legal purposes like name changes, updating government IDs, or proving marital status for benefits. The Douglas County Auditor's Office issues certified copies for $3 each. The DOH also issues certified copies for marriages recorded after 1968 at a cost of $25 per copy.

Cities in Douglas County

Douglas County includes several communities in north-central Washington. All marriage license applications for the county go through the Auditor's Office in Waterville, regardless of which city or town the couple lives in.

While Wenatchee is located primarily in Chelan County, East Wenatchee and other Douglas County communities including Waterville, Bridgeport, and Mansfield all rely on the Douglas County Auditor's Office for marriage license services.

Nearby Counties

Douglas County is bordered by several other Washington counties. You can apply for a marriage license in any Washington county, not just where you live. Use these links to find information on neighboring county offices.