Marriage License in Garfield County

Garfield County marriage licenses are issued through the County Auditor's Office in Pomeroy, a small rural office in one of Washington's least populated counties. If you plan to apply for a marriage license here, you will get direct, personalized service from auditor staff. The county also holds marriage records dating back to 1882, many of which are searchable through the Washington State Digital Archives. This page explains what you need to bring, how the process works, and how to look up Garfield County marriage records for research or legal purposes.

Garfield County Auditor's Office

The Garfield County Auditor issues all marriage licenses and maintains the county's marriage records. The office is small and serves a rural community, so staff are able to give applicants personal attention. You can call ahead to ask questions, confirm what you need to bring, and check on current office hours before making the trip to Pomeroy.

Garfield County is one of the smallest counties in Washington by population. The auditor's office handles a range of services including recording, elections, and licensing. For marriage licenses specifically, both parties must appear in person at the Pomeroy office to complete the application.

The Garfield County website has general county information and contact details. Because the county is small, it is worth calling ahead to confirm current fees and any updates to the process before you drive to Pomeroy.

The Garfield County official website gives you access to county department contacts and general information about services offered through the auditor's office.

Use the county website to find current contact details and confirm office hours before traveling to Pomeroy.

Marriage License Requirements in Garfield County

Under RCW 26.04.160, Washington State requires both applicants to appear in person when applying for a marriage license. Garfield County follows this rule. Both parties must show up together at the auditor's office in Pomeroy. You do not need to be a Washington State resident. No blood test is required.

Each person must bring a government-issued photo ID that shows their birth date. A driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID all qualify. You will also need to provide your Social Security number. If you do not have a Social Security number, you can sign an exemption form instead.

The application asks for details about each person's parents. You need their full names, including your mother's maiden name, and where each parent was born. If either applicant has been married before, information about how that marriage ended is also required. Gather all of this before you visit so the process goes smoothly. Both applicants must be at least 18 years old.

If one party cannot appear in person, contact the auditor's office to ask about the mail application process. Both parties would need to sign the application before a notary public and mail it in with payment. Call (509) 843-1411 first to confirm current procedures.

Garfield County Marriage License Fees and Waiting Period

Garfield County's marriage license fee is approximately $60 to $70. Because this is a small county office, fees can change. Call the auditor at (509) 843-1411 or email auditor@co.garfield.wa.us to confirm the exact amount before your visit. The fee is non-refundable. Certified copies of a marriage record are $3 each.

Washington State law requires a mandatory 3-day waiting period. This is set by RCW 26.04.180. Your ceremony cannot take place until three days after you apply. Once the license is issued, it remains valid for 60 days. The ceremony must happen within that window or you will need to apply and pay again. A Garfield County marriage license is valid anywhere in Washington State, so you are not required to hold the ceremony in Pomeroy or even in Garfield County.

Note: Always confirm payment types accepted by the office before your visit, as smaller county offices sometimes have different policies than larger ones.

Searching Garfield County Marriage Records

The Garfield County Auditor maintains marriage records from 1882 to the present. For records from 1882 through 1947, the Washington State Digital Archives is a strong resource. It is free to use and indexes historical county records from across Washington, including Garfield County's early marriage records.

The Washington State Digital Archives collection for Garfield County includes early marriage records that are searchable by name. This is useful for genealogy research or if you need to verify a historical marriage that took place decades ago.

The Garfield County collection at the Digital Archives is where you will find indexed marriage records from 1882 through the mid-twentieth century.

For more recent records, contact the Garfield County Auditor's Office directly. Staff can search the records by name and help you request a certified copy. If you need a certified marriage certificate for legal use, you can also request one through the Washington State Department of Health vital records office. The DOH maintains records from 1968 forward. For records before that, the county or the Digital Archives is your best option.

Third-party services like VitalChek can also process certified copy requests through the DOH if you prefer to order online. Keep in mind that VitalChek only covers the time period the DOH holds, so older Garfield County records still need to come from the county itself or the Digital Archives.

Marriage records in Washington generally show names, dates, locations, and parental information. They are public records. Anyone can request a search or a non-certified copy. Certified copies require a small fee per document.

What Garfield County Marriage Records Contain

Garfield County marriage records include the full legal names of both parties and their ages at the time of the marriage. The record also shows each person's birthplace, current address, and the names and birthplaces of their parents, including the mother's maiden name. Previous marital history is noted. The record shows whether each party was single, widowed, or previously divorced.

Beyond the personal details, a marriage record in Garfield County notes the date and location of the ceremony, who performed it, and the names of the witnesses. The date the license was issued and the date the application was made are both part of the file. Social Security numbers are collected but do not appear in public copies of the record. Under RCW Chapter 26.04, the license and return together form the complete legal record of the marriage.

Certified copies of the marriage record are what courts, employers, insurance companies, and government agencies typically need. A plain copy may work for personal reference, but legal uses almost always require certification.

Cities in Garfield County

Garfield County is one of the smallest and most rural counties in Washington. Pomeroy is the only incorporated city and also the county seat. All marriage license applications in the county are processed at the auditor's office on Main Street in Pomeroy.

No other cities in Garfield County meet the population threshold for a dedicated page on this site. Residents throughout the county apply at the Pomeroy office regardless of where they live.

Nearby Counties

Garfield County sits in southeastern Washington. These neighboring counties each have their own auditor's office if you are closer to one of them.