Marriage License in Lewis County

The Lewis County Auditor's Office in Chehalis issues marriage licenses and maintains marriage records for the county. If you plan to get married in Lewis County or anywhere else in Washington State, you can apply at the auditor's office in person or by mail. Lewis County keeps marriage records going back to 1856, making it one of the more complete historical collections in western Washington. This page covers what you need to apply, what the license costs, how long you must wait, and how to search or get copies of past marriage records.

Lewis County Auditor's Office

The Lewis County Auditor handles marriage licenses through its recording division. You can reach them at (360) 740-1156 or by email at auditor@lewiscountywa.gov. The main office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Both phone lines for recording and elections are separate if you need to ask specific questions about your license application.

Lewis County offers a mail application option in addition to in-person visits. This is useful if you live far from Chehalis or have a busy schedule. The mail process requires both parties to sign the application before a notary and then send it in with the fee. Not every county in Washington offers this, so it is a good option for couples who find it hard to visit the office together.

Marriage License Requirements in Lewis County

To get a marriage license in Lewis County, both parties must be at least 18 years old. Washington State law does not require you to live in the county or even in the state. You can apply in Lewis County even if you live somewhere else, as long as you plan to marry in Washington or want the license issued here. The license is valid anywhere in Washington State once issued.

Each applicant must bring a government-issued photo ID that shows their date of birth. Acceptable forms of ID include a driver's license, passport, state ID card, or military ID. You do not need to bring a birth certificate or divorce papers, but any prior marriage must be legally ended before you can apply. If you were previously married, be ready to state when and how that marriage ended.

You will also need to provide Social Security numbers for both parties, or sign an exemption if you choose not to provide them. The office also asks for both parents' full names, including the mother's maiden name, and the parents' birthplaces. This information goes on the marriage record but is not all made public. No blood test is required.

Under RCW Chapter 26.04, Washington sets the basic rules for marriage licenses statewide. Lewis County follows these requirements and may have minor local procedures as well. Call the office before you visit to confirm what you need to bring.

Lewis County Marriage License Fee and Waiting Period

The marriage license fee in Lewis County is $68. Payment can be made by cash, check, or money order. The fee is non-refundable once paid, so make sure you are ready to proceed before you apply. Certified copies of your marriage record cost $3 each. If you need to search for records by file number or other criteria, there is an $8 per hour search fee.

Washington State law under RCW 26.04.160 requires a three-day waiting period after you apply. The ceremony cannot take place until at least three days have passed from the date of application. The license then stays valid for 60 days. So your ceremony must happen between day three and day 63 from the day you apply. If you miss that window, you would need to apply again.

Non-certified copies of records are available for $1 per page. These are fine for personal reference but are not accepted as legal proof of marriage. For official purposes like name changes or updating government documents, you need a certified copy at $3 each.

Note: Fee amounts can change. Contact the Lewis County Auditor's Office directly to confirm current costs before your visit.

Searching Lewis County Marriage Records

Lewis County has kept marriage records since 1856. That is a long history. The county provides an online document search where you can look up records by file number, recording date, name, or parcel number. For more recent records, the auditor's online system is the first place to check.

The Washington State Digital Archives is the place to go for older Lewis County marriage records. Records from 1856 through 1946 are available through the Washington State Digital Archives Lewis County collection. The Digital Archives site at digitalarchives.wa.gov is free to search and includes scanned images of the original documents. This is a valuable resource for anyone doing family history research or needing to trace a marriage from a long time ago.

The Washington State Department of Health also maintains vital records and may have copies of marriage certificates through their vital records office. For online ordering of certified copies from the state level, VitalChek is an authorized vendor.

The Washington State Digital Archives holds Lewis County marriage records from 1856 to 1946, giving researchers access to some of the earliest records in the county's history.

What Lewis County Marriage Records Contain

A Lewis County marriage record includes quite a bit of information about both parties and the ceremony. The record shows the full legal names of both people, their ages and birth dates, and their birthplaces. Current addresses at the time of application are also recorded. Parents' names and birthplaces appear on the record as well, including the mother's maiden name.

The record also shows the previous marital status of each party, the date the application was filed, and the date the license was issued. Ceremony details are included after the wedding takes place, such as the ceremony date and location, the name of the officiant, and the signatures of witnesses. Recording information is added when the county logs the completed certificate.

Social Security numbers are collected during the application process but are not part of the public record. Most other information on a Lewis County marriage license is public. Anyone can request a copy. You do not need to be a party to the marriage to look up or request a copy of a marriage record.

Note: Certified copies carry the county seal and are accepted as legal proof of marriage. Plain copies do not have the seal and are not suitable for legal use.

Applying by Mail in Lewis County

Lewis County offers a mail option for couples who cannot both appear in person at the same time. To use this option, both parties must complete the application and sign it before a notary public. The notarized application goes in the mail along with the $68 fee. You should also include a contact phone number and your wedding date when you mail it in.

Let the office know whether you want the license packet held for pickup or mailed back to you. This detail matters if your wedding is close and you need to plan how you will get the license. Download or request the application form from the auditor's office. Mailing addresses for Lewis County: PO Box 29, Chehalis, WA 98532. Call (360) 740-1156 if you have questions about the mail process before you send anything in.

Cities in Lewis County

Lewis County includes Chehalis, Centralia, and several smaller communities. Marriage licenses for all cities in Lewis County are issued through the County Auditor's Office in Chehalis.

Centralia and Chehalis are the largest cities in the county. Neither currently has a dedicated city page on this site. All residents apply for a marriage license at the same county office regardless of which community they live in.

Nearby Counties

Lewis County borders several other Washington counties. If you live near a county line, check your residence address to confirm which county you are in before you apply.