Okanogan County Marriage License Lookup

The Okanogan County Auditor's Office in Okanogan issues marriage licenses and maintains marriage records for the county. Both parties generally must appear together in person to apply. The county has specific payment rules and office hours that differ from some other counties in Washington, so it is worth reviewing the details before you go. Marriage records in Okanogan County go back to 1891, and historical records from 1891 through 1947 are available through the Washington State Digital Archives at no cost.

Okanogan County Auditor's Office

The Okanogan County Auditor handles marriage licenses through the Recording and Marriage License division. Auditor Cari Hall oversees the office. The main address is 149 N 3rd Ave in Okanogan. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM overall, but the recording and marriage license division is open 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM and closes from noon to 1:00 PM for lunch. You must appear before 4:00 PM to apply for a marriage license.

This midday closure is something to keep in mind when planning your visit. If you arrive during lunch, you will need to wait until 1:00 PM. Also, if you cannot both appear at the same time, the county allows one party to request an application and have their signature notarized, then the other party can come in separately to complete the process. Call (509) 422-7240 to confirm the current process and what to bring before you visit.

Marriage License Requirements in Okanogan County

Both parties should appear in person to apply for a marriage license in Okanogan County. If one person cannot be present, they can request the application from the auditor, complete it, have their signature notarized, and then the other party brings that notarized application to the office to finish the process. This starts the three-day waiting period.

Each applicant must bring a valid government-issued photo ID that includes their date of birth. A driver's license, passport, state ID card, or military ID all work. You do not need to provide a birth certificate or divorce papers. However, if you were previously married, that marriage must be fully and legally ended before you apply. Know the date your prior marriage ended.

Both parties must be at least 18 years old. No Washington residency is required. You can live in another state and still get your marriage license here. Once issued, the license is valid anywhere in Washington State.

Social Security numbers are required for both parties, or you may sign an exemption. You must also know the state or country where each of your parents was born, and you need to provide your mother's maiden name. No blood test is required. Washington State law under RCW Chapter 26.04 sets these statewide requirements.

Okanogan County Marriage License Fee

The marriage license fee in Okanogan County is $159. This is one of the higher fees in Washington State. Payment must be made in cash or money order only. The office does not accept personal checks or credit cards. Make sure you bring the right payment before your visit. The fee is non-refundable.

Certified copies of the marriage record cost $3 each. Order what you need when the record is filed. Getting extra copies at that time is easier than requesting them later. All marriage records in Okanogan County are public records under Washington law, with one exception: people enrolled in the State's Address Confidentiality Program have protected records.

The three-day waiting period under RCW 26.04.160 starts the day after you apply. The license is valid for 60 days. Your ceremony must take place within that 60-day period. Once a marriage record is recorded at the auditor's office, it cannot be unrecorded.

Note: Bring cash or a money order. The Okanogan County Auditor does not accept personal checks or credit cards for marriage license fees.

Searching Okanogan County Marriage Records

Okanogan County marriage records date back to 1891. The county auditor maintains records from 1891 to the present. For older records through 1947, the Washington State Digital Archives is the best place to search for free.

The Okanogan County website provides marriage license requirements, application procedures, and contact information for the Recording and Marriage License office.

The Okanogan County collection at the Washington State Digital Archives covers records from 1891 through 1947. The main Digital Archives site at digitalarchives.wa.gov is free to use and allows searching by name with access to scanned document images. This is a valuable tool for genealogy research or finding records from early in the county's history.

For copies of records from 1947 onward, contact the Okanogan County Auditor at (509) 422-7240. The Washington State Department of Health also has vital records through their vital records office. VitalChek is the authorized online vendor for ordering certified copies from the state level.

Recording and Marriage License Office

The Okanogan County Recording and Marriage License office is the specific division that handles both document recording and marriage license issuance. If you have questions about how a document is recorded or how to get a copy of a specific record, this is the right place to contact. The office number is (509) 422-7240.

The Okanogan County Recording and Marriage License division handles all marriage license applications and maintains the official record of marriages in the county.

Washington State law under RCW 26.04.180 covers how marriage licenses must be recorded after the ceremony. The completed certificate must be returned to the auditor's office after the wedding. The recording of the document creates the official permanent record. Once that record is filed, it stays on file permanently and cannot be removed from the public record.

Who Can Perform the Ceremony

Washington State law sets out who is authorized to perform a marriage ceremony. In Okanogan County, you can have your ceremony performed by an active or retired Washington Supreme Court justice, a Court of Appeals judge, a Superior Court judge, a Superior Court commissioner, or a judge of a court of limited jurisdiction. Regularly licensed or ordained ministers and priests may also perform the ceremony, including ministers from other states.

Neither the bride nor the groom can perform the ceremony themselves. If you want a ceremony performed by a District Court judge in Okanogan County, you can call (509) 422-7170 to make arrangements. Make sure you coordinate the ceremony date with whoever is performing it, keeping in mind the three-day waiting period and the 60-day validity window on your license.

The Washington State Association of County Auditors provides guidance on marriage license procedures that all county auditors in Washington follow.

Cities in Okanogan County

Okanogan County includes the city of Okanogan, Omak, Tonasket, and other smaller communities. All marriage license applications in the county are processed at the Auditor's Office in Okanogan.

None of the cities in Okanogan County currently exceed the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. All residents apply at the same county office in Okanogan regardless of which community they live in.

Nearby Counties

Okanogan is the largest county by area in Washington State. It borders several other counties. Confirm which county you live in before applying for your marriage license.