Skagit County Marriage License Records
The Skagit County Auditor's Office in Mount Vernon issues marriage licenses for the county. Both parties must appear together to apply in person. The auditor's office also records returned marriage certificates and maintains marriage records. If you need to search for a Skagit County marriage license or recorded certificate, the county offers an online document search covering records from 1973 to the present. The Washington State Digital Archives holds older marriage records going back to 1884. This page covers the application process, fees, waiting period, and how to access marriage records in Skagit County.
Skagit County Overview
Skagit County Auditor's Office
The Skagit County Auditor handles marriage licenses for the county from its office in Mount Vernon. Auditor Sandy Taylor oversees the office. The main phone line is (360) 416-1700. For marriage license questions, call the direct line at (360) 416-1702. The Recording Division, which handles marriage certificates and recorded documents, can be reached at (360) 416-1703. You can also email the office at auditor@co.skagit.wa.us.
The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. It is closed on weekends and county-observed holidays. The Skagit County Auditor's Office handles many services including vehicle licensing, elections administration, recording of land records and legal instruments, and marriage licenses. For marriage-related matters, the auditor's website at skagitcounty.net/Departments/Auditor is your starting point.
| Office | Skagit County Auditor |
|---|---|
| Address |
700 S. Second Street, Room 201 Mount Vernon, WA 98273 |
| Mailing Address | PO Box 1306, Mount Vernon, WA 98273 |
| Main Phone | (360) 416-1700 |
| Marriage License | (360) 416-1702 |
| Recording Division | (360) 416-1703 |
| Fax | (360) 416-1701 |
| auditor@co.skagit.wa.us | |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Auditor | Sandy Taylor |
| Website | skagitcounty.net/Departments/Auditor |
The image below shows the Skagit County Auditor's Office website, which is the main resource for marriage license services and recorded document searches in the county.
The auditor's office manages marriage license issuance, recording of signed certificates, and certified copy requests for all marriages in Skagit County.
Skagit County Marriage License Requirements
Both parties must appear together at the Skagit County Auditor's Office to apply for a marriage license. Each person must bring a valid government-issued photo ID. Accepted ID types include a driver's license, U.S. passport, state-issued ID card, or military ID. Both applicants must be 18 years of age or older. Washington does not require you to live in the state or in Skagit County to apply here. You can get a license in any county in the state.
You will need to provide your Social Security number, or sign an exemption if you do not have one. The application requires each parent's full legal name, including the mother's maiden name, and each parent's birthplace. There is no blood test requirement. You do not need to show paperwork proving a prior marriage ended, but any prior marriage must be legally over before you apply for a new license.
Washington's rules for marriage license applications are found in RCW Chapter 26.04. The specific application requirements are laid out in RCW 26.04.160. Skagit County applies these statewide rules without adding county-level requirements beyond what state law already requires.
Once both parties appear at the office, complete the application, provide ID, and pay the fee, the license is issued. The 3-day waiting period begins at that point. The license is valid for 60 days from the date it is issued, and the ceremony must take place somewhere in Washington.
Note: Payment at Skagit County has historically been accepted as cash only for marriage licenses. Verify current payment methods with the office before your visit.Fees and Waiting Period in Skagit County
The marriage license fee in Skagit County is approximately $64, though some sources report $60. The fee varies slightly depending on the source, so call (360) 416-1702 to confirm the current amount before your visit. Payment has traditionally been accepted as cash only, but you should verify current payment methods with the office. All fees are non-refundable once paid.
Washington State law requires a mandatory 3-day waiting period after you apply. The ceremony cannot take place until three full days have passed from the application date. There are no exceptions or court waivers available. If you apply on Monday, the earliest your ceremony can be performed is Thursday. Apply on Friday and the earliest you can marry is the following Monday. The license stays valid for 60 days from issuance.
Certified copies of a recorded marriage certificate cost $3 each. Online images of documents from the county's recording system are not considered certified copies. If you need a certified copy for legal purposes, you must request it from the auditor's office directly. You can also contact VitalChek for online ordering of certified vital records if you are not able to visit in person.
Searching Skagit County Marriage License Records
Skagit County maintains an online document search system at skagitcounty.net/Search/Recording/. This tool covers recorded documents from 1973 to the present. You can search by name, document type, date, or legal description. Marriage applications and marriage certificates are searchable. The system also covers UCC filings, wills, and other recorded documents. Keep in mind that online images from this system do not count as certified copies.
Under RCW 26.04.180, marriage records in Washington are public. Any person can request access to marriage applications and recorded certificates. There is an exception for people enrolled in the state's Address Confidentiality Program. To get a certified copy of a recorded certificate, contact the Skagit County Auditor's Office at (360) 416-1702 or 416-1703.
The image below shows the Skagit County recording search portal, which you can use to look up recorded marriage license documents.
The Skagit County online recording search lets you look up marriage license records and other public documents filed from 1973 to the present.
For older records, the Washington State Digital Archives at digitalarchives.wa.gov holds Skagit County marriage records going back to 1884. Birth and death records from 1891 to 1907 are also available, along with land records from 1872. This is a free resource and does not require a login.
The image below shows the Washington State Digital Archives collection page for Skagit County marriage records.
The Digital Archives provides free access to historical Skagit County marriage records, useful for genealogy and research on marriages that predate the county's online recording system.
What Skagit County Marriage License Records Contain
A marriage license application in Skagit County includes both applicants' names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers or exemptions, and parents' names and birthplaces. The application captures the planned ceremony date and location. Once the ceremony is performed and the officiant signs the license, it must be returned to the auditor's office. After the office records it, the document becomes a certified marriage certificate.
The recorded certificate includes the full names of both spouses, the date and place of the ceremony, the officiant's name and qualifications, and any witness signatures. Certified copies of the recorded certificate are what you need for legal name changes, updating Social Security records, getting a new passport, or proving marital status for financial or legal purposes. The Washington State Department of Health at doh.wa.gov also holds statewide vital records. VitalChek at vitalchek.com can process online orders for certified copies if you need records through a third party.
Marriage records in Skagit County go back to 1884. Newer records are accessible through the county's online search. Older records are available through the Washington State Digital Archives. If you are doing genealogy research, both sources are worth checking.
Cities in Skagit County
Skagit County includes Mount Vernon as its county seat, along with several other cities and communities. All marriage license applications go through the Skagit County Auditor's Office in Mount Vernon.
Other communities in Skagit County include Burlington, Anacortes, Sedro-Woolley, Concrete, and Hamilton. All use the Skagit County Auditor's Office for marriage licensing services.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Skagit County. Each has its own auditor's office for marriage license applications. Washington allows you to apply for a marriage license in any county, so choose what works best for your plans.