Snohomish County Marriage License

Snohomish County issues marriage licenses through the County Auditor's Recording Division in Everett. Both applicants must appear in person at the office on Rockefeller Avenue to complete the process. The county seat is Everett, and the Recording Division handles all marriage license applications as well as requests for certified copies of recorded marriage documents. Whether you are applying for a new marriage license or trying to locate a marriage record from years past, the Auditor's Office and the Washington State Digital Archives both provide access to records that go back to 1891.

Snohomish County Auditor's Office

The Snohomish County Auditor's Recording Division is the office that issues marriage licenses in the county. Auditor Garth Fell has served in this role since 2020. The Recording Division is located on the first floor of the Drewel Building at 3000 Rockefeller Avenue in Everett. The office is open Monday through Friday and handles both new marriage license applications and requests for certified copies of recorded marriage records.

The Recording Division does more than just issue marriage licenses. It also records real property documents, deeds, liens, plat maps, military discharges, and powers of attorney. Marriage license hours are slightly different from general office hours, so plan accordingly. The office closes at noon on Fridays for marriage license applications. The Snohomish County Marriage Licenses page has current details on the process and any updates to hours or fees.

The Recording Division's page on the county website is a good first stop. It shows current hours, the process for applying, and links to recorded document searches. The screenshot below shows the Recording Division's official web page at the Snohomish County website.

The Snohomish County Recording Division handles marriage license issuance, certified copy requests, and recorded document searches for the county.

Marriage License Requirements in Snohomish County

Washington State law under RCW 26.04.160 sets the baseline requirements for all marriage license applications in the state. In Snohomish County, both parties must appear together in person at the Recording Division. You cannot send a representative, and one applicant cannot come alone to complete the process. The good news is there is no Washington State residency requirement. Couples from out of state, or even from other countries, can apply in Snohomish County.

Each applicant must bring one piece of valid government-issued photo ID. The ID must show a birth date, a photograph, and a signature. Acceptable forms of identification include a driver's license from any state, a state-issued ID from any state, a passport from any country, or a military ID. The office does not accept expired IDs. Both parties must be 18 years of age or older. No blood test is required, and no witnesses need to be present during the application.

The office collects Social Security numbers for both applicants. If you do not have a Social Security number, you can sign an exemption form. You also need to provide your parents' full legal names, including your mother's maiden name, and the birthplaces of both parents. Previous marital status must be declared, though you do not need to provide documentation of a prior divorce or death of a prior spouse.

Note: Both parties must be present in person at the office. Mail applications are not available through Snohomish County.

Fees and Waiting Period

The marriage license fee in Snohomish County is $64. This fee is non-refundable once you submit the application. Contact the Recording Division to confirm accepted payment methods before your visit. The fee covers the cost of issuing the license and recording it once the certificate is returned after the ceremony.

Washington State law requires a three-day waiting period before a marriage license becomes active. This rule comes from RCW 26.04.180. The waiting period begins automatically on the day you apply. It cannot be waived under any circumstances, including by a court order. After three days, the license is valid. The license stays active for 60 days from the date it was issued. That means the ceremony must take place between day three and day 63. If the license expires before the ceremony happens, you must apply again and pay the fee a second time.

Certified copies of marriage records recorded in Snohomish County cost $10 each. This is higher than the fee in some neighboring counties, so plan for that if you need multiple copies for name changes or legal purposes. The office can provide certified copies for marriages that were licensed and recorded in Snohomish County specifically.

The Snohomish County Auditor's Office page shows current marriage license details, fees, and hours. Check the Snohomish County Marriage Licenses page before your visit to confirm nothing has changed.

Searching Snohomish County Marriage Records

If you need to find an existing marriage record, Snohomish County has a few options. For recent marriages, the Recording Division can search its files by name and provide copies. You can contact the office by phone at (425) 388-3483 or by email at contact.recording@snoco.org to ask about a specific record. The county also has an online recorded document search tool available through the county website, which covers documents that have been digitized and indexed.

Marriage records dating back to 1891 are available through the Washington State Digital Archives. The Digital Archives site lets you search by the groom's name, the bride's name, or by marriage year. The Snohomish County collection contains 3,857 marriage records. You can search the index for free and, in many cases, view or download images of the original documents. This is a valuable tool for anyone doing genealogical research on older Snohomish County marriages.

The Washington State Digital Archives holds Snohomish County marriage records from 1891 forward, with a searchable index and free access to many historical documents.

For marriages from 1968 onward, the Washington State Department of Health also keeps statewide marriage records. Certified copies ordered through the DOH Vital Records office cost $25 each. You can order online through VitalChek, by mail, or by phone. Online orders typically process within three to seven business days. Mail orders can take six to eight weeks.

Note: If the marriage took place within the last five months, the DOH may not yet have a record on file. In that case, request the copy directly from the Snohomish County Auditor's Recording Division.

The Snohomish County Auditor's Office manages recording services including marriage licenses and provides access to recorded document searches.

What Snohomish County Marriage Records Contain

A Snohomish County marriage license contains the license number and the date it was issued. It also shows the full legal names of both parties, listed as Person A and Person B since the state updated its forms in 2012 to reflect Washington's marriage equality law. The license also shows ages, birth dates, birthplaces, and current residences for both applicants. It includes the date of application and the information collected about each party's parents.

After the ceremony, the officiant completes the marriage certificate and returns it to the county. The marriage certificate builds on the license by adding the date and location of the ceremony, the officiant's name, title, and signature, and the names and signatures of two witnesses. It also shows the date the certificate was returned to the county and the recording information. Social Security numbers are collected at the time of application but do not appear on public records. This keeps sensitive information private while still meeting state reporting requirements.

Certified copies carry the county's official seal and the recorder's signature. These are the versions typically required for legal name changes on a driver's license, passport, Social Security card, or financial accounts. The Snohomish County Auditor's Office issues certified copies for $10 each.

Marriage license information and the application process are detailed on the county's dedicated page. The screenshot below is from the official Snohomish County marriage license page, which is the best place to confirm current requirements before visiting the office.

The Snohomish County Marriage Licenses page outlines current requirements, fees, and procedures for applying in Everett.

Cities in Snohomish County

All cities in Snohomish County apply for marriage licenses through the single Recording Division office in Everett. The county includes several communities, from the largest city of Everett down to smaller towns throughout the region.

Other communities in Snohomish County include Mukilteo, Monroe, Sultan, Snohomish, Arlington, and Stanwood. All marriage licenses for the county are issued through the Recording Division at 3000 Rockefeller Avenue in Everett.

Nearby Counties

Snohomish County borders several other Washington counties. Washington law under RCW Chapter 26.04 allows couples to apply for a marriage license in any Washington county, regardless of where they live. If you are near a county line, you can choose whichever office is most convenient.