Thurston County Marriage License

Thurston County issues marriage licenses through the County Auditor's Office in Olympia, the state capital of Washington. Both applicants must appear in person at the Recording office to complete the application, though a limited mail-in option is available when one party cannot come to the office. The Auditor's Office is located at the Atrium building on Pacific Avenue in Olympia and handles all marriage license applications for the county. Thurston County also has one of the more detailed online pre-application processes in the state, making it easier to prepare before your visit.

Thurston County Auditor's Office

The Thurston County Auditor's Office is located at The Atrium building at 3000 Pacific Avenue SE in Olympia. Auditor Mary Hall oversees the office. General office hours run Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Marriage license applications are accepted from 8:00 AM to 4:15 PM, so plan to arrive before that cutoff to ensure you have enough time to complete the process.

One thing that sets Thurston County apart is the option to pre-fill application paperwork online before visiting. The county recommends watching a short informational video on the process before coming in. Both applicants still must appear in person to finalize the application, though a limited mail-in process is available when one party truly cannot come to the office. Details on the mail-in option are on the Thurston County Marriage Licenses page.

The Auditor's contact page has direct numbers and email options if you need to reach the office before visiting. The screenshot below shows the Thurston County Auditor contact information page, which lists the office locations and phone numbers for each division.

The Thurston County Auditor's contact page lists office locations, phone numbers, and links to each division, including Recording and Licensing Services where marriage licenses are handled.

Marriage License Requirements in Thurston County

Washington State law under RCW 26.04.160 sets the baseline requirements for all marriage license applications in the state. In Thurston County, both applicants must appear in person at the Recording office. There is no Washington residency requirement. Couples from other states, or from other countries, can apply here. Both applicants must be at least 18 years old.

Each applicant must bring one piece of valid government-issued photo ID. The ID must contain a birth date, a photograph, and a signature. Acceptable forms include a driver's license from any state, a state identification card from any state, a passport from any country, or a military ID. Expired IDs are not accepted. Social Security numbers are required for both parties. 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. Prior marital status must be declared by both applicants. No documentation of a prior divorce or death of a former spouse is required, but the declaration must be truthful. No blood test is required. Witnesses are not needed during the application appointment.

If one party cannot appear in person, the county does offer a mail-in option. Both applicants must download and complete a paper application form, then also complete the online application. The names listed as Applicant A and Applicant B must match exactly on both the paper and online versions. Both parties must sign the paper application before a notary public. Mail the notarized application, the fee ($172, non-refundable), your wedding date, a contact phone number, and a return mailing address to the Thurston County Auditor, Attn: Copy Request, 3000 Pacific Ave SE, Olympia, WA 98501.

Fees and Waiting Period

The marriage license fee in Thurston County is $172. This is one of the higher fees among Washington counties. The fee is non-refundable once you submit the application. The office accepts cash, check, money order, and credit or debit cards. Credit and debit card transactions are subject to an additional service fee of $2.00 or 2.3 percent of the total, whichever is higher. Debit card transactions have a 1 percent service fee. Plan your payment method before your visit to avoid surprises.

Washington State law requires a three-day waiting period before a marriage license becomes valid. This rule is set by RCW 26.04.180. The waiting period starts on the day the office issues the license, not the day you apply. As a practical example from the county: if you apply on Wednesday, you can get married on Saturday. The license remains valid for 60 days. The ceremony must take place between day three and day 63. If you miss that window, the license expires and you must apply again.

Certified copies of marriage records can be ordered by phone at (360) 786-5405, in person at the office, or by mail. The Thurston County Auditor accepts credit cards over the phone for copy requests, though a service fee applies. Photo copies cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies cost $3.00 for the first page and $1.00 for each additional page. To request by mail, send your request along with payment to the Thurston County Auditor, Attn: Copy Request, 3000 Pacific Ave SE, Olympia, WA 98501.

Note: The $172 fee applies regardless of whether you use the in-person or mail-in application method. It is not refundable in either case.

Searching Thurston County Marriage Records

All marriage records in Thurston County are public records. The one exception is if a party is enrolled in the Washington State Address Confidentiality Program (ACP). Once a marriage application or certificate is recorded, it cannot be removed from the public record. The Auditor's Office can search records by name and provide copies for marriages licensed and recorded in Thurston County.

For older marriage records, the Washington State Digital Archives holds historical Thurston County marriage documents. You can search the collection by name and browse index information at no cost. The Digital Archives is a useful resource for genealogical research on marriages in Thurston County going back many decades.

The Washington State Digital Archives provides free online access to historical Thurston County marriage records, searchable by name.

For marriages from 1968 onward, the Washington State Department of Health keeps statewide records at the DOH Vital Records office. Certified copies 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. If the marriage happened within the past five months, the DOH may not yet have a record. In that case, request the copy from the Thurston County Auditor's Office directly.

Marriage licenses in Thurston County are only available in the county in which you applied. If you applied in Thurston County, your license and the returned certificate after your ceremony are both on file at the Olympia office. The screenshot below shows the Thurston County Marriage Licenses page, which outlines the full process for applications and copy requests.

The Thurston County Marriage Licenses page covers the in-person and mail-in application options, fee details, and how to request certified copies of marriage records.

What Thurston County Marriage Records Contain

A Thurston County marriage license contains the license number, the date it was issued, and the full legal names of both parties listed as Applicant A and Applicant B. The license also shows ages, birthplaces, and current residences for both applicants. It includes the date of application, a notation of the three-day waiting period, and the expiration date. Parents' full legal names and birthplaces are collected at the time of application and become part of the official record.

After the ceremony, the officiant completes the marriage certificate and returns it to the county. The marriage certificate adds the date and location of the ceremony, the officiant's name, title, and signature, and the names and signatures of at least two witnesses. Washington State law under RCW Chapter 26.04 requires at least two attending witnesses for the ceremony. The law also specifies who can legally perform the ceremony: judges of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Superior Court, District Court, and Municipal Court; commissioners of those courts; and licensed or ordained officials of any religious organization. The recording information including book and page number is added when the document is filed at the county.

Social Security numbers are collected at the time of application but do not appear on any public copies of the record. Certified copies carry the official county seal and are the version required for legal name changes on identification documents. The Thurston County Auditor's Office charges $3.00 for the first certified page and $1.00 for each additional page. Non-certified photo copies are $1.00 per page.

Cities in Thurston County

All cities and communities in Thurston County apply for marriage licenses through the Thurston County Auditor's Office in Olympia. The county includes the state capital as well as several nearby communities.

Other communities in Thurston County include Yelm, Tenino, Rainier, and unincorporated areas. All marriage licenses for the county are issued through the Recording Division at The Atrium building at 3000 Pacific Avenue SE in Olympia.

Nearby Counties

Thurston County borders several other Washington counties in the south Puget Sound region. Washington law under RCW Chapter 26.04 allows couples to apply for a marriage license in any county in the state, regardless of where they live or where the ceremony will take place.