Marriage Certificate Laws & Requirements...
I am providing the most common requirements in Benton and Franklin County. Requirements vary in all counties so be sure to contact the appropriate Auditor's Office for more information. Here is the contact information for the local Auditor's Office:
Franklin County Auditor
1016 North 4th Avenue
Pasco, WA 99301
Phone: (509) 545-3840
Benton County Auditor Kennewick
5600-B West Canal Place A-103
Kennewick, WA 99336
Phone: (509) 736-2727
Benton County Auditor Richland
101 Wellsian Way, Suite E
Richland, WA 99352
Phone: (509) 943-3117
Benton County Auditor Prosser
620 Market Street
Prosser, WA 99350
Phone: (509) 786-5620
1016 North 4th Avenue
Pasco, WA 99301
Phone: (509) 545-3840
Benton County Auditor Kennewick
5600-B West Canal Place A-103
Kennewick, WA 99336
Phone: (509) 736-2727
Benton County Auditor Richland
101 Wellsian Way, Suite E
Richland, WA 99352
Phone: (509) 943-3117
Benton County Auditor Prosser
620 Market Street
Prosser, WA 99350
Phone: (509) 786-5620
COSTS:
The estimated cost of a marriage License is $50-$60 paid in cash only at the Auditor's Office. Both the Bride and Groom must be present at the Auditor's Office with Photo Identification (Drivers License or State I.D. Card).
REQUIRED INFORMATION:
Before going to the Auditor's Office, be sure to download and print out the form below. It contains all of the information that you will need in order to apply for your marriage license.
The estimated cost of a marriage License is $50-$60 paid in cash only at the Auditor's Office. Both the Bride and Groom must be present at the Auditor's Office with Photo Identification (Drivers License or State I.D. Card).
REQUIRED INFORMATION:
Before going to the Auditor's Office, be sure to download and print out the form below. It contains all of the information that you will need in order to apply for your marriage license.
| marriageinfoform.pdf |
AGE REQUIREMENTS:
Both must be 18 years of age or older. If person is under 17, they must have a parent or legal custodian present with the applicant and provide their consent and proof of age.
WITNESSES:
Your witnesses should be at least 18 years of age. While at times children are an intricate part of your ceremony, you need to have someone who understands they are witnessing a civil contract.
RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS:
There are no residency requirements to obtain a WA state marriage license. However, the marriage ceremony must be performed in WA State. This also applies to persons form other countries.
3-DAY WAITING PERIOD:
There is a 3-day waiting period and this cannot be waived. You license needs to be used within 60 days.
THE MARRIAGE CEREMONY:
The only requirement during the marriage ceremony is that the bride and groom each declare, in the presence of two witnesses and the officiant, that they take each other to be husband and wife.
You must be married in the state you purchased your license from.
You may get married on a boat as long as you are in WA state waters.
Washington State does not ‘license’ persons to perform marriages. The best thing to do is have a competent experienced officiant-minister-judge.
Your officiant will mail in the appropriate papers to the Auditors office, if you need your certified copies immediately, you may take in the papers personally to the office. You may want to wait approximaty 2 weeks to pick up your copies or contact your Auditors office for confirmation the license has been recorded and ready to be picked up.
If they’re unfortunately a simple error in the paperwork, it will be sent back to your officiant with instructions on how to fix it. This rarely happens working with an experience officiant.
CERTIFIED COPIES:
You are given a keepsake copy of your ceremony. It is not an official record and may not be accepted for legal purposes. Please go back to the Auditors office to get a “certified copy” The cost in WA state for this is approximately $3-$15.
Both must be 18 years of age or older. If person is under 17, they must have a parent or legal custodian present with the applicant and provide their consent and proof of age.
WITNESSES:
Your witnesses should be at least 18 years of age. While at times children are an intricate part of your ceremony, you need to have someone who understands they are witnessing a civil contract.
RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS:
There are no residency requirements to obtain a WA state marriage license. However, the marriage ceremony must be performed in WA State. This also applies to persons form other countries.
3-DAY WAITING PERIOD:
There is a 3-day waiting period and this cannot be waived. You license needs to be used within 60 days.
THE MARRIAGE CEREMONY:
The only requirement during the marriage ceremony is that the bride and groom each declare, in the presence of two witnesses and the officiant, that they take each other to be husband and wife.
You must be married in the state you purchased your license from.
You may get married on a boat as long as you are in WA state waters.
Washington State does not ‘license’ persons to perform marriages. The best thing to do is have a competent experienced officiant-minister-judge.
Your officiant will mail in the appropriate papers to the Auditors office, if you need your certified copies immediately, you may take in the papers personally to the office. You may want to wait approximaty 2 weeks to pick up your copies or contact your Auditors office for confirmation the license has been recorded and ready to be picked up.
If they’re unfortunately a simple error in the paperwork, it will be sent back to your officiant with instructions on how to fix it. This rarely happens working with an experience officiant.
CERTIFIED COPIES:
You are given a keepsake copy of your ceremony. It is not an official record and may not be accepted for legal purposes. Please go back to the Auditors office to get a “certified copy” The cost in WA state for this is approximately $3-$15.
