A marriage license in Spokane, WA costs $162 and is issued by the Spokane County Auditor’s Office on the first floor of the Spokane County Courthouse. Both applicants complete separate forms, sign them in front of a notary, and submit them by mail or in person. Washington then imposes a three-day waiting period before the license can be used, and the license expires 60 days after issuance if no ceremony takes place.1Washington State Legislature. Washington Code 26.04.180 – License Time Limitations as to Issuance and Use Notification
Who Can Apply
Washington treats marriage as a civil contract between two people at least 18 years old who are otherwise legally able to marry.2Washington State Legislature. Washington Code 26.04.010 – Marriage Contract, Void Marriages, Construction of Gender-Specific Terms, Recognition of Solemnization of Marriage Not Required A 16- or 17-year-old can marry with a notarized statement of consent from a parent or legal guardian, or if the minor is under juvenile court supervision in a dependency proceeding.3Washington State Legislature. Washington Code 26.04 – Marriage Marriages under 16 are void unless a superior court judge grants a waiver based on necessity.
Applicants cannot be closer in relation than second cousins, and neither applicant can already be married to someone else.4Washington State Legislature. Washington Code 26.04.020 – Prohibited Marriages If you were previously married, the auditor’s office does not require you to produce a divorce decree or death certificate, but you are personally responsible for making sure that prior marriage was legally dissolved before applying.
Residency is not a factor. You do not have to live in Washington or in Spokane County, and a license issued by any Washington county can be used for a ceremony held anywhere in the state. No blood test or physical exam is required.
What You Need Before You Apply
Each applicant fills out a separate marriage application form, available as a fillable PDF from the Spokane County Auditor’s website.5Spokane County, WA. Marriage Information Each form asks for:
- Full legal name, plus birth name if different
- Current residential address
- Date and place of birth (city, state, and country)
- Social Security number, required under RCW 26.04.165; if you don’t have one, you sign an affidavit on the form instead
- Each parent’s or guardian’s full name and birthplace
You also need proof of age and identity. A valid driver’s license, state ID card, passport, or certified copy of a birth certificate will do.6Spokane County. Marriage Application The fillable PDF is built for desktop use, not mobile.
How to Submit the Application and Pay the Fee
After each applicant completes their form, each must sign in front of a notary public. Many banks and credit unions offer free notary services. This step surprises people, so take care of it before you head to the auditor’s office or the post office.5Spokane County, WA. Marriage Information
You can submit the two notarized forms and payment two ways:
- By mail: Send both forms with a single $162 payment to Spokane County Auditor – Marriage, PO Box 2353, Spokane, WA 99210. Payment must be a check, cashier’s check, or money order made out to the Spokane County Auditor. Phone payments and electronic transfers are not accepted for mailed applications.
- In person: Visit the Auditor’s Office on the first floor of the Spokane County Courthouse. Cash, check, and credit or debit cards are all accepted at the counter.
The $162 fee includes one certified copy of the marriage certificate.7Spokane County, WA. Spokane County Auditor – Filing and Fee Schedule Spokane County does not offer a true online application portal; the process is download, print, notarize, and submit.
Three-Day Wait and 60-Day Window
Washington law requires a three-day waiting period after the application is filed. The license cannot be used for a ceremony during those three days.1Washington State Legislature. Washington Code 26.04.180 – License Time Limitations as to Issuance and Use Notification There is no way to waive it. Not by court order, not for emergencies, not for any reason. If you have a wedding date in mind, apply at least four days ahead.
Once issued, the license is valid for 60 days. If no ceremony takes place within that window, the license expires and you have to start over with a new application and another $162 fee.3Washington State Legislature. Washington Code 26.04 – Marriage When the application is approved, the auditor’s office sends a license packet containing the formal marriage certificate and instructions for your officiant.
Officiant and Witness Requirements
Washington authorizes a broad range of people to perform wedding ceremonies: justices of the state supreme court, judges of the court of appeals and superior courts, various court commissioners, judges of courts of limited jurisdiction, federal judges, judges of federally recognized tribal courts, and any regularly licensed or ordained minister, priest, imam, rabbi, or similar official of a religious organization.8Washington State Legislature. Washington Code 26.04.050 – Who May Solemnize Both active and retired officials qualify. The statute uses the phrase “regularly licensed or ordained minister,” which has in practice allowed ministers ordained through online organizations to officiate, though the law doesn’t specifically address online ordination.
At least two witnesses must be present at the ceremony, and they should be at least 14 years old. Witnesses don’t need to appear at the application stage; they sign the marriage certificate at the wedding itself, alongside the officiant.
Filing the Certificate and Ordering Copies
Your officiant, not you, is legally responsible for completing the marriage certificate accurately and delivering it to the Spokane County Auditor’s Office within 30 days of the ceremony.9Washington State Legislature. Washington Code 26.04.090 – Certificate for Files of County Auditor and State Registrar of Vital Statistics, Forms The officiant also sends a copy to the state registrar of vital statistics. A polite follow-up with whoever performs your ceremony is worth the time, because a certificate that doesn’t reach the auditor’s office creates problems later when you need to prove the marriage is recorded.
Once the auditor processes the returned certificate, additional certified copies cost $3 each.5Spokane County, WA. Marriage Information Plan on ordering several. Name changes, insurance updates, and other post-wedding paperwork each tend to ask for an original.