Waiting Period & Ceremony
The marriage license will be given to the parties upon application. The ceremony must occur in the State of Washington and be performed between 3 and 63 days of application. The 3 day waiting period cannot be waived. The person performing the ceremony must be a judge, a retired judge, or an ordained minister or similar official of any religious organization.
You may contact a judge from the following list:
- Superior Court Judges
Phone: 509-477-4707 / Email: [email protected] - District Court Judges
Online Form - Municipal Court Judges
Phone: 509-622-5867 - Airway Heights Municipal Court
Phone: 509-862-8088
Application Requirements
- Age: The legal age for both parties is 18 years old.
- Spouse/Partner: Applicants cannot have a current living spouse or registered domestic partner, unless the partner is the other party to this marriage.
- Miscellaneous: Witnesses or blood tests are not required to obtain a marriage license in the State of Washington.
Certified Copies
To obtain a certified copy of a marriage certificate by mail, you will need to send a check payable to the Spokane County Auditor along with the names of each party at the time of application and the date of the marriage. A certified copy of the marriage certificate is $3. Our marriage records can also be accessed at the Washington State Digital Archives or in our office.
Performing Marriage Ceremony
Who can Perform the Marriage Ceremony: Washington State Law (RCW 26.04.050) specifies who can solemnize or officiate marriages, primarily justices, justices and commissioners of the courts and officials of religious organizations. A ship captain, unless meeting the qualifications above, is not authorized to perform marriages. Further, neither the couple nor the two witnesses may officiate the wedding ceremony.
An official of a religious organization is broadly defined in the law. The individual can be a regularly licensed or ordained minister or any priest, imam, rabbi or similar official of any religious organization of any state. Beyond providing this definition, Washington State does not issue or verify the license or qualifications of clergy to perform marriages.
Officiant Responsibilities: In performing the marriage ceremony, the officiant accepts numerous responsibilities laid out in Washington State statute. The officiant is responsible to:
- Complete their information on the marriage certificate
- Ensure that the couple and two witnesses sign and date the marriage certificate
- Return the marriage certificate to the appropriate county office within 30 days of the ceremony, or face a possible misdemeanor and fine up to $300