Marriage records in Thurston County, Washington, are available through several channels. ThurstonCourt.us allows quick access to public information on marriage records in the county. Additionally, certified copies can be obtained through the Thurston County Auditor's Office or the Washington State Department of Health (DOH). Requests are accepted in person, by mail, and online.
Thurston Marriage Records Search
In Thurston County, marriage licenses are issued by the Thurston County Auditor's Office. After the ceremony is registered, the completed license is returned to the auditor's office, where it is recorded as an official record. The Washington State Department of Health maintains a centralized database of marriage records from 1968 to the present. Historical records — including those dating before 1968 — can be found through the Washington State Digital Archives, located in Olympia.
The collection includes:
- Issued marriage licenses
- Registered marriage certificates
- Historical records digitized through the Digital Archives
Thurston County Auditor's Office — Recording Division
Certified Marriage Record Copies and Fees in Thurston
The cost of obtaining copies depends on whether you contact the county office or the state. Below are the approximate fees according to the rates of the Thurston County Auditor and DOH.
| Service | Cost |
|---|---|
| Certified copy (through DOH) | $25.00 |
| Additional copy of the same record (in one order, DOH) | $25.00 |
| Certified copy (through Thurston County Auditor) | Check with the office |
| Expedited processing (DOH, additional) | Depends on the chosen delivery method |
Fees are set in accordance with RCW 70.58A and DOH rates. Processing time through the state usually takes several weeks. If the record is needed urgently, DOH recommends contacting the county office where the license was issued directly — especially for records from 2023 and later.
Order Marriage Certificates Online or In Person in Thurston
There are several ways to order a marriage certificate.
Online
Ordering certified copies is available through the Washington State Department of Health portal. You need to fill out an online form, verify your identity, and pay the fee by card. DOH processes records from 1968 to the present.
In Person
Visit the Thurston County Auditor's Office at:
Bring a valid photo ID. For recent records, this method is the fastest.
By Mail
Send a request to DOH or the county office. Include:
- A completed marriage record request form (downloadable from the DOH website)
- A copy of a photo ID
- A check or money order for the appropriate amount
- A self-addressed stamped envelope (optional, for faster processing)
DOH mailing address for requests:
For searching historical marriage records in Thurston County — for example, those dating to the late 19th or early 20th century — use the Washington State Digital Archives. The archive contains digitized documents from local government agencies and is available online for free. If you need help searching for state court cases, try the Washington Courts case search system, although copies of documents must be ordered separately from the respective court. For additional questions regarding marriage records, ThurstonCourt.us provides useful reference information.