FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Applying
- Marrying Non-Citizen/Non-Resident
- Faxed Application/Affidavit
- Can't Both Come in to Apply
- Marriage License Lost or Destroyed Before
Getting Married
- Married Elsewhere/Recognized Here
- Wedding Ceremony Requirement
- Had Wedding But No License
- Waiver of Validity Period
Officiant
- Friend or Relative Officiate Wedding Ceremony
- License/Registration of Officiant in Washington State
- Officiant Duties
- Witnesses under 18
- Signing Marriage License Forms
Public Record/Copies/Privacy
- Single Status/No Impediment
- Apostille
- Obtaining Certified Copies of Marriage Certificate
- Form(s) Lost or Never Recorded After Wedding
- Name Change - Other than Traditional
- Public Record Access
- Finding Older Marriage Records
APPLYING
My fiancé/finaceé is in another location. Can I bring in his/her faxed, notarized affidavit?
- No, a faxed application or affidavit will not be accepted to apply for a marriage license. It must be the original, signed and notarized document for it to be accepted.
Can't Both Come in to Apply
We aren't both able to come in to apply for our marriage license. What can we do?
- Download the marriage license application form from our website .The party/parties who cannot apply in person complete their affidavit with a notary public. That original document is forwarded to the affiant who can apply in person, or in the case that both parties are unable to appear, it is forwarded to a third party who can apply for the marriage license on their behalf.
Lost or Destroyed Forms Before the Wedding
We lost or the marriage license forms were destroyed? What can we do?
- Before the Wedding: One of the parties to the marriage must return to one of our sites, complete an Affidavit of Loss, and pay $1 to replace each form lost or destroyed.
- After the Wedding: link to below
Single Status Form/ No Impediment Form
I need to get a Single Status form to marry in another country. Can you direct me? Does Washington State require a Single Status or No Impediment form?
- Washington State does not require submittal of a Single Status or No Impediment form. If you are getting married in a location that requires proof that you are not already married, use this link for more information: Single Status or No Impediment forms.
GETTING MARRIED
Got Our License. Are We Married?
- No, simply applying for and obtaining a marriage license does not make you married. A wedding ceremony must take place. The parties must assent or declare, in the physical presence of the officiant solemnizing the marriage and at least two attending witnesses, that they take each other to be husband and wife.
Got Married but Didn't Have a License. Are We Married?
- No, under State law, that wedding will not be recognized as legal or official for civil purposes. You will need to purchase a marriage license and have another ceremony within the validity dates of the license, and for civil purposes this date will be your official wedding date.
Married in Another State or Country
Do we need to get married again here? How do we prove we are legally married?
We Must Get Married Before the License Becomes Valid.
My spouse is leaving for active duty in three days and we must get married prior to that.
- Under no circumstances does State law allow for the validity dates to be waived; however, validity does include the first and last dates listed on the marriage license.
Friend or Relative Officiate Wedding Ceremony
We'd really like to have my uncle perform our wedding ceremony. What can we do?
Preparing the Forms
What do we do with the forms we got when we applied for the marriage license?
- It is the responsibility of the officiant, not the couple, to assure that the marriage license forms are prepared, completed, signed, and distributed within 30 days of the wedding. The following link advises officiants how to prepare, complete, and distribute forms after the wedding: Preparing and Distributing the marriage license forms
Witnesses Under Age 18
We'd like my daughter to be one of our witnesses, but she's only 13. Can we do that?
- State law does not specify the age of witnesses; however, the persons are witnessing a civil contract. As such, a witness is deemed "competent" for this purpose usually at the age of 18. If applicants wish to have persons under the age of 18 witness the ceremony, we recommend they have two other witnesses, who are over 18, also observe the exchange of vows and sign the marriage certificates. More than two witnesses may sign the certificates.
PUBLIC RECORD/COPIES/PRIVACY
Name Change - Other Than Traditional
In our case, the groom intends to take the bride's last name. How does he implement that?
- Traditionally, the bride has taken the groom's last name. If you are intending anything other than the traditional name change, check with each agency for its requirements to accomplish that. If an agency requires more than a certified copy of your marriage license, a court-ordered name change can be accomplished at King County District Court: http://your.kingcounty.gov/kcdc/ncinfo.htm.
Form(s) lost or never recorded after the wedding
Obtaining certified copies of the Marriage Certificate
Our marriage certificate has not been recorded. What can we do?
- Before the Wedding: link to above.
- After the Wedding: If the Washington State Department of Health Certificate of Marriage is not recorded with King County within 30 days of the wedding, the couple should first confirm with their wedding officiant that the form was mailed back to King County after the ceremony. If it was returned, call the King County Recorder's Office for a further check and directions: 206-296-1844.
Apostille
The country we are going to live in requires that an Apostille be affixed to our wedding certificate. How do we get one?
Older Marriage Records
How do we get a marriage record from the 1950s?
I STILL HAVE QUESTIONS
For complete, automated information on marriage licensing in King County, including the eight sites at which to apply, along with their schedules, addresses and driving directions, call anytime: 206 296-3933 or 1-800-325-6165 ext 63933.
To speak with a marriage licensing staff member, call the downtown Seattle Marriage License Office, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, except holidays: 206 296-4021 or 1-800-325-6165 ext 64021.
Send emails to: kcro@kingcounty.gov
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