Marriage licenses in Washington are handled locally, and the details that matter — the fee, the wait, how long the license lasts — are set by a mix of state law and local practice. This page collects the statewide rules from Washington’s own official sources, then links every county guide we have verified so far.
The statewide rules
- Who issues the license: County Auditor of any county (RCW 26.04.140, 26.04.180)
- License fee: State base + county additions
- Waiting period: 3 days – the license may not be used until three days after the date of application (RCW 26.04.180)
- License validity: 60 days from issuance (void if not solemnized within 60 days)
- Witnesses: 2
- Residency / where to apply: License may be obtained from any county auditor; no residency rule stated in the opened statute
Washington counties in this directory
We have published 21 verified county guides for Washington so far. License fees on the verified county pages currently run from $157 to $176. 3 of them publish a separate ceremony fee. Browse them all: Browse all Washington county guides — and use the search on the homepage to jump straight to your county.
Source for the statewide rules: https://apps.leg.wa.gov/Rcw/default.aspx?cite=26.04.180 (checked 2026-11-09). County figures are checked separately against each county’s own official page and carry their own verified dates. Always confirm with your county clerk before you go — this is not a government site.