Marriage records in Whatcom County, Washington, are available through several channels. WhatcomCourt.us allows quick access to public information about marriage records in the county. Additionally, the original documents are maintained by the Whatcom County Auditor's office, which issues marriage licenses and registers returned certificates. Requests can be submitted online, in person at the auditor's office, or by mail.
Whatcom Marriage Records Search
In Washington State, marriage licenses are issued and registered by the County Auditor. In Whatcom County, this function is performed by the Recording Division of the Whatcom County Auditor's office. The collection of marriage records includes issued marriage licenses, returned and registered marriage certificates, as well as historical records. The auditor has digitized images of registered documents starting from August 1991, and microfilmed copies dating back to 1853.
To search index records online, use the Digital Research Room — a free public tool where you can search by party names or dates.
Certified copies of marriage records are also issued by the Washington State Department of Health (Department of Health, Vital Records). This is useful if you do not know in which county the marriage was registered.
Certified Marriage Record Copies and Fees in Whatcom
The fee amount is set according to Washington State law (RCW 70.58A) and local rates of the auditor's office. Below is an approximate fee table:
| Service | Cost |
|---|---|
| Certified copy of marriage certificate (via DOH) | $25.00 |
| Additional copy (in the same order, via DOH) | $25.00 |
| Certified copy (via County Auditor's office) | Check with the office |
| Non-certified / informational copy | Check with the office |
| Record search (via DOH) | Included in the copy cost |
The State Department of Health usually processes requests within a few weeks. If you need a copy sooner, expedited processing is available for an additional fee when ordering through DOH. We recommend confirming the exact fees for the Whatcom County Auditor's services directly by calling (360) 778-5100, as they may change.
Order Marriage Certificates Online or In Person in Whatcom
There are three main ways to obtain a copy of a marriage certificate in Whatcom County.
Online
Certified copies of marriage records can be ordered through the online system of the Washington State Department of Health. On the DOH website, you need to:
- Go to the Vital Records section and select Marriage.
- Complete the order form with the spouses' names and approximate marriage date.
- Pay the fee with a credit or debit card.
The copy will be mailed to the specified address.
In Person
Visit the County Auditor's office at:
Bring a valid photo ID. An appointment is usually not required — requests are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Payment is accepted on-site.
By Mail
To order by mail, send to the auditor's office address:
- A written request with the full names of the spouses and approximate marriage date.
- A copy of the applicant's ID.
- A check or money order for the appropriate amount (confirm in advance by phone).
- A self-addressed stamped envelope.
Mail requests take longer to process than in-person visits. If you are looking for older records — prior to 1991 — the auditor may direct you to the microfilm archive or advise contacting the Washington State Digital Archives, where digitized documents of Whatcom County are stored.