Marriage Licensing
Marriage license applications can be completed Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.
The cost of a marriage license may vary from county to county. In Lewis County the fee is $72.00, payable by cash or check only. Credit and debit cards are not accepted. Marriage licenses must be applied for at least three (3) days prior to the marriage and are valid for 60 days anywhere within the state of Washington. Failure to use the marriage license within 60 days will invalidate the license.
To apply for a marriage license, each party must be at least 18 years old and have picture identification.
Witnesses are not needed when you apply for your marriage license. Two witnesses are required at the time of the actual ceremony.
Blood tests are not required in Washington State.
RCW 26.04.050 states that any licensed or ordained minister or priest of any religious denomination may perform the wedding ceremony. The officiant does not need to register with either Lewis County or the State of Washington. District Court and Superior Court both have judges who will perform wedding ceremonies.
Click here to begin the marriage application process online. After clicking the "I Acknowledge" button, the link for the online marriage application will be on the bottom left side of the screen.
To officially change your name, you will need a certified copy of your marriage license. Certified copies may be requested by visiting the Recordings Department or by mailing the request form found below. The $3.00 per copy fee may be paid by cash or check in person. If requesting the copy by mail, complete the form below and submit a $3.00 check or money order along with a self-addressed stamped envelope. If you purchased your license in another county, you will need to contact that particular county as we only have access to licenses that originated in Lewis County.
Marriage Certificate Request Form
Many counties including Lewis County also provide documents to the Washington State Archives' Digital Archives Website. Certified copies of marriage certificates can be purchased through the Digital Archives Website with a debit/credit card.