Applicant Requirements

• Both applicants must be currently unmarried.

• Both parties must be at least 18 years of age or can meet the age requirements.

• The parties are not nearer of kin to each other than second cousins, whole or half blood.

• A marriage between two persons that is valid in another jurisdiction is valid in Washington State if the marriage is not prohibited by Washington state law.

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Age Requirements

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• Minimum Age

  • Applicants must be 18 years of age or older, unless they satisfy the requirements for underage applicants listed below.

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• 17-year-old Applicants

  • Seventeen-year-old parties can apply if one of the following conditions is met:

  • A parent or legal guardian submits a notarized statement of consent (available at any marriage licensing location).

    1. Please bring a certified copy of the applicant's birth certificate or documents establishing legal guardianship.

  • The applicant is legally emancipated and takes the court-certified copy of the emancipation document with them to apply.

• Under Age 17

  • Parties under age 17 can apply only when the age requirement is waived by a superior court judge of the county in which one of the parties resides. Each party to the marriage that is under 17 years of age must present a waiver specifically naming them.

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Residency and Citizenship Requirements

• Marriage license applicants do not have to reside in Washington State.

• A marriage license purchased from any county in Washington State can be used to get married anywhere in Washington State.

  • Applicants do not have to apply for their marriage license in the county in which they reside.

  • Applicants do not have to apply for their marriage license in the county where the wedding ceremony will take place.

• A marriage license obtained in Washington State cannot be used to get married in another state or country.

• Applicants are not required to have a U.S. Social Security number in order to obtain a marriage license. However, one of the marriage license forms requires the inclusion of one's Social Security number OR the applicant's signature on a declaration that they do not have a U.S. Social Security number. This will not impair the couple's ability to receive their marriage license.