Who Handles Marriage and Divorce Records in Clark County
Two offices split these records. The Clark County Auditor issues marriage licenses and keeps them on file after the ceremony is complete. That office also handles recorded documents, including certified and non-certified copies of marriage licenses. If you want to apply for a license or get a certified copy of one, the Auditor is the right place to call or visit.
Divorce is a different matter. Dissolution of marriage is a Superior Court case, and the County Clerk maintains those files. The Clerk's Office holds the petition, any orders, the final decree, and all other documents filed in the case. The Family Court Facilitator, also based at the courthouse on the first floor, helps people who are handling dissolution without a lawyer. So if you need a marriage license, go to the Auditor. If you need a divorce record, go to the Clerk.
Keep that split in mind when you search. The offices are in the same downtown Vancouver area, but they serve different functions and have different contact lines and fees. Mixing them up adds delays to any request.
How to Apply for a Clark County Marriage License
The Auditor's office at clark.wa.gov/auditor/marriage-license runs the marriage license process for Clark County. Both parties must apply together, or one party can use a notary packet process if only one can appear in person. Either way, start by completing the online application before you come in or before you mail anything. The online step is required first.
- Complete the online marriage license application at the Clark County Auditor's website. Both parties should have their information ready before starting the form.
- Gather a government-issued photo ID for each party. A passport, driver's license, state ID, or military ID all work. Bring the original document, not a copy.
- Both parties must appear together at the Auditor's office, or, if the Joint Lobby is closed for remodel, one party may complete and sign the Marriage Application Notary Packet before a notary and submit it by mail or drop box.
- Pay the $172.00 non-refundable fee. Cash, debit/credit card (with convenience fee), cashier's check, and money order are accepted. Personal checks are not accepted under any circumstances.
- Wait out the three-day waiting period. The license is not valid until three full days have passed. This waiting period cannot be waived, including by court order.
- Hold the license for your ceremony. It stays valid for 60 days after the three-day waiting period ends. The ceremony must take place in Washington State.
- After the ceremony, the officiant and witnesses sign the Certificate of Marriage. Return the completed certificate to the Auditor's office to complete the official record.
If only one party can come to the office, that person may download and print the Marriage License Application, complete the requested information, sign before a notary who attaches their seal, and submit the packet along with the $172 payment. The drop box in the first-floor lobby of the Public Service Center accepts submissions. Mail goes to Clark County Auditor, Marriage License Department, PO Box 5000, Vancouver, WA 98666-5000. Contact the Auditor directly at 564-397-2208 or AuditorRecording@clark.wa.gov if you have questions about the current lobby status.
Marriage License Requirements in Clark County
Washington law sets the baseline rules, and the Clark County Auditor follows them without exception. Both parties must be at least 18 years old. Both must apply for and receive a marriage license through Clark County. Both must do so at least three days before the ceremony. The three-day waiting period is mandatory and cannot be shortened by any means, including a judge's order.
Officiants are authorized under RCW 26.04. Active or retired Supreme Court Justices, Court of Appeals judges, Superior Court judges, Superior Court commissioners, judges of courts of limited jurisdiction, judges of federally recognized tribal courts, and regularly licensed or ordained religious officials such as ministers, priests, imams, and rabbis may all perform a ceremony. Neither applicant may serve as the officiant. A minimum of five people must be present: the officiant, the two parties, and two witnesses. Witnesses must be at least 14 years old and must understand what they are witnessing.
The ceremony must take place in Washington State. A license issued in Clark County covers only Washington ceremonies. Social Security numbers are requested during the application, but you do not need to bring your Social Security card. You only need the government-issued photo ID to confirm your name and age.
Important: Washington's three-day waiting period is absolute. Even a judge cannot waive it. Plan your ceremony date at least four days after you apply to allow for processing time and the full waiting period.
Clark County Marriage License Fee
The fee changed effective July 27, 2025. The current cost is $172.00, and it covers the license itself. The fee is due at the time your application is processed and is non-refundable regardless of whether the ceremony takes place. Payment options are limited. The office does not accept personal checks.
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Marriage license | $172.00 | Non-refundable; effective July 27, 2025 |
| Courthouse ceremony (District Court) | $100.00 cash only | Appointment required one day in advance; call 564-397-2424 |
| Certified marriage copy (one page) | $3.00 | One-page document |
| Non-certified marriage copy (one page) | $1.00 | One-page document |
Debit and credit card payments carry a convenience fee set by the card processor. Cash avoids that extra charge. For mail requests, include a cashier's check or money order made out to the Clark County Auditor. Online copy requests through the Recorded Documents portal or the Washington State Digital Archives require a card and may carry additional fees set by those platforms.
Marriage License Form Fields
The Clark County marriage license application collects information about both parties before the Auditor can issue the license. The table below lists the fields from the Auditor's application and copy request process so you know what to have ready before you start.
| Field Label | Type | Required | Options / Format Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online application | Web form | Yes | Completed before in-person processing or mailing packet. |
| Party A and Party B legal names | Text | Yes | Full legal name as it appears on government-issued ID. |
| Government-issued photo ID | Document | Yes | Passport, driver's license, state ID, or military ID. |
| Social Security numbers | Text | Asked | Card not required; number asked but not mandatory to provide. |
| Notary signatures and seal | Notary | Conditional | Required for by-mail or notary packet process when only one party appears. |
| Payment | Fee | Yes | $172; cash, card, cashier's check, or money order; no personal checks. |
| Certified copy request (name and date) | Text/Date | Yes | Needed when completing the Request for Certified Copy Form. |
| Self-addressed stamped envelope | Mailing | Yes for mail | Required for mail copy requests so the office can return the copy. |
The online application is the first step no matter which method you use. Have both parties' legal names and IDs ready before you open the form. The notary packet fields apply only when one party cannot appear in person.
Certified Marriage Copies in Clark County
Once a marriage is recorded, you can request a certified or non-certified copy from the County Auditor. Certified copies carry the official seal and are accepted by courts, government agencies, and financial institutions. Non-certified copies are good for personal records but may not be accepted for legal filings.
The screenshot below shows the Clark County Auditor's marriage license page at clark.wa.gov/auditor/marriage-license, where both the online application and copy request instructions are posted.
The Auditor's page shows the fee schedule and instructions for requesting copies. Current options are by mail, online, or in person when the Joint Lobby is open.
To request a copy by mail, complete the Request for Certified Copy Form and include your payment and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Mail the full packet to Clark County Auditor's Office, Attn: Marriage License Department, PO Box 5000, Vancouver, WA 98666. Online requests go through the Recorded Documents portal or the Washington State Digital Archives. Both online options accept debit or credit cards and may add service fees. In-person copy service depends on whether the Joint Lobby is open; call 564-397-2208 or email AuditorRecording@clark.wa.gov to confirm current walk-in availability.
| Copy Type | Fee | How to Request |
|---|---|---|
| Certified copy (one page) | $3.00 | Mail, online, or in person |
| Non-certified copy (one page) | $1.00 | Mail, online, or in person |
How to Find Clark County Divorce Records
Divorce and dissolution cases are filed with the County Clerk at the Clark County Courthouse. These are Superior Court domestic cases, so Odyssey is the public search tool. Go to the Washington Courts Odyssey Portal and use Smart Search. Select case type 3 for Domestic to focus your results on dissolution and family law cases. You can search by party name in Last, First format or by case number if you have one. Registered users can run wildcard searches; anonymous users work with exact name matching.
Once you find a case, Odyssey shows the case summary, parties, and a list of filed documents. Full document text is not displayed online. To get copies of the actual filings, contact the County Clerk's Office at 1200 Franklin Street, Vancouver, WA 98660-5000, phone 564-397-2292, Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Not every part of a dissolution file is open. Court Rule GR 22 restricts access to certain family law materials. Financial declarations, child-related documents, and any materials a judge has sealed are not available to the public. What remains open is the case summary, the docket entries, and non-restricted orders such as the final decree. If you believe a record was sealed in error or want access to a restricted portion, you would need to file a motion in Superior Court.
Note: GR 22 applies to all Washington Superior Court domestic cases and restricts financial and child-related materials even when the case itself is otherwise public.
Filing for Divorce in Clark County
A dissolution of marriage in Clark County starts with the Superior Court. The petitioner files a Petition for Dissolution with the County Clerk. If you do not have a lawyer, the Family Court Facilitator is the main resource. The Facilitator works from the first floor of the courthouse at 1200 Franklin Street and can be reached at 564-397-2292, option 2. Appointments are required. Walk-ins are not accepted.
The Facilitator assists with dissolution, legal separation, custody issues, child support and parenting-plan modifications, restraining orders, contempt, temporary orders, relocations, and establishing a parenting plan. The office does not provide legal advice or represent anyone in court, but it does help self-represented parties complete the correct forms and understand what to file next. That distinction matters: the Facilitator guides the process, but you are responsible for your own case.
Self-help packets are available for purchase at the Clerk's Office on the first floor, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. for lunch and on holidays. The packets include the proper forms and instructions for Clark County's local rules. Forms can also be downloaded from Washington Courts forms page, though the county encourages purchasing the local packet to make sure you have the right version and current instructions.
The screenshot below shows the Clark County Clerk's information page at clark.wa.gov/clerk/information, which includes the Family Court Facilitator details and self-help packet information.
The Facilitator page confirms the appointment-only policy and the range of cases it covers. For questions before booking an appointment, call 564-397-2292 and press option 2.
After filing, you must serve the other party. Clark County follows state family-law docketing rules for settlement conferences, case scheduling, and finalization. Final orders, parenting plans, and certifications are all filed with the Clerk before the case closes. The filing fee or a fee waiver under GR 34 must be paid when you open the case.
Divorce Record Confidentiality
Washington court rule GR 22 governs which parts of a dissolution file stay private. Financial declarations are sealed by default and are not accessible to the public. Documents about children, including parenting plans and child support orders that reference minors' identifying information, carry access limits. Any document a judge has ordered sealed is off-limits until a court order lifts the seal. These rules apply statewide to all Superior Court domestic cases, not just in Clark County.
The parts of a divorce file that remain public include the case summary, the docket, case status, the names of the parties, and non-restricted final orders such as the decree of dissolution itself. If you search a dissolution case through Odyssey and see a document listed but cannot open it, that restriction is GR 22 at work. The Clerk's staff can confirm which documents are open for copy requests when you contact them directly.
For broader public records questions beyond court filings, see the Clark County public records page. For estate and will matters that sometimes follow dissolution, the probate records page covers how those cases are handled in Superior Court. The Clark County Superior Court page has more on how domestic cases move through the court system.
Courthouse Ceremonies in Clark County
District Court schedules courthouse wedding ceremonies, not the Auditor. If you want to marry at the courthouse, you need a valid marriage license first, then you contact District Court to book the ceremony. Appointments must be made at least one day in advance. You can book online using the Wedding Ceremony Request Form, call District Court at 564-397-2424, or come in person to District Court Administration. Same-day availability requires a phone call or in-person check on that day.
The ceremony fee is $100 cash only, due at the time of the ceremony. District Court does not perform ceremonies for anyone currently in custody. Bring your license, your two witnesses (each at least 14 years old), and your cash payment. The officiant at a courthouse ceremony is a District Court official authorized under RCW 26.04.