If you are getting married in Pierce County, Washington, you will need a marriage license!
Here are 3 easy steps to secure a legal marriage license in Pierce County, Washington:
1) In Person: Where to Apply for a Pierce County Marriage License. You can apply in person at Pierce County Auditors Office/Annex, located at 2401 S. 35th Street, Room 200, in Tacoma, Washington. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
To apply for a license in Pierce County, you must be 18 years of age and both of you must make the trip in person to the county auditor’s office. The marriage license will cost you $64; cash, money order or cashier’s check accepted. Beware, personal checks are not accepted! If one or both parties are 17 years of age, they must have parental consent.
Your Pierce County marriage license is valid for any county in the state of Washington. So, for example, if you buy your license in Pierce County, you can get married in King, Kitsap, Snohomish counties to name a few.
Your marriage license is valid for 60 days. If your license expires in any way, you will need to go through the entire process again and reapply for another license.
Note: You may apply for your marriage license by mail if time and/or distance are a consideration. Contact the County Auditor’s office at 253-798-7435 for more details and information.
2) Wait! Do not forget to calculate in your waiting time to get married: There is a 3 day waiting period to use your license. Take a look at your license documents when you pick them up and/or they are mailed to you and this will give you the “valid dates” for a wedding ceremony.
3) Find someone to activate your marriage license! Once you have your legal documentation, you will need to find an Officiant, Minister, Priest, Rabbi or other non-denominational to marry you. If you are outside of a specific religious institution, you have a lot of flexibility about who can marry you.
To find a person you are attracted to, go to the “Google” and look for an officiant at “Pierce County Officiant” or “Tacoma Minister”.
Ex officio fees largely. If time allows, meet with a few candidates and make your selection from there. Working with a non-denominational officiant or minister is a very personal experience and your goal is to find a person whose personality and approach to all things “wedding ceremony” appeals to you.
Best of luck!