Marriage records in Benton County, Washington are available through several channels. BentonWACourt.us can help you find publicly available marriage record information for the county. You can also request records directly from the Benton County Auditor's office, which issues marriage licenses and maintains local marriage records. In-person visits, mail requests, and the Washington State Department of Health's vital records program are additional ways to obtain copies. Historical marriage records may also be accessible through the state's digital archives.
Benton County Marriage Records Search
In Washington State, the county auditor is the official issuing authority for marriage licenses. The Benton County Auditor's Office issues marriage licenses, files returned marriage certificates, and maintains the county's collection of marriage records. This collection includes marriage licenses issued in Benton County and marriage certificates returned by officiants after ceremonies. For older or historical records, the Washington State Digital Archives may hold digitized Benton County marriage records as well.
The Washington State Department of Health also maintains statewide marriage records and can issue certified copies. You can contact either the county auditor or the Department of Health's vital records office depending on your needs.
Benton County Auditor's Office
Marriage licenses are also available at the Kennewick office. Contact the Auditor's office by phone to confirm current hours and location availability before visiting.
Certified Marriage Record Copies and Fees in Benton County
Fees for marriage record copies in Benton County follow Washington State statutory fee schedules. The Department of Health also charges its own fees for copies ordered through the state.
| Service | Fee | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Marriage license | $70.00 | Benton County Auditor (per RCW 36.18.010) |
| Certified copy of marriage certificate (county) | $3.00–$5.00 | Benton County Auditor |
| Certified copy (Washington DOH) | $25.00 | WA Department of Health |
| Additional certified copy, same order (DOH) | $25.00 | WA Department of Health |
County-level copy fees are set by statute under RCW 36.18.010 and may be updated periodically. Call the Auditor's office to confirm the current certified copy fee before submitting payment. The Department of Health fee applies when ordering through the state vital records office. Processing times at the county level are typically same-day for in-person requests. State-level orders may take several weeks.
Order Marriage Certificates Online or In Person in Benton County
There are three main ways to get a copy of a Benton County marriage certificate:
Online
The Washington State Department of Health accepts online orders for certified marriage record copies through its vital records ordering portal. You will need to provide:
- Full names of both spouses
- Date of marriage
- County where the license was issued
- Your relationship to the individuals on the record
- A valid form of payment
Online orders through the state typically take two to three weeks for processing and mailing.
In Person
Visit the Benton County Auditor's Office during regular business hours. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID. In-person requests are usually processed the same day. The office can issue copies of marriage certificates that were filed in Benton County.
By Mail
To request a marriage certificate copy by mail from the county, send the following to the Benton County Auditor at the address above:
- A written request including the full names of both spouses, approximate date of marriage, and your contact information
- A copy of your government-issued photo ID
- A check or money order for the applicable fee, payable to the Benton County Auditor
- A self-addressed stamped envelope
You can also mail requests to the Washington State Department of Health for statewide records. Download the state's vital records request form from the DOH marriage or divorce record page and mail it with the required fee and identification.
For questions about court-related records in Benton County, the Benton County Clerk's office at the Benton County Justice Center in Kennewick handles Superior Court filings. The Washington Courts name and case search tool can help locate court case information, though marriage license records themselves are maintained by the Auditor rather than the court system.