Thurston County marriage licenses are issued by the County Auditor’s Licensing Services Division in Olympia, which lets you pre-fill your application online before finishing in person.
| License fee | $172, payable by cash, check, or credit/debit card (card payments add a $2.00 or 2.3% surcharge, whichever is greater). This includes a $100 statewide surcharge added to every Washington marriage license fee effective July 27, 2025. |
|---|---|
| Waiting period | 3 days after issuance (Washington statewide rule) — cannot be waived under any circumstances. |
| Documents / ID required | One piece of valid photo ID per applicant showing birth date, signature, and photo (driver’s license, state ID, passport, or military ID). No certified divorce decree or death certificate is required even if a prior marriage ended that way. |
| License validity | 60 days, beginning after the mandatory 3-day waiting period ends (Washington statewide rule). |
| Where & how to apply | Pre-fill the application online (or use a lobby computer on-site), then appear together in person at the Auditor’s Office, 2000 Lakeridge Dr. SW, Olympia, to finalize and pay — this starts the 3-day wait. If one applicant truly cannot appear, that person can sign the paper application before a notary public in advance, and the other party can bring or mail it in. |
| Office hours | Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Arrive by 4:15 p.m., since in-person processing can take up to 15 minutes. |
Special notes
Frequently asked questions
Why did Thurston County’s marriage license fee go up so much?
Washington State added a flat $100 surcharge to every marriage license statewide, effective July 27, 2025, to fund a Domestic Violence Co-Responder Grant Program. That took Thurston County’s fee from $72 to $172.
Can the 3-day waiting period be waived in Thurston County?
No. Washington’s 3-day waiting period cannot be waived under any circumstances, statewide.
Do both applicants have to appear in person in Thurston County?
Generally yes, though if one applicant truly cannot appear, they can sign the application in advance before a notary public, and the other applicant can complete the process at the Auditor’s Office.
Last verified: September 2026
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