Tracing your roots, and finding out about the people who made it possible for you to be here today may be an influential interest that you acquire. For people who want to find marriage records in order to gain insight into their ancestors, there are many ways for them to do this. People all over are performing Washington marriage records searches to find the documents that will give them much desired information.
When searching for Washington marriage records, you may want to learn a bit of history about the state. For example, knowing that a lot of population of the past contained many immigrants, allows you to realize the diversity that could be in your family history. What if your great grandmother married someone who was an immigrant, and as a result you are ethnically mixed? Washington marriage records can provide you with information that is essential to gaining insight about your family history. Also, if you know that records from events such as marriage and baptisms of the past may have ended up in the church, then you have a new place to look. You can search religious registries to find the records you desire.
Learning about the past can be both terrifying and exciting. You never know what you are going to find out. Marriage records are documents that can yield controversial results. You may be excited to learn exactly who your ancestors were, but you may be disappointed when you find out. Or, it could go the other way. You could be scared about the information that you will find out, but then it may turn out to be information that you really enjoy. You never know what you are going to get until you get to that point. The possibilities are endless, so instead of talking yourself out of performing the necessary research, use the tools that are available to you to find marriage records of the distant or not so distant past.
When trying to understand the inner workings of the past, it is imperative that people understand who the people of the past were and how they acted. Marriage records are filled with helpful information that will allow you to find out about some of the people of the past.
You can find out who was married to who, who were the parents of the people that were married, and where they lived. Once you have all of this insightful information, you are set. You can find out someone's history if all you have is their full name. Sometimes fascinating information about the members of your family in the past will pop up. Sometimes you will just confirm information that you already knew, and sometimes you will just be content about what you find. However, since performing marriage records searches has become easier and easier, and the results online are continuously getting more accurate, if you choose to perform a search, there is nothing for you to lose; only family history to gain.
To request a Washington marriage record, follow the below instructions:
Step 1.
Go to the Dept. of Health website and download the Mail In Request form.
Step 2.
Print the form and fill out the section for a marriage certificate, and include the full name of the bride and groom, date and place of marriage, and your contact information.
Step 3.
Submit the application to the below address, along with a search fee of $20 payable to DOH via check or money order.
Send the application form to:
Washington Department of Health
PO Box 9709
Olympia, WA 98507-9709
(360) 236-4300
Where to Find Washington Marriage Records
In the state of Washington, all vital records are maintained at the Department of Health Vital Records office. Marriage records from January 1968 are stored here, and all requests for a certified copy can go through this office.
Where to Find Older Records
Records prior to 1968 are not maintained at the Vital Records office. Requests for certified copies for older records should be directed to local health department in the county the marriage took place.
Ordering Washington Marriage Records Online
The Office of Vital Records does not accept online requests for certified copies of marriage certificates. However, they have partnered with VitalCheck to handle online orders. Anyone wishing to expedite their order or pay by credit card can go through VitalCheck for an additional fee.