Getting a Marriage License in Washington County
A marriage license in Washington County is handled by Washington County Assessment and Taxation, not by the Circuit Court records desk. The Recording Division of that department issues the license and records the signed document after the ceremony. People often assume the court hands out licenses. It does not. The court holds divorce cases and other family files, while the county office handles the license and the recorded marriage record. State authority for marriage licensing comes from Oregon law, and the county runs the day-to-day process for couples in Hillsboro, Beaverton, Tigard, and the rest of the county.
Marriage rules in Oregon are set under ORS chapter 106, the statute that governs who may marry, how a license is issued, and how it is recorded. Both applicants usually need a valid government photo ID, and the county sets the fee and any local steps. Oregon law also includes a short waiting period after the license is issued before the ceremony, though that wait can sometimes be waived. Check the current rule with the county before you plan a date.
The state marriage rules sit on the Oregon Legislature site for chapter 106.
That chapter is the legal backbone for every Washington County marriage license, even though the county office runs the counter work.
How to Apply for a Marriage License
Both people getting married usually apply together. Bring proper ID and be ready to give your legal names, ages, and a few details about any prior marriage. The county recording office walks couples through the form and collects the fee. Plan ahead, because the waiting period can affect your ceremony date.
- Check eligibility under Oregon law and confirm both parties can apply.
- Contact Washington County Assessment and Taxation, Recording Division, and confirm whether you need an appointment or can walk in.
- Bring a valid government photo ID for each applicant.
- Complete the marriage license application with both legal names and required details.
- Pay the county-published license fee.
- Observe any Oregon waiting period, or ask about a waiver if you need to marry sooner.
- Have an authorized officiant perform the ceremony, then return the signed license for recording.
- Order certified copies from the county after the marriage is recorded.
The county marriage license page lists the local steps and current requirements.
Marriage License Application Fields
The application asks for basic identity and history details from both people. The exact form labels can change, so confirm them with the county before you fill anything out. The fields below reflect what Oregon counties commonly collect for a marriage license. Each applicant completes their own portion.
| Field | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Applicant 1 legal name | Yes | Full legal name as it appears on ID. |
| Applicant 2 legal name | Yes | Full legal name as it appears on ID. |
| Date of birth / age | Yes | Used to confirm eligibility under Oregon law. |
| Government photo ID | Yes | Each applicant shows valid ID; confirm accepted types with the county. |
| Address and contact | Yes | Mailing and contact details for both parties. |
| Prior marriage or partnership | Conditional | Required if a prior marriage or domestic partnership ended. |
| Officiant / ceremony info | Conditional | May be completed at or after the ceremony. |
| Fee payment | Yes | County-published amount; confirm the current fee before you pay. |
Note: The exact county form labels were not fully posted online, so verify the current fields with the recording office before you rely on them.
Washington County Marriage and Divorce Fees
Fees depend on the service and the office. Marriage license and certified marriage copy fees are set by the county recording office. Divorce filing fees and certified copies of a divorce judgment follow the statewide court fee schedule from the Oregon Judicial Department. Amounts change over time, and a fee waiver or deferral may be available for people who cannot pay a court filing fee. Always confirm the current amount before you pay, since official sources do not lock in a fixed figure.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Marriage license | Set by Washington County Assessment and Taxation; confirm current fee |
| Certified marriage copy | Set by the county recording office |
| Divorce filing | Varies by case; see OJD Court Fees |
| Certified divorce judgment copy | Set by the OJD fee schedule; request through the court |
| Fee waiver or deferral | May be available for eligible filers; ask the court |
Court fees for divorce filings and copies are published on the statewide OJD Court Fees page.
How to Look Up Washington County Marriage Records
A recorded marriage record is a county record, not a court file. After the marriage is recorded, certified copies come from Washington County Assessment and Taxation, the same office that issued the license. To find a record, you generally need the legal names of both spouses and an idea of the marriage date. Statewide vital records may also hold marriage certificate data for certain years, so the state vital records office is a backup source.
Most people order a certified marriage copy directly from the county recording office. Bring or provide the full names used at the time of marriage. If the county cannot locate the record, the Oregon Health Authority vital records program is the next stop. The court records desk does not issue marriage certificates, so do not start there for a marriage copy.
How to Find Washington County Divorce Records
Divorce is a Circuit Court family case in Oregon, so divorce records are court records. The case may be filed as a dissolution of marriage, a legal separation, or an annulment. To search, use the Oregon Judicial Department record tools and select Washington County Circuit Court where a location filter appears. Search by the parties' names or the case number. Divorce in Oregon is governed by ORS chapter 107, which covers dissolution, separation, and annulment.
The OJD family-law self-help resource explains divorce, separation, and annulment for people without a lawyer.
That page links the forms and instructions used to start or respond to a divorce case in Washington County Circuit Court.
A divorce file can hold the petition, response, parenting plan, support worksheets, property and debt division, and the final judgment. Some details are sensitive. Financial account numbers, Social Security numbers, and minors' information are redacted, and a court may seal parts of a file. The full chapter 107 text sits on the Oregon Legislature site.
Reading the docket in date order is the easiest way to follow how a divorce case moved through the court.
Getting Certified Copies
Certified copies matter for many legal steps. A name change, a new passport, a benefits claim, or a remarriage may require a certified marriage record or a certified divorce judgment. An uncertified printout from an online search is usually not accepted for these uses. For a certified marriage copy, order from the county recording office. For a certified divorce judgment, request from Washington County Circuit Court records.
Processing time depends on the office and how you order. Mail requests take longer than in-person pickup. Confirm the current fee and the accepted payment method before you send a request, and give the office the exact names and case or record details so staff can find the file.
Note: Certified copies are required for most legal uses, so an uncertified online printout will often be rejected by other agencies and courts.
Family Law Assistance and Restraining Orders
Washington County Circuit Court runs a Family Law Assistance Program for people handling family cases without a lawyer. The program keeps set public-service hours. All services run Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Limited services run Monday through Friday from 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., covering emergency family matters, protection orders, or scheduled appointments. The program can help with divorce, custody, support, and related forms.
Restraining orders and other protective orders are also family-court matters, and some carry confidentiality protections that limit what shows in a public search. The Oregon Judicial Department keeps a statewide restraining-order resource for people who need protection.
The OJD restraining order resource explains how to ask for protection and what to expect at a hearing.