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Marriage Laws – Oregon & Washington

I can believe we’re nearly done with our marriage laws journey that began way back in May (yes, I can say way back in May with a straight face). We’re nearing July (wrapping up our last week in June here) and we’re taking a break in the Pacific Northwest to look at the marriage laws in Oregon and Washington.

Oregon

There is no residency requirement related to applying for a marriage license in Oregon. You will need to bring a photo ID with you and likely your social security number. As with most states, each county may have its own requirements, so you should check with that county prior to submitting your application. For example, some counties in Oregon do require premarital education – so check that out.

If you were married previously, you will need the finale date of the divorce decree or a copy of it. You will also have to wait at least one day after the divorce is final to apply for a new marriage license. The average fee for a marriage license is about $50, although it may be higher in some counties. There is also a standard 3-day waiting period after you apply for a marriage license until you can get married. Some counties will waive this waiting period for a $10 fee.

Oregon does not allow for:

  • Cousin Marriage
  • Common Law Marriage
  • Same-sex Marriage (banned in November of 2004 with Measure 36 which defined marriage as a union between one man and one woman)
  • Proxy Marriage

However, as we have discussed here before, Oregon residents will be able to register for domestic partnerships as of January 1, 2008. A domestic partnership will give a couple all the benefits, rights, immunities and privileges that the state of Oregon grants to married couples.

Applicants who are 17 will need their parent or guardian to accompany them when making their application in order to give them their consent. There is no waiver for anyone under the age of 17 to get married. All applicants for marriage licenses will need to have two witnesses over the age of 18 at their wedding ceremony to sign the license. Your Oregon marriage license is valid for 60 days. To obtain a copy of your Oregon marriage certificate:

Oregon Health Division
Vital Statistics Section
P.O. Box 14050
Portland, OR 97293-0050
Phone: (503) 731-4095

Washington

The average fee for a marriage license in Washington will cost you about $42, but some counties charge more than $62. You should plan to bring cash with you, but check with the county where you intend to apply ahead of time. Also, all divorces must be final and filed prior to submitting a new application to get married.

There is a 3-day waiting period associated with applying for a marriage license in Washington State. You will need to bring a valid photo ID as well as your social security numbers.

The state of Washington does not allow for:

  • Covenant Marriage
  • Proxy Marriage (although you may check on the Absentee Marriage Application)
  • Cousin Marriage
  • Same Sex Marriage
  • Common-Law Marriage

As of next month (July 22, 2007) unmarried seniors, gays and lesbians will be able to enter into a domestic partnership. Domestic partnerships will allow them to have hospital visitation, inheritance (without a will), emergency healthcare, disposition of remains and funeral rights. Couples will just need to register with the Office of the Secretary of State to qualify for these rights.

Applicants who are 17, need to have the consent of their parent or legal guardian and their parent or guardian must appear to give consent. If an applicant is under 17, they need a judicial waiver of their age from the county where they live. If a minor was emancipated, they can bring their emancipation papers along with their standard identification.

Marriage ceremonies require two witnesses in order to sign the license. Your Washington marriage license is valid for 60 days. To obtain a copy of your Washington marriage certificate:

Washington Dept. of Health
Center for Health Statistics
P.O. Box 9709
Olympia, WA
(360) 236-4300 Info

The above information should be taken as guidance only, legal requirements for state and county marriage licenses change often. Please verify the necessary paperwork and more with the office of the county clerk prior to making your wedding plans

This entry was posted in Marriage Law and tagged , , , , by Heather Long. Bookmark the permalink.

About Heather Long

Heather Long is 35 years old and currently lives in Wylie, Texas. She has been a freelance writer for six years. Her husband and she met while working together at America Online over ten years ago. They have a beautiful daughter who just turned five years old. She is learning to read and preparing for kindergarten in the fall. An author of more than 300 articles and 500+ web copy pieces, Heather has also written three books as a ghostwriter. Empty Canoe Publishing accepted a novel of her own. A former horse breeder, Heather used to get most of her exercise outside. In late 2004, early 2005 Heather started studying fitness full time in order to get herself back into shape. Heather worked with a personal trainer for six months and works out regularly. She enjoys shaking up her routine and checking out new exercises. Her current favorites are the treadmill (she walks up to 90 minutes daily) and doing yoga for stretching. She also performs strength training two to three times a week. Her goals include performing in a marathon such as the Walk for Breast Cancer Awareness or Team in Training for Lymphoma research. She enjoys sharing her knowledge and experience through the fitness and marriage blogs.