About the Kitsap County Auditor
Paul Andrews serves as the elected Kitsap County Auditor. The Auditor's office runs several divisions that touch daily county life: conducting elections, auditing county payments, financial reporting and payroll, recording property and other documents, licensing vehicles and vessels, and issuing marriage licenses. For people seeking records, the Recording Division is the primary contact. It keeps the official record of marriage licenses, deeds, liens, plat maps, and many other documents filed under state law.
The Recording Division operates on the same Division Street campus as the rest of county government in Port Orchard. Marriage licensing and recorded-document requests both flow through this office. Copy requests can be submitted in person, by mail, or through the online document-search link that the Auditor provides on the copy request form. Most copy requests are filled within five to ten business days, though limited staffing can extend that window.
The Auditor's homepage is shown below. It links each division and its services, and it serves as the entry point for marriage license applications, vehicle licensing, and recorded-document searches.
From this page you can reach the marriage license section, the recording division, and vehicle licensing. It also links the copy request form you will need to order documents by mail.
Kitsap County Auditor Recording Division
Auditor: Paul Andrews
614 Division St MS-31
Port Orchard, WA 98366
Main: 360-337-7129
Marriage fees: 360-337-4935
Fax: 360-337-4645
Note: The Auditor does not hold divorce records. Divorce is a Superior Court matter filed through the Kitsap County Clerk. See the Clerk of the Superior Court page for divorce and other court case files.
Kitsap County Auditor Marriage License Process
Marriage licenses in Kitsap County are issued by the Auditor's office, not by the courts. Both applicants must be at least 18 years old and sign the application before a deputy auditor or, if applying by mail, before a notary public. After the completed application and the $172 fee are received, the license is issued. Washington requires a three-day waiting period before the ceremony can take place. The license stays valid through 60 days after that waiting period ends.
The Auditor's marriage license page includes a practical planning table that many couples find helpful. If you plan to marry on Saturday, the license must be obtained by Wednesday. If you plan to marry on Sunday, obtain the license by Thursday. For a Monday through Wednesday ceremony, Friday is the deadline. A Thursday ceremony means getting the license by Monday. The three-day window is firm, so build in at least one extra day for unexpected delays.
If one or both applicants cannot come in person, the Auditor gives a two-step path. First, complete the online application to speed the process. Then print the application PDF, have both signatures notarized, and mail it to the Recording Division with the $172 payment, a phone number, and return instructions. Mail-in applicants should allow enough time for the application to arrive, be processed, and be mailed back before the planned ceremony date.
Washington treats all marriage records as public records. The only exception is for people enrolled in Washington's Address Confidentiality Program. Once a marriage application or certificate is recorded, it cannot be removed from the public record. The Auditor states this plainly: once recorded, it cannot be "unrecorded." Anyone concerned about the public nature of their marriage record should discuss Address Confidentiality Program enrollment before applying.
The Auditor's marriage license and fees page is shown below. It details the application steps, payment options, and planning timelines in one place.
The page confirms the three-day waiting period and gives mail-application instructions for couples who cannot appear in person at the Port Orchard office.
How to Apply for a Kitsap County Marriage License
The application process follows a clear sequence. Both parties must complete and sign the application before the license is issued. The steps below reflect the Auditor's official instructions for in-person and mail applicants.
- Start the online marriage application at the Auditor's website for faster service. This creates a record the office can pull up when you arrive.
- Visit the Kitsap County Auditor's office in Port Orchard to sign before a deputy auditor, or print the application PDF if you cannot appear in person.
- If applying by mail, have both signatures notarized by a notary public, then mail the completed form with $172 payment and a phone number and return instructions to the Recording Division.
- Wait three days after the license is issued before holding the ceremony. Do not schedule the ceremony before this window closes.
- Hold the ceremony in Washington within the validity period, which runs through 60 days after the three-day waiting period ends.
- Return or record the certificate as required. Recorded marriage records are public unless Address Confidentiality Program protections apply.
Payment is accepted by check, cash, money order, or credit card. Credit card payments carry an additional processing fee. If you have questions about marriage fees or the application status, call 360-337-4935.
Marriage Application Form Fields
The Kitsap County marriage application form collects identifying information from both applicants and requires sworn signatures before a deputy auditor or notary. The table below lists the fields on the official form. Some fields, such as Social Security Number, are required but are not for public display in any search result; that field is collected for administrative purposes only.
| Field Label | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Print Full Name | Yes | First, Middle, Last for each applicant. |
| Birthdate | Yes | For each applicant. |
| Age | Yes | Applicant must swear or affirm age 18 or older. |
| Birthplace | Yes | City, State for each applicant. |
| Marital Status | Yes | Single, Widowed, Divorced, or Under Control of Guardian. |
| Social Security Number | Yes / if applicable | Required administrative field; not shown in public records. |
| Address Present | Yes | Street, City, State, Zip. |
| Address Past Six Months | Yes | Street, City, State, Zip. |
| Signature | Yes | Each applicant signs the affidavit. |
| Deputy Auditor / Notary Public | Yes | Deputy auditor signs in person; notary signs for mail applications. |
| Subscribed and Sworn Date | Yes | Day, month, and year of execution. |
The Auditor also asks about prior divorces obtained in Kitsap County. If either applicant has a prior Kitsap divorce, it must be finalized and filed with the Clerk before the marriage application can proceed. Contact the Clerk of the Superior Court if you need to confirm a divorce was filed and finalized.
Kitsap County Auditor Fee Schedule
The Auditor charges separate fees for marriage licenses and for copies of recorded documents. The marriage license fee covers the issuance itself; certified copies and duplicates are ordered separately. Recorded-document copy fees depend on the number of pages and whether a certified or uncertified copy is needed. The fee page on the Auditor's website is shown below.
The fee page confirms current amounts for marriage licenses, duplicates, and certified copies, all of which are listed in the table below.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Marriage license application | $172.00 |
| Duplicate marriage license | $5.00 |
| Marriage license certified copy | $3.00 |
| Marriage license plain copy | $1.00 |
| Recorded-document certified copy (first page) | $3.00 |
| Recorded-document certified copy (each additional page) | $1.00 |
| Recorded-document photocopy (per page) | $1.00 |
Payment is accepted by check, cash, money order, or credit card. Credit cards carry an additional processing fee. Personal check, money order, or cashier's check should be made payable to the Kitsap County Auditor. For questions about specific fees, call the marriage line at 360-337-4935 or the main Auditor line at 360-337-7129.
How to Request a Marriage or Recorded-Document Copy
The Auditor provides a single copy request form that covers marriage records, recorded documents, surveys, plats, condominiums, and maps. You fill in only the sections that match what you need and leave the rest blank. Once submitted, most requests are fulfilled within five to ten business days. During periods of limited staffing, the turnaround can be longer.
- Download the Auditor copy request form from the Recording Division section of the Auditor's website, or pick up a copy at the office.
- Fill in your name, mailing address, phone, and email in the requestor section at the top of the form.
- For a marriage copy, enter the names of both applicants and the marriage date in the marriage section. For a recorded document, enter the record number in the recorded-documents section.
- If you need a search rather than a known record number, fill in the document type, grantor or grantee name, and the years to be searched.
- Indicate the number of plain or certified copies you want and use the fee schedule to calculate the total amount due.
- Mail the completed form with payment to: Kitsap County Auditor, Attn: Recording, 614 Division St MS-31, Port Orchard, WA 98366. You may also fax to 360-337-4645 or email auditor@co.kitsap.wa.us for questions about your request.
- Allow five to ten business days for processing. Staff will mail copies to the address you provided.
The Auditor also lists an online document-search link at kcwaimg.co.kitsap.wa.us/recorder/web for those who want to look up recorded-document index information before submitting a copy request. This tool is for index searching, not for court case records.
Auditor Copy Request Form Fields
The official Auditor copy request form has several sections. You complete only the section that matches your record type. The table below maps every field on the form so you know what to prepare before you fill it out.
| Field Label | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Yes | Requestor name. |
| Address | Yes | Mailing address for returned copies. |
| City, State, Zip | Yes | Continuation of mailing address. |
| Phone | Optional | Contact number for follow-up questions. |
| Optional | Used if staff need to reach you about the request. | |
| Name of Applicant A | If marriage copy | First party on the marriage license. |
| Name of Applicant B | If marriage copy | Second party on the marriage license. |
| Marriage Date | If known | Helps staff locate the record faster. |
| Recorded Documents Record Number(s) | If recorded document copy | Enter the record number from the document. |
| Search Request Document Type | If search requested | Type of document being searched. |
| Grantor/Grantee Name | If search requested | Name on the recorded document. |
| Years to Be Searched | If search requested | Date range for the search. |
| Surveys / Plats / Condos / Maps Record Number(s) | If map copy | Record number for map-type documents. |
| Volume / Page | If applicable | Map or record reference location. |
| Section / Town / Range or Plat Name | If applicable | Legal description or plat search identifier. |
| Number of Copies Non-Certified | If copies requested | Count at $1 per page. |
| Certified | If certified copies requested | Count at $3 for first page. |
| Additional Pages | If certified copy is multi-page | Count at $1 per additional page. |
The form is the same whether you are requesting a marriage certificate copy, a deed, a lien, a plat map, or another recorded document. Fill only the rows that apply and leave others blank. Staff review the form and contact you if something is missing.
What Kitsap Auditor Records Cover
People sometimes assume all county records are in one place. They are not. The Auditor holds specific categories that come from its statutory duties. The Clerk holds Superior Court case files. The Sheriff holds law enforcement and jail records. Knowing the split prevents a request from landing at the wrong office and sitting there unanswered.
The Auditor's Recording Division keeps official copies of documents that state law requires to be recorded. Property deeds and mortgages, deeds of trust, liens, plat maps, condominium declarations, survey records, and other instruments are recorded here. When someone buys or sells land in Kitsap County, the deed is recorded with the Auditor. Marriage licenses are also recorded here, which is why certified marriage certificate copies come from this office rather than the Clerk.
- Marriage licenses and certified marriage certificate copies
- Property deeds, mortgages, and deeds of trust
- Liens and lien releases
- Plat maps, surveys, and condominium documents
- Other instruments required by state law to be recorded
Divorce records are not in this list. Dissolution of marriage is a Superior Court action filed through the Clerk of the Superior Court. If you need a certified copy of a divorce decree, contact the Clerk, not the Auditor. For a broader look at what county records are public and how to request them, see the Kitsap County public records page.
Divorce Records Are Not at the Auditor
This is the most common mix-up people make. Divorce and dissolution of marriage in Washington are Superior Court matters. The petition, the orders, and the final decree are all filed with and maintained by the Kitsap County Clerk. The Auditor does not receive, record, or store divorce filings. Sending a divorce copy request to the Auditor will not get you that document.
To find a Kitsap County divorce record, contact the Clerk's office directly. The Clerk keeps Superior Court case files and can provide certified copies of dissolution orders and decrees. Electronic access runs through the Washington State Digital Archives for general public use and through the Odyssey subscription portal for attorneys and frequent users. The statewide Washington Courts case search at dw.courts.wa.gov can confirm a case exists and give you the case number before you request documents.
For more detail on where to search and how to order copies, see the Kitsap County marriage and divorce records page, which covers both the Auditor's marriage licensing function and the Clerk's divorce records function side by side. You can also see the full Kitsap County court records page for the complete set of Superior Court and District Court record types.