Josephine County Marriage License Records
Josephine County is in southwest Oregon. Grants Pass is the county seat. The Josephine County Clerk and Recorder office manages all marriage license applications and stores marriage records for this area. Couples who want to get married in Josephine County have two ways to start the process. They can use an online form or print a worksheet and mail it in. Both paths end with a visit to the clerk office in Grants Pass. The office keeps current and historical marriage records on file and serves as the primary source for all marriage documents in the county.
Josephine County Clerk Marriage Records Office
The Josephine County Clerk and Recorder office is on NW 6th Street in Grants Pass. Marriage license applications are taken from 8:00 AM to 11:45 AM and again from 1:00 PM to 3:45 PM on weekdays. Plan your visit within these windows. Both parties must appear at the office with valid government-issued photo ID.
Accepted forms of ID include a driver's license, military ID, or passport. The office takes cash, check, and money order. Credit cards are also accepted, but a usage fee applies. Once the license is issued, it is valid for 60 days. The ceremony can take place anywhere in Oregon during that time. Oregon law includes a three-day waiting period. Josephine County does offer a waiver for a reduced cost.
Visit the Josephine County Clerk website for full details on the application process.
| Office |
Josephine County Clerk and Recorder 500 NW 6th Street Grants Pass, OR 97526 Phone: (541) 474-5221 Fax: (541) 474-5105 |
|---|---|
| Hours | License applications: Mon-Fri, 8:00 AM - 11:45 AM and 1:00 PM - 3:45 PM |
| Website | josephinecounty.gov - Marriage Licenses |
How to Get a Marriage License in Josephine County
Josephine County gives you two ways to start. The first is an online form. Fill it out on the clerk website. The data is saved in the system. Then visit the office to pay and pick up the license. The second way is a printed worksheet. Download it, fill it out by hand, and submit it at least three days before your planned wedding date. You can submit the worksheet no more than 60 days before the event.
At the office, the clerk checks your ID and reviews the form. Both people must be present. Payment is due at that time. The three-day wait begins once the license is issued. If you need the wait waived, ask the clerk. Josephine County charges a reduced fee for the waiver.
After the ceremony, the officiant signs the license. It must be returned to the Josephine County Clerk within five days. Nothing is mailed to you on its own. You must request copies if you need them. This is an important point that many people miss.
Bring these items to the Josephine County Clerk office:
- Government-issued photo ID for both parties
- Social Security numbers
- Parents' full names and birthplaces
- Proof of prior marriage dissolution if needed
- Payment by cash, check, money order, or credit card
The clerk staff are helpful and will guide you through each step of the Josephine County process.
Josephine County Marriage Ceremony Officiants
Several types of people can perform a marriage ceremony in Josephine County. The county clerk is one option. You can reach the clerk for ceremony requests at (541) 474-5240. A judicial officer or justice of the peace may also officiate. Religious and secular organizations that are authorized under Oregon law can designate someone to lead the ceremony.
The officiant must sign the marriage license after the ceremony. This step is required. Without the signature, the license cannot be filed. The signed license must go back to the Josephine County Clerk within five days. Late returns can cause delays in creating the official marriage record. Make sure your officiant knows about this deadline.
The image below shows the Josephine County Clerk office, where marriage licenses are issued and marriage records are filed.
The building is on NW 6th Street in Grants Pass and is easy to find near the center of town.
Historical Marriage Records in Josephine County
Josephine County was formed in 1856. It was named after a local settler. Marriage records from the early days are on file at the clerk office. Some are in old ledgers. Others are on microfilm or in digital form. The staff can search for records by name and date range.
Southern Oregon has a rich history tied to gold mining and farming. Many families have deep ties to the Grants Pass area. Marriage records help trace those family lines. The clerk office is the best place to start. For records that have moved to the state level, the Oregon Health Authority has files from 1906 to the present. The Oregon State Bar also provides helpful legal guidance on marriage records and related topics.
Oregon State Marriage Records for Josephine County
The state maintains its own set of marriage records. The Oregon Health Authority covers 1906 onward. You can order by mail or online. This is a practical option if you live outside the Grants Pass area.
Under ORS 432.295, vital records stay private for 50 years. After that, they are open to the public. For Josephine County, this means records from the 1970s and older can be viewed by anyone. Newer records need the person named or a close relative to make the request. The state enforces this rule across all counties in Oregon.
The Oregon State Archives is another resource. They hold older vital records from all parts of the state. For Josephine County, early records from the 1850s and 1860s may be in their collection. These files are useful for genealogy research.
Copies of Josephine County Marriage Records
Contact the Josephine County Clerk at (541) 474-5221 to request copies. You can also visit the office in Grants Pass. Bring your photo ID. Staff can search by name and date. Certified copies carry the county seal and are valid for legal use.
Keep in mind that the office does not mail records to you after the ceremony. You must ask for copies on your own. For records the county cannot find, try the Oregon Health Authority. Their database covers all Oregon counties from 1906 on. Processing times vary based on the age of the record and current volume.
Nearby Counties
Josephine County borders Jackson County, Douglas County, Curry County, and the state of California. Each Oregon county clerk office issues its own marriage licenses. Make sure to apply in the county where you plan to hold the ceremony, or check with the clerk on the rules if you are unsure.