To get a Washington marriage, divorce, birth, or death record, you will need to contact your state or local vital records office. In some cases, you may get these documents by paying a visit to your county courthouse. Other than these departments, ancestry and genealogy societies, state archives, or historical societies occasionally hold older records. There are apparent restrictions as to who may gain access to a vital record. These procedures are set in place to prevent identity theft and protect the privacy of the public.