Washington Death Records

While state law required counties to start recording deaths in 1891, statewide registration and recording of deaths in Washington State did not begin until July 1907. Death records are official documents showing details of the deaths of individuals named on the documents and how such deaths occurred. Approximately 63,232 deaths are recorded in Washington each year, indicating a mortality rate of 723.1 per 100,000 residents, which is lower than the United States average of 793.7 per 100,000 total population.

Washington State death records exist primarily as death certificates and in the following forms:

• Long Form Death Certificate - This serves as an official document prepared on certified security paper containing information about the cause and manner of death and the deceased person's social security number. It is typically used for legal purposes.
• Short Form Death Certificate - This is an official documentation of death printed on certified security paper and used for legal purposes. However, unlike the long form death certificate, it does not contain the deceased person's Social Security number, nor does it have information about the cause and manner of death.
• Non-Certified Informational Copy of a Death Record - While a non-certified informational copy of a Washington death record contains the same information as the short form death certificate, it is only for information purposes. In other words, it cannot be used for any legal purposes, as it is not printed on a certified paper with security features. Typically, non-certified copies of death certificates in the state have a watermark stipulating "Cannot be used for legal purposes. Informational only".

In Washington State, original death certificates are typically prepared by the funeral homes and signed by local health department officers or physicians. If there is no local health officer, the coroner may sign the certificate, regardless of the circumstance of the death.

Once signed, the funeral home will file the original death certificate with the county health department and the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) Vital Records. Certified copies of a death certificate, which are verified copies of the original certificate, may then be obtained from the state's Department of Health or the local county health department in the county where the death occurred.

How Do I Get a Certified Copy of a Death Certificate in Washington?

The Vital Records Office of the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) issues certified copies of death certificates to interested and eligible individuals in the state through any of the following ways:

• Mail Application - To order a certified copy of a Washington State death certificate by mail, take the following steps:

  • Complete the Death Certificate Mail Order Form
  • Prepare a copy of a valid and acceptable identity document
  • Make a copy of the eligibility document
  • Pay a non-refundable certificate fee of $25 by check or money order made out to Department of Health

  • Mail the completed order form, payment, and other required documents to the DOH at:

    Washington Department of Health

    Center for Health Statistics

    P.O. Box 9709

    Olympia, WA 98507

    Mail orders are typically processed and shipped within 6 to 8 weeks after receipt by the Department of Health.

• In-Person Application - In-person requests for certified copies of death certificates in the state are generally made at the local Washington health departments. However, it is important to contact a local health department in advance before visiting their office to be sure the sought death certificate is available. While it costs $25 to process a certified copy of a death certificate in person, the local health department may charge an additional fee, depending on the county. Most in-person orders are fulfilled within the same day of the applications.

Are Washington Death Records Public?

Death records are considered public documents in Washington. The Revised Code of Washington (RCW), Chapter 70.58A, governs public access to records of deaths registered in the state. While any member of the public may obtain non-certified information copies and short forms of a death certificate, access to certified copies is limited to qualified individuals, typically people with qualifying relationships with the deceased person.

Who Can Request an Original Death Certificate in Washington?

Nobody can request or obtain an original death certificate in Washington State because they remain permanently on the file of the state's Department of Health. However, members of the public may request copies of original death certificates kept by the department. Generally, anyone may request a non-certified informational copy of a death certificate in the state, but only certain persons qualify to obtain long-form and short-form death certificates.

Under state law, the following individuals are eligible to obtain a long-form death certificate in Washington:

• The decedent's child or stepchild
• The decedent's spouse and domestic partner
• The decedent's sibling
• The decedent's parent, step-parent, or legal guardian
• The decedent's grandchild
• The decedent's grandparent or great-grandparent
• The decedent's next of kin if there is no living close family member
• The decent's legal representative
• Authorized representative
• Government agency or the court (for official duties)
• Funeral establishment or funeral director named on the certificate (up to 12 months from the date of the event)

Individuals and entities who qualify to request long-form death certificates in Washington State are also eligible to obtain short-form death certificates. In addition to these entities and persons, the following may also access short-form death certificates in the state:

• Anyone who demonstrates that the certificate is required to protect a property or personal right related to the death or necessary for a determination related to the death.
• A title insurance agent or title insurer handling a transaction involving the decedent's real property.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Death Certificate in Washington?

How long it takes to get a death certificate in Washington State after the death of a person depends on the circumstances leading to the death and the method of request. For a death that occurred under normal circumstances, it takes between 6 to 8 weeks to obtain a copy of the certificate (once registered with the local health department or the state's Department of Health) if ordered by mail. On the other hand, a requester may get a copy of a death certificate on the same date of application if requested in person at the local health department in the county where the death occurred.

In Washington State, when a death happens under an unusual circumstance that requires an autopsy, it generally takes a longer time before the original death certificate is prepared. This ultimately impacts how long it takes for anyone to get a copy of the death certificate. In most cases, it takes between two to three months (or more), depending on the complexity of toxicology and other essential tests or investigations required to determine the cause and manner of death. During this period, a pending death certificate is issued before a final autopsy report is completed.

Until an autopsy determines the exact cause or manner of death, medical certifiers in Washington cannot prepare a final autopsy report or complete an original death certificate. Factors responsible for delays in finalizing an autopsy report generally include a shortage of medical certifiers, a high volume of autopsy cases, case complexity, and the need for additional testing. In turn, these affect how long it takes for a death certificate to be ready for filing with the Vital Records Office.

Can I View Washington Death Records online for free?

Yes. Several Washington State death records have been digitized and may be viewed for free on the state's Digital Archives. These include death certificate index entries for persons who died in the state from 1907 to 1960 and 1965 to 2017. Similarly, online resources like FamilySearch.org and Ancestry.com include indexes and images of historical death records in Washington. Furthermore, third-party sites like Washingtonpublicrecords.us may provide online access to records of death events in the state, although at a small fee.

Interested persons may also look up certain substitute records free of charge to find information about unregistered or unrecorded deaths in Washington State. For instance, they may check newspapers, tax records, cemetery records, obituaries, probate records, church records, military records, and bible records to locate death information.

When Would You Require A Death Certificate in Washington?

A certified copy of a Washington death certificate is required for several purposes, especially for certain legal and/or administrative transactions. Typical reasons anyone may require a death certificate in the state after a person's demise include the following:

• Informing relevant agencies like the Internal Revenue Service, Social Security Administration, banks, brokerage companies, and the Department of Veterans Affairs (where applicable) of the person's death.
• Closing the deceased person's bank accounts and cancelling their credit cards to prevent fraud.
• For record-keeping purposes.
• Administering the decedent's estate.
• Canceling the decedent's subscriptions to utility services and cell phone bills.
• Transferring the decedent's property title to another person.
• Claiming benefits such as life insurance benefits, pension benefits, veteran benefits, and other retirement benefits.

How Many Death Certificates Do I Need in Washington?

A person will likely need between 8 and 12 copies of a Washington death certificate for various legal and administrative purposes. In most cases, the actual number required depends on the size of a decedent's estate and the requester's specific needs. Furthermore, the preferences of agencies or entities requiring death certificates for official transactions may also help determine how many copies a person needs. While some agencies may accept photocopies of certified copies of death certificates, others may demand certified true copies.