Search for Death Records in Washington

Free Washington Death Records Lookup

Our comprehensive guide to the death records in the state of Washington will help you in finding death records as well as provide you with relevant information about the deceased and the life they lived.

Death Records in Washington -
The Ultimate Guide 2024

Washington Death Records

Most Washington counties handed over the vital records to the Washington State Archives hence the Washington State Library has no known vital records. This collection of vital records can be accessed from the Digital Archives Site. There are other of these held by the Department of Health. For Vital Records for other state you can look up the VitalRec.com.

Key dates in Washington State Vital Records:

1891 – Vital records are a law requirement for Washington Counties

July 1, 1907 – The State assumes collection birth and death records

1853 – Washington was founded but it was not until 1889 that statehood was granted.

1907 – Statewide registration of deaths in Washington started

1848 – Oregon Territory formed which includes present day Washington state

1853 – Washington Territory structured

1889 – Washington acquired statehood as the 42nd state of the Union

1891 – Washington passed law for counties to record deaths

1907 – Statewide registration of deaths rolled out on July 1

Washington did not record deaths on the state level at this time. Before 1891, deaths were not required to be recorded by the county or the state. Search substitute records to locate your ancestor’s death date and place.

Death Certificates in Washington

In the state of Washington, death records start off as private records then they become publicly available 75 years after the record file date. There are restrictions to obtaining death certificates for individuals who passed on within the last 75 years. Below is a list of people who are eligible to request for a death certificate:

How to Find Washington Death Records

Obtaining Washington death records from Archives.com is as easy as registering for an account and following these simple easy steps:

Step 1: Go to Archives.com and sign in using your email address and password.

Step 2: Use the buttons at the very top of the user page to navigate through the options. When you click on the “Search” button, the Washington state death records page is loaded.

Step 3: Check the box next to “Vital Records,” then click on the “Death” button just below it. Thus, the site eliminates all other records and only displays death records, which you can then download.

Step 4: Key in as much information about the deceased as you can remember about them.

Step 5: The state of Washington should be entered in the ‘Location’ box. As soon as you begin typing, you will notice that the website will provide a match for you.

Step 6: You will be presented with a list of records; you will need to scroll through the list until you find the person whose records you are interested in viewing.

Step 7: Click on the name of the deceased to view the death record that is currently available online. In most cases, you will be able to obtain their full name as well as their maiden name if they were previously married. You can also find out about their burial arrangements, such as whether they were cremated or buried, and whether a biographical sketch is available.

Alternative Sources for Washington Death Information

Washington Death Records FAQs

What is an Official Death Certificate?

An official death certificate refers to a death certificate that is issued directly by the Washington state government or any similar organization. This document contains information such as the individual’s name, physical address, date of birth, and date of death.

What are death records?

Death records are official files that give any useful information about a deceased individual. If you’re doing genealogical research, these records come in handy as they contain most of the information you’d need to learn more about your ancestry. Most death records are held by the state the deceased lived or died in, but they lack the burial state of the deceased. Both cemeteries and churches hold death records, as with state governments. Information you can obtain from death records includes the full name, date of birth, date of death, and place of death.

Are Washington Death Records Open to the Public?

According to the Washington Revised Statutes, vital records such as birth records, divorce records, marriage records, adoption records, death records, and other life records are available to all eligible parties with a direct relationship to the person named on the record.

What Information Do I Need to Search for Washington Death Records Online?

Requesters who wish to get a hold of a death record must be well acquainted with basic facts associated with it including:

Conclusion

The state of Washington is extremely particular about the accuracy of its tax and voting records, and this is reflected in its state records. As a result, they strive to keep a comprehensive death record up to date. Following the death of a person, tax collectors contact family members or next of kin to collect any unpaid state taxes that may be owed to the state. In the event of a probate proceeding, these death records will be extremely useful because your family members or next of kin will not have any difficulties in obtaining any legal information. With our comprehensive guide to Washington death record searches, you’ll be able to locate any type of record that you might require in a matter of minutes.

Disclaimer: OurPublicRecords mission is to give people easy and affordable access to public record information, but OurPublicRecords does not provide private investigator services or consumer reports, and is not a consumer reporting agency per the Fair Credit Reporting Act. You may not use our site or service or the information provided to make decisions about employment, admission, consumer credit, insurance, tenant screening, or any other purpose that would require FCRA compliance.