How to Find Washington Death Records

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U.S. Vital Records

How to Find U.S. Death Records

Washington Vital Records

How to Find Washington Death Records

Finding Washington Death Records

The Washington Territory was established in 1853. Statehood was granted in 1889. Statewide registration of deaths in Washington began in 1907.

*1848 - Oregon Territory created, including present day Washington state

*1853 - Washington Territory organized

*1889 – Washington granted statehood as the 42nd state of the Union

*1891 – Washington law required counties to record deaths

*1907 - Statewide registration of deaths began on July 1

Next Step: When did the death occur?	Death Records Choose a time period: *Before 1891 *1891 to 1907 *1907 to present *Death year unknown

Learn more about U.S. Death Records

Deaths before 1891

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.

Records that give death information:
Cemetery Records Newspapers Probate (wills, etc) Tax Records	Church Records Census Bible Records

Return to top: Choose another death year

Deaths 1891 to 1907

For deaths recorded during this time period, try the following databases.

Washington Deaths Databases - Includes Index and Digital Images
Try 1st:
	1881-1917 Washington State Digital Archives	(Free) dates vary by county; includes death records and returns, city death registers, U.S. Mortality Schedules also on Ancestry ($), Findmypast ($), and My Heritage ($)
Try 2nd:
	Washington Deaths and Burials, 1810-1960, index & images.	FamilySearch.org (free) .
Try 3rd:
	Washington Deaths and Burials, 1810-1960, index & images.	FamilySearch.org (free) .
Try 4th:
	Washington, County Records, 1803-2010	FamilySearch.org (free) dates vary by county; includes death records from the county clerks for early Washington. This is a browse collection, search for your county and then the Death Records.
Try 5th:
	Washington, Deaths, 1883–1960	Ancestry.com ($) free at FamilySearch centers. Find your local FamilySearch Center
Try 6th:
	Washington, County Death Registers, 1881-1979, index	FamilySearch.org (free)
Can't find your ancestor in the online index?		Tips for searching online indexes
No death record for your ancestor?		Other records with death information

Return to top: Choose another death year

Deaths 1907 to present

The state of Washington began recording deaths July 1907.

STEP ONE: Find Death Information

For deaths recorded during this time period, try the following database.

Washington Deaths Databases
Try 1st:
	Washington, Deaths, 1883–1960	Ancestry.com ($) free at FamilySearch centers, index and digital images, find your local FamilySearch Center
Try 2nd:
	Washington Deaths and Burials, 1810-1960, index & images.	FamilySearch.org (free) .
Try 3rd:
	Washington Death Index, 1940-1996	Ancestry.com $) free at FamilySearch center, index only, Find your local familySearch Center
Try 4th:
	Washington, Death Certificates, 1907–1960	FamilySearch.org – free index only, also on the Washington State Archives ($) and Ancestry($)

If you can't find the death record in the above database, try the following:
Social Security Death Index (SSDI)
Try:
	United States Social Security Death Index, 1935-2017	Free; Index to the Social Security Death Index for the United States
	U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014	Ancestry.com ($) free access at FamilySearch centers. Index to the Social Security Death Index for the United States
	U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007, incomplete,	Ancestry.com ($) free access at FamilySearch centers. Provides more detail than Social Security Death Indexes
Can't find your ancestor in the online index?		Tips for searching online indexes
No death record for your ancestor?		Other records with death information

FamilySearch Microfilm Collections:

*1891–1922 Death registers and returns by county or city – FS Library Film 1307854 (first of 76)

*1907–1960 Death Certificates – FS Library Film 1991521 (first of 988)

*1907–1979 Index to Death Certificates – FS Library Film 1308455–1308466 see online index

STEP TWO: Obtain the Certificate

PART A: You know the exact date of death

If the image was not included in the index entry above, you can order a copy of the death record for a fee from the following locations:

To Order Death Certificates
From County of Death		From Washington State Department of Health
Pros	Cons	Pros	Cons
May be less expensive and faster than ordering from the state	County websites can be more difficult to use	Offers a search of the state index for an additional fee	May be more expensive than ordering from the county

The State of Washington is an open record state. Anyone may order copies of Washington death certificates, as long as they can provide the required information.

If you do not want to order the death record, search other records with death information.

PART B: You don't know the exact date of death

If you do not know the exact date or place of death, or do not wish to order the death record, you might try searching the online death records index at Washington State Archives - Digital Archives.

If you do not want to order the death record, you can also search other records with death information.

Return to top: Choose another death year

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