How to Find Washington Birth Records
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US Vital Records How to Find United States Births Washington Vital Records Washington Births
The Washington Territory was established in 1853. Statehood was granted in 1889. Statewide registration of births in Washington began in 1907.
- U.S., Washington, County Records, 1803-2010 Images/no index.
- Washington Births, 1883-1935 Index and images ($)
- Washington State Digital Archives Birth Records See here for specific date range for each county included in the collection.
- Washington Births, 1907-1919 Index ($)
- Washington, King County Delayed Births, 1941-1942 Index and images
Next Step: When did the birth occur? |
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Births before 1891
Washington did not record births on the state level at this time. Before 1891, births were not required to be recorded by the county or the state. A few counties began keeping record of births as early as 1869. Delayed birth records may provide early dates. Search substitute records to locate your ancestor’s birth date and place.
| Records that give birth information: | ||
Births 1891 to 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 births
- 1907 - Statewide registration of births began on July 1
For births recorded during this time period, try the following databases.
| Washington Births Databases - Includes Index and Digital Images | ||||
| Try 1st: | ||||
| 1871-1938 at Washington State Digital Archives | Free – includes birth records, registers and returns from 30 counties and two cities, principally from 1891-1907 | |||
| Try 2nd: | ||||
| Washington, County Records | Free – dates vary by county; includes birth records from the county clerks for early Washington. This is a browse collection, search for your county and then the Birth Records. | |||
| Try 3rd: | ||||
| Washington, Births, 1883-1935 |
Ancestry.com – $ Ancestryinstitution.com – free at Family History Library, FamilySearch Centers and some public libraries Find your local FamilySearch Center |
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| Can't find your ancestor in the online index? | Tips for searching online indexes | |||
| No birth record for your ancestor? | Other records with birth information | |||
FamilySearch Microfilm Collections:
- 1850–1960 Delayed birth certificates – FHL Film 2034094 (first of 975 film collection)
- 1891–1907, 1938–1969 Birth registers and returns recorded by county or city – FHL Film 1307853 (first of 76)
- 1900–1980 Index to delayed birth records, includes births for earlier years – FHL Fiche 6334808 (12)
Births 1907 to present
STEP ONE: Find Birth Information
Limited births maybe found in the following databases. Try each link. If you do not find your ancestor's birth or if you want order a copy of the certificate, then contact the Washington State Department of Health.
| Washington Births Databases - Includes Index and Digital Images | ||||
| Try 1st: | ||||
| 1877-1938 at Washington State Digital Archives | Free: includes birth records, registers and returns from 30 counties, principally from 1891-1907 with limited records up to 1938 | |||
| Try 2nd: | ||||
| Washington Births, 1883–1935 |
Ancestry.com – $ Ancestryinstitution.com – free at Family History Library, FamilySearch Centers and some public libraries Find your local FamilySearch Center | |||
| Can't search the index listed above? | Go to Step Two listed below and order a search for your ancestor from the Washington State Department of Health. | |||
| Can't find your ancestor in the online index? | Tips for searching online indexes | |||
| No birth record for your ancestor? | Other records with birth information | |||
STEP TWO: Obtain the Certificate
PART A: You know the exact date of birth
With an exact date (from your records or the index above), you can order a copy of the birth record for a fee from the following locations:
| To Order Birth Certificates | |||
| From County of Birth | From Washington State Dept. 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 birth certificates, as long as they can provide the required information.
If you do not want to order the birth record, search other records with birth information.
PART B: You don't know the exact date of birth
If you do not know the exact date or place of birth:
The Washington State Department of Health will do a limited search for a fee.
The State of Washington is an open record state. Anyone may order copies of Washington birth certificates, as long as they can provide the required information.
If you do not want to order the birth record, search other records with birth information.
FamilySearch Microfilm Collections:
- 1850–1960 Delayed birth certificates – FHL Film 2034094 (first of 975 film collection)
- 1891–1907, 1938–1969 Birth registers and returns recorded by county or city – FHL Film 1307853 (first of 76)
- 1900–1980 Index to delayed birth records, includes births for earlier years – FHL Fiche 6334808 (12)
- 1907–1954 Birth index – FHL Film 1711751 (first of 22 films)
- 1907–1948 Birth certificates – FHL Film 1712390 (first of 975 film collection)
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