Washington
Washington Death Records: Are They Public + How to Get One
Washington is a closed-record state for death certificates. Only the decedent's family, legal representatives, and others with a qualifying relationship can buy a certified copy from the Washington State Department of Health. Anyone may order a noncertified informational copy, and records become public at the State Archives 25 years after the death.
Are Death Records Public in Washington?
No. Washington is a closed-record state for death certificates. Under RCW 70.58A.540, vital records are exempt from public inspection under the state Public Records Act (Chapter 42.56 RCW).
That means a certified copy is not available to just anyone who asks. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) issues certified copies only to people with a qualifying relationship to the deceased.
There is one form of broad access. Anyone may request a noncertified informational copy of a death record without proving identity or relationship. These copies are marked "informational only" and cannot be used for legal purposes.
Importantly, an informational copy does not show the cause or manner of death. That sensitive detail stays restricted to qualified applicants. For a wider look at how states treat this, see whether cause of death records are public.
Who Can Request a Washington Death Record?
A certified copy of a Washington death certificate is restricted to qualified applicants. RCW 70.58A.530 sets the eligibility list.
Qualified applicants for a certified copy include the decedent's:
Eligible Requesters
- Spouse or registered domestic partner
- Child, parent, stepparent, or stepchild
- Sibling, grandparent, grandchild, great grandparent, or great grandchild
- Legal guardian immediately prior to death
- Legal representative or authorized representative
- Next of kin as defined in RCW 11.28.120
- Government agencies and courts acting in their official capacity
- A funeral director or establishment, within 12 months of the death
- The person controlling disposition of the remains
To receive a certified copy, you must provide valid government-issued photo identification and documentation proving your qualifying relationship. You also need the decedent's first and last name, the date or approximate date of death, and the city or county of death.
Anyone who does not meet this list can still order an informational copy, which requires no proof of identity or relationship.
How to Get a Washington Death Certificate
The Washington State Department of Health, Center for Health Statistics, issues death certificates for deaths occurring in the state. Local health jurisdictions can also issue records for deaths in their county.
The standard fee is $25 per copy under RCW 70.58A.560. Additional charges may apply depending on the ordering or shipping method you choose.
You can order a Washington death certificate several ways:
- In person through a participating local health department, often with same-day service.
- Online through the state's authorized vendor, VitalChek, typically processed in 3 to 7 business days.
- By phone through VitalChek.
- By mail to the Department of Health, which takes roughly 8 to 10 weeks.
You will choose between a long-form certified copy, which includes the cause and manner of death, and a short-form certified copy, which omits it. Both require you to be a qualified applicant. Fees, methods, and processing times change, so confirm current details with the Department of Health before ordering.
Is the Cause of Death Public in Washington?
No. The cause and manner of death is the most tightly restricted part of a Washington death record. It appears only on a long-form certified copy issued to a qualified applicant.
Short-form certified copies and noncertified informational copies do not display cause-of-death information. So even though anyone can buy an informational copy, that copy will not reveal how the person died.
This mirrors how Washington handles related medical records. For more on that topic, see whether autopsies are public records. Birth records are even more restricted in Washington, sealed for 100 years, as covered in our guide to whether birth certificates are public records.
How Far Back Do Washington Death Records Go?
The Department of Health holds Washington death records from 1907 onward. Records stay under DOH and local-jurisdiction control until they age out into the archives.
Under RCW 70.58A.510, death records transfer to the Washington State Archives 25 years after the date of death. Once transferred, the archives may provide noncertified copies to the public at the cost of operations. This is the point at which an older death record effectively becomes a public record for research and genealogy.
For deaths nationwide, there is no single federal death-records database. The CDC's National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) confirms that death certificates are issued and held by the states, not the federal government. The Social Security Administration maintains a public Death Master File, but under the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 it excludes deaths that occurred within the most recent three calendar years.
Washington Death Records: Quick Facts
| Question | Washington Answer |
|---|---|
| Open or closed record? | Closed (RCW 70.58A.540) |
| When do records become public? | 25 years after death, at the State Archives (RCW 70.58A.510) |
| Who can request a certified copy? | Spouse, family, legal representative, next of kin, and other qualified applicants (RCW 70.58A.530) |
| Cost | $25 per copy (RCW 70.58A.560) |
| Issuing office | Washington State Department of Health, Center for Health Statistics |
| Governing statute | Chapter 70.58A RCW |
Disclaimer: This page provides general legal information about access to public records in Washington, not legal advice. Rules, fees, and processing times change. Always verify current requirements with the Washington State Department of Health or the State Archives before requesting a record.
Sources
This page is based on Washington statutes and official Department of Health guidance; the full list of government sources is published below.
Sources and References
- Washington State Department of Health, Ordering a Death Record(doh.wa.gov).gov
- RCW 70.58A.530, Issuance of certifications and informational copies of vital records(app.leg.wa.gov).gov
- RCW 70.58A.540, Public records exemption for vital records(app.leg.wa.gov).gov
- RCW 70.58A.510, Preservation and transfer of vital records to the State Archives(app.leg.wa.gov).gov
- CDC National Center for Health Statistics, Where to Write for Vital Records(cdc.gov).gov
- Social Security Administration, Death Master File(ssa.gov).gov