How do I get a copy of a death certificate?

Washington State Department of Health (DOH), Center for Health Statistics (state - Olympia area) / Local Health Jurisdictions (county/city level)

Details

What you need to know

Fee

$25 per certified copy (including short form death certificate); VitalChek adds $7; mail: $25

Processing Time

Local health jurisdiction: same/next day; VitalChek: 3-7 business days; mail: 8-10 weeks

Online Option

VitalChek only (authorized)

Where to Go

Local county/city health department (fastest); VitalChek online; WA DOH by mail or in-person (Olympia)

Washington Notes

Important state-specific details

SHORT FORM DEATH CERTIFICATE: Washington now has a short form death certificate that does NOT include cause or manner of death; available for broader purposes while protecting sensitive medical information; full form (with cause of death) requires stricter eligibility.
$25 fee for both full and short form death certificates.
State has death records from approximately 1907.
Historical death records (25+ years old) available at Washington State Archives - archives.sos.wa.gov.
Order multiple copies at once - estates, insurance, banks, SSA, VA each need one.

Official Source

State office contact

State Office

WA DOH, Vital Records - doh.wa.gov/vital-records | (360) 236-4300 | PO Box 47814, Olympia, WA 98504-7814; VitalChek (authorized): vitalchek.com; Local health jurisdictions (varies by county)