Search Burien Death Records
Burien death records are handled by King County Vital Statistics, since Burien does not maintain its own vital records office. All certified death certificates for Burien residents must be obtained through King County or the Washington State Department of Health. Burien is a city of about 52,066 in southwestern King County, just south of Seattle and adjacent to SeaTac. For historical death records going back to the early 1900s, the Washington State Digital Archives holds a large collection of King County records. The Highline Historical Society, based right in Burien, is also a strong local resource for genealogy research.
Burien Overview
Obtaining Burien Death Records
King County Vital Statistics at 908 Jefferson Street, Suite 102, Seattle, WA 98104 is the office that handles certified death certificates for all King County deaths, including those in Burien. The phone number is 206-477-2166. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Walk-in requests are typically fulfilled in about 30 minutes. Each certified copy costs $25. Since Burien incorporated as a city only in 1993, earlier records for the area were always handled through the county rather than a city office, so King County has been the records authority for this area throughout its history.
Washington became a closed record state on January 1, 2021, which means only qualified applicants can receive certified copies. Eligible requesters include immediate family members, legal representatives, and others who can document a direct and tangible interest in the record. You will need to bring a government-issued photo ID and proof of your eligibility. The county office has order forms available in both English and Spanish. Orders can also be placed by mail, with checks made payable to King County Vital Statistics.
| Office | King County Vital Statistics |
|---|---|
| Address | 908 Jefferson St, Suite 102 Seattle, WA 98104 |
| Phone | 206-477-2166 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Fee | $25 per certified copy |
| Website | kingcounty.gov/depts/health/vital-statistics |
The King County District Court in Burien is at 601 SW 149th St, Burien, WA 98166. This court handles civil and criminal cases and is a source for court records if you need those alongside death records. The court website is at kingcountycourt.us. Court records are separate from vital records and require a different request process, but both may be relevant if you are researching a death that involved legal proceedings.
King County Vital Statistics is the sole issuing authority for certified death certificates covering Burien, handling all requests from its downtown Seattle office.
Historical Death Records for Burien
The Washington State Digital Archives at digitalarchives.wa.gov is the top free resource for older King County death records. The Archives hold King County Auditor death records from 1891 to 1907, Seattle Municipal Health Department death records from 1881 to 1907, and Washington State Department of Health death certificates from 1907 through 1997. The Burien area was unincorporated King County through most of this period, so all pre-1993 records fall under the King County umbrella. These records are searchable by name and free to access.
The Highline Historical Society at 812 SW 152nd St, Burien, WA 98166 covers the Burien, Normandy Park, SeaTac, and Des Moines area. Their phone number is (206) 246-6354. The society has local historical records, photographs, and oral histories spanning the entire Highline community. For anyone researching deaths in the Burien area before the city's incorporation, the Highline Historical Society's collections are often more locally specific than what you can find in state databases. Their website is at highlinehistory.org.
Ancestry.com and FamilySearch also index many Washington death records, including King County records from the early 1900s. These platforms let you search without committing to a formal records request, which makes them useful for building out a family tree or confirming approximate dates before ordering a certified copy. The King County Library System provides free access to Ancestry Library Edition at library branches, so Burien residents with a library card can use this at no cost.
The Burien City Clerk at 400 SW 152nd St handles public records requests for city documents and can process requests within five business days.
How to Order a Burien Death Certificate
You can order a certified death certificate for a Burien death three ways: in person at the King County Vital Statistics office in downtown Seattle, online through VitalChek, or by mail. In-person orders get same-day service in most cases. Mail and online orders typically take 7 to 10 business days.
Online ordering through VitalChek is the most convenient option if you do not need the certificate immediately. VitalChek is the state-authorized vendor for Washington and connects directly to the county system. You fill out the form, upload your ID and eligibility documents, pay online, and the certificate is mailed to you. Processing generally takes 7 to 10 business days after verification is complete.
For mail orders, send your completed application, a copy of your photo ID, proof of eligibility, and a check or money order for $25 to King County Vital Statistics at the Jefferson Street address. If the death falls outside the King County records window or you prefer going through the state, the Washington State Department of Health at doh.wa.gov handles all Washington deaths from 1907 onward. State processing times are usually two to four weeks.
Note: Walk-in orders at the King County Vital Statistics office are fulfilled in about 30 minutes for most in-stock records.Burien Local Resources
The Burien City Clerk at 400 SW 152nd Street, Suite 300, Burien, WA 98166 handles public records requests for city documents. The phone is (206) 241-4647 and the fax is (206) 248-5539. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Requests are typically processed within five business days. The City Clerk handles business licenses, city council records, and other municipal documents. Their online public records portal is at burienwa.gov.
The Highline Historical Society at highlinehistory.org is a key local resource for genealogy research. Located at 812 SW 152nd Street in Burien, the society covers the entire Highline community including Burien, Normandy Park, SeaTac, and Des Moines. Their collections include photographs, documents, and oral histories. For deaths in this area that predate the formation of these cities, the Highline Historical Society often has materials that fill in gaps left by official records.
The King County Library System serves Burien with local branches that provide free access to genealogy databases. Washington Law Help at washingtonlawhelp.org offers free guides on estate administration and probate procedures for those who need a death certificate for legal purposes. If you need an attorney, the King County Bar Association can provide referrals for estate and probate lawyers in the area.
Washington Death Records Law
Washington death records law is codified in RCW Chapter 70.58A. This statute sets out the rules for how death records are created, filed, maintained, and accessed throughout the state. For Burien, King County Vital Statistics acts as the local registrar and implements these rules. The law requires a death certificate to be filed within three days of a death and before the body is buried, cremated, or otherwise disposed of. The attending physician or medical examiner completes the medical portion, and a licensed funeral director files the record with the county.
Access to certified copies became more restricted on January 1, 2021, when Washington became a closed record state under updates to RCW 70.58A. Before that date, death records were publicly accessible with fewer restrictions. Now certified copies are limited to qualified applicants. The list of qualified applicants is defined in the statute and includes immediate family, legal representatives, government agencies with a legitimate need, and individuals who can document a direct and tangible interest in the record.
Informational copies, which are marked as not valid for legal purposes, have a somewhat broader availability. These are useful for family history research when you do not need an official certified copy for legal or insurance matters. King County Vital Statistics can issue either type of copy and can advise you on which one fits your situation.
The fact that Burien incorporated as recently as 1993 has no effect on how its historical death records are treated under the law. All records for the area, regardless of the city's incorporation date, fall under the King County Vital Statistics system and are subject to the same RCW 70.58A access rules as any other King County records.
King County Death Records
Burien is in King County, and all death certificates for Burien residents are issued through King County Vital Statistics. The county system covers dozens of communities in the region. For more information on King County's death records program and resources, visit the county page.
Nearby Cities
These cities are near Burien in southern King County. All use King County Vital Statistics for death records.