Death Records in Frederickson
Frederickson is an unincorporated community in Pierce County, and death records for residents are handled by Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department. If you need a certified death certificate for a death that occurred in Frederickson, the health department in Tacoma is the office that issues it. Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department holds Tacoma and Pierce County death records and also has access to all Washington State deaths filed electronically. This page explains how to get a death certificate, where to find older records, and what local resources serve the Frederickson community.
Frederickson Overview
Frederickson Death Records - Which Office Handles Them
Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department is the vital records office for Frederickson. As an unincorporated community, Frederickson has no city government and no separate vital records system. All deaths in the area are registered through Pierce County and the state, and the health department in Tacoma is where you go for certified copies. The office address is 3629 South D Street, Tacoma, WA 98418. Phone is 866-687-1464. The health department handles certified copies of all Washington State birth records as well as Tacoma and Pierce County death records. Electronic filings since 2016 cover all Washington State deaths.
The total cost for a death certificate through Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department is $25 per certified copy. If you order through VitalChek, the total comes to approximately $48.50 due to the VitalChek service fee added on top of the state fee. Washington State law under RCW 70.58A restricts certified death certificates to qualified family members and legal representatives for 50 years after the date of death. You will need a valid photo ID and documentation of your relationship to the deceased.
Pierce County government records for the Frederickson area are handled through county offices in Tacoma, as Frederickson is an unincorporated community without its own city government.
| Office | Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department - Vital Records |
|---|---|
| Address | 3629 South D Street Tacoma, WA 98418 |
| Phone | 866-687-1464 |
| Fee | $25 per certified copy |
| VitalChek Total | Approximately $48.50 (includes service fee) |
| Website | tpchd.org/info/birth-and-death-records |
Note: Since Frederickson is unincorporated, there is no city clerk or city government office. All county-level services go through Pierce County offices in Tacoma.
Historical Records for Frederickson
The Frederickson area sits in the southeastern part of Pierce County. It developed primarily as an agricultural community in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Deaths in the area before 1907 were not part of any formal state registration system. For pre-1907 deaths, researchers typically look to church records, cemetery records, and probate filings in Pierce County Superior Court. Many early families in the area were connected to farming communities in both the Puyallup Valley and the South Hill plateau.
After 1907, deaths in the Frederickson area were registered with Pierce County as part of the state vital records system. These older records are not always held directly by Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department. For deaths from 1907 through the mid-twentieth century, you may need to request from the Washington State Department of Health at doh.wa.gov. The Washington State Digital Archives at digitalarchives.wa.gov holds indexes for many of these older records and is free to search. It is a good first step before submitting a formal request.
Pierce County Auditor at piercecountywa.gov handles recorded documents including marriage licenses and property records. For vital records like death certificates, the auditor will refer you to the health department. The auditor's recorded documents collection can be useful for estate-related research, as deeds and title transfers sometimes follow shortly after a death and can help establish a timeline for genealogical research.
How to Obtain a Death Certificate
You can request a death certificate for a Frederickson death through Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department using the following methods. Since Frederickson has no city office for vital records, all requests go through the county health department in Tacoma.
In person in Tacoma: Visit Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department at 3629 South D Street. Check their current hours before you go by calling 866-687-1464 or checking the website. Bring a valid photo ID and payment. In-person requests are typically fulfilled quickly. This is the best option if you need the certificate urgently.
Online through VitalChek: Place your order at VitalChek. You will need to provide the deceased's name, date of death, and city of death. Enter "Frederickson" or the surrounding Pierce County area as the place of death. The total cost through VitalChek is approximately $48.50. Orders process within 7 to 10 business days. Identity verification is part of the online process.
By mail: Download the request form from tpchd.org. Complete it fully and include a copy of your photo ID along with payment by check or money order for $25 per certificate. Mail to 3629 South D Street, Tacoma, WA 98418. Allow two to three weeks for processing and delivery.
Heritage Quest Research Library in Puyallup serves the Frederickson area with genealogical resources including vital records research assistance, cemetery records, and historical databases.
Local Resources for Frederickson
Because Frederickson is unincorporated, local services come from Pierce County rather than a city government. The Pierce County Auditor at piercecountywa.gov handles recorded documents and can help with property-related research that often accompanies estate work after a death. The Pierce County Assessor-Treasurer maintains property records online. These records can help establish residency and ownership history when working on genealogical research or estate matters.
Heritage Quest Research Library is at 2102 E. Main Ave., Suite 105, Puyallup, WA 98372. Phone is 253-863-1806. Email is research@hqrl.com. Hours run Monday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This library specializes in genealogical research and holds extensive collections of Washington vital records, cemetery records, and local history materials. Their collection is particularly useful for Pierce County research and they offer paid research services for those who cannot visit in person. The library serves the entire south Pierce County area including Frederickson.
Pierce County Library System serves the Frederickson area with branches in nearby communities. Library cards provide access to genealogical databases including Ancestry Library Edition. For legal questions related to estates and death records, Northwest Justice Project at nwjustice.org offers services to low-income residents. Washington Law Help at washingtonlawhelp.org provides free self-help guides for estate and probate matters.
Death Records and Washington Law
Washington's vital records system is governed by RCW Chapter 70.58A. The statute sets uniform rules across the state for how deaths are registered, who can access records, and what information must appear on a death certificate. For Frederickson deaths, Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department administers these rules locally on behalf of the state.
When a death occurs in Frederickson, the attending physician or coroner certifies the cause of death within a set time frame. The funeral home or person handling the disposition completes the registration information and files the record with the county within three days of the death. The record is transmitted to the state and enters the Washington State vital records system. Since 2016, most Washington deaths have been registered electronically through the state's Electronic Death Registration System, which reduces processing time and filing errors.
Certified copies are restricted for 50 years from the death date. Only immediate family members and their legal representatives can receive a certified copy during this window. Once 50 years pass, the record becomes a public record available to anyone who requests it. This rule applies to Frederickson deaths the same as any other location in Washington. If you are researching a death from before 1976, you can request a certified copy without establishing a specific family relationship.
Amendments to death certificates are processed through the health department or the Washington State DOH, depending on the age of the record. If you discover an error on a death certificate, whether it is a name spelling, a date, or the cause of death, there is a formal amendment process. Corrections require documentation and a formal request. The sooner you start the process, the easier it tends to be. Contact Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department at 866-687-1464 for guidance on amendments to Pierce County records.
Pierce County Death Records
Frederickson is in Pierce County. All death certificates for the community are issued through the county health department in Tacoma. Visit the Pierce County death records page for more county-wide information and resources.
Nearby Cities
These communities are near Frederickson. Each page covers local death records offices and resources.