Seattle Death Records
Seattle death records are issued by Public Health Seattle and King County through the King County Vital Statistics office, which is located at 201 South Jackson Street in Seattle. As the largest city in Washington and the county seat of King County, Seattle has one of the most extensive death records collections in the state, with certified copies available from 1907 to the present and historic municipal records going back to 1881. Whether you need a certified copy for a legal matter or are searching historical Seattle death records for genealogical research, this page covers every relevant office, ordering method, archive collection, and the Washington laws that govern access.
Seattle Overview
Seattle Death Records: Getting Certified Copies
Public Health Seattle and King County operates the Vital Statistics office that issues certified death certificates for all Seattle deaths. The office is at 201 South Jackson Street, 2nd Floor, Seattle, WA 98104. Phone is (206) 477-6620. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. In-person visits allow same-day service, which makes this the fastest way to get a certified copy.
The fee is $25 per certified copy. If you mail your request, add $2 for postage and handling and a $15 identity verification fee per order. So a single mailed copy runs $42 in total. In-person orders cost just $25. If you need more than one copy, request them all at once. You'll need to submit valid government-issued photo ID with every request regardless of how you order.
Public Health Seattle and King County Vital Statistics at kingcounty.gov is the primary office for certified Seattle death certificates.
Under RCW 70.58A.530, certified copies go to qualifying individuals. These include the deceased's spouse or domestic partner, children, parents, stepparents, stepchildren, siblings, grandparents, great grandparents, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Legal guardians, legal representatives, authorized representatives, and next of kin also qualify. Funeral directors may request copies within 12 months of the death. If you don't fall into one of these groups, you can request a noncertified informational copy instead. That copy shows the same information but carries a stamp indicating it cannot be used for legal purposes.
| Office | Public Health Seattle and King County - Vital Statistics |
|---|---|
| Address | 201 South Jackson Street, 2nd Floor Seattle, WA 98104 |
| Mailing Address | Box 359784, 325 Ninth Ave. Seattle, WA 98104-2499 |
| Phone | (206) 477-6620 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | kingcounty.gov/depts/health/vital-statistics |
| Fee | $25 per copy; +$15 identity verification fee; +$2 postage for mail |
Historical Death Records for Seattle
Seattle's death records history is unusually well documented. The Seattle Municipal Health Department kept death registers going back to 1881, and those records are now available online through the Washington State Digital Archives. The collection is titled "Seattle Municipal Health Department, Death Records, 1881-1907" and contains 19,110 individual records. These records were transcribed by the South King County Genealogical Society and are searchable by last name, first and last name, or first letter of last name. Images of the original registers are also available. This is a remarkable resource for anyone researching Seattle families from that era.
For deaths after 1907 when statewide registration began, the King County Vital Statistics office holds certified copies and the Digital Archives holds indexed records from 1907 through the mid-1990s. The Digital Archives includes both a death index and images of certificates. All records in the Digital Archives are free to search and view. Under RCW 70.58A.510, death records transfer to the Washington State Archives 25 years after the date of death, which opens them up for broader access.
The King County Archives holds death registers, coroner's records, burial permits, and other county records that tie into Seattle death history. These materials cover periods that overlap with official vital records but often include details not found in standard certificates. The archives accept research requests and can help you locate records if you have partial information about the person you're researching.
The Seattle City Clerk at clerk.seattle.gov handles city records requests, though vital records are held separately by King County Vital Statistics rather than the municipal archives.
How to Order a Death Certificate in Seattle
Three methods are available for ordering a Seattle death certificate: in person at the King County Vital Statistics office, by mail, or online through VitalChek.
In-person ordering is the fastest option and the cheapest if you live in or near Seattle. The office at 201 South Jackson Street is reachable by bus and Link light rail. You walk in during business hours, fill out the request form, show your ID, pay $25 at the counter, and leave with the certificate. No waiting period, no postage cost. Staff can also make copies of multiple records from the same visit.
Mail requests require more lead time. The process takes 8 to 10 weeks from when King County receives your letter. Write out what you need including the full name of the deceased, date of death, and your relationship to them. Include a photocopy of your ID and a check or money order for $25 plus $2 postage, plus $15 for identity verification. Use the mailing address: Box 359784, 325 Ninth Ave., Seattle, WA 98104-2499. Do not send cash.
Online orders go through VitalChek, which is the only authorized third-party service for Washington vital records. VitalChek handles identity verification electronically through LexisNexis technology. Total costs start at about $40.50 with service fees added to the $25 base. You can choose standard or expedited shipping. The record ships directly from the government agency to your address. The ordering process takes about 5 to 10 minutes online.
Research Resources for Seattle Death Records
The Seattle Genealogical Society is one of the best local research resources in the state. The society is at 4649 Sunnyside Avenue N, Suite 302, Seattle, WA 98103. Phone is 206-522-8658. Hours run Tuesday through Saturday, 10 AM to 3 PM, and Sunday 1 PM to 5 PM. Access to the research library is free to the public. The society holds genealogy publications, obituary look-ups, and a reference collection focused on King County and the Pacific Northwest. Volunteers are often on hand to help with research questions.
The Seattle Municipal Archives at seattle.gov/cityarchives holds historical city records including tax lists, city directories from 1890 to 1990, personnel records, and legislative materials. These don't include death certificates, but they can help you place a person in Seattle at a specific time, which then helps narrow down where to look for their death record. You can email the archives at archives@seattle.gov. The office is at 600 4th Ave, Floor 3.
FamilySearch at familysearch.org holds indexed Washington death records and links to scanned originals from the Digital Archives. Searching is free. For Seattle deaths, you'll find coverage from the 1881 municipal records through the mid-1990s with varying completeness. The site also has guides on how to search Washington State records specifically.
The Washington State Archives is the official repository for older state and local government records. It holds the 1881 to 1907 Seattle municipal death records as well as King County death registers and indexes for later periods. The Digital Archives portal is the free online face of this collection. Physical records can be requested through the regional archives office.
Washington Death Records Law
Washington death records are controlled by RCW 70.58A, the state's vital statistics chapter. These records are not general public records. RCW 70.58A.540 explicitly exempts vital records from the Public Records Act. You cannot request a death certificate the same way you'd request a city contract or meeting minutes. Access requires showing a qualifying relationship or legal interest.
Two types of copies exist. Certified copies serve as legal evidence of the facts they contain. They're used in estate proceedings, insurance claims, property transfers, and other situations where legal proof is required. Informational copies contain the same data but carry a notation that they are not valid for legal purposes. They're appropriate for family research, genealogy, or personal records. Both types cost $25 under RCW 70.58A.560.
The transition point under RCW 70.58A.510 is 25 years. Death records older than 25 years are transferred to the Washington State Archives, which opens them up for broader research access. Records less than 25 years old remain at the county health office or the state DOH and require the standard eligibility check. This is why historical records from the Seattle Municipal Archives and the Digital Archives are freely searchable while recent deaths require an application and ID.
There are some fee waivers under the law. Under RCW 70.58A.560, no fee applies to certified copies requested by a county clerk or court for a deceased offender, by law enforcement for a deceased sex offender, or by the Veterans Administration for compensation or pension claims. Those specific exemptions aside, the $25 fee applies to all other requests.
King County Death Records
Seattle is the county seat of King County. All death certificates for Seattle are issued through King County Vital Statistics. The county page covers additional resources for King County death research including the archives and court records.
Nearby Cities
These cities are near Seattle and each has its own death records page.