Spokane Death Records Search

Spokane death records are held by the Spokane Regional Health District, which serves as the local vital records office for Spokane County. If you need to find a death record or get a certified death certificate for someone who died in Spokane, the health district office on West College Avenue is your starting point. Records go back to 1907. You can request in person, by mail, or online through VitalChek. For deaths that happened more than two months ago, the Washington State Department of Health also holds the record and can fill requests by mail or online.

Spokane Regional Health District - Vital Records

The Spokane Regional Health District is the local authority for death certificates in Spokane and throughout Spokane County. Their office at 1101 W. College Ave., Room 180, holds certified copies of Spokane death records from 1907 to the present. They also issue records for all Washington State deaths filed electronically, so in many cases you can get out-of-county records here as well.

The health district has two phone lines for vital records. Call (509) 324-1601 or (509) 324-1524. You can also email records_web@srhd.org with general questions before visiting. Walk-in hours are Monday through Thursday 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM and Friday 7:30 AM to 12:30 PM. Do not arrive after 4:15 PM on weekdays or after 12:15 PM on Fridays, as they stop accepting walk-in requests before closing. The full office hours and services list is at srhd.org/programs-and-services/services-and-hours.

When you go in person, bring a valid government-issued photo ID. You also need to show your relationship to the deceased for certified copies. Staff can typically produce copies the same day. The fee is $25 per certified copy and is nonrefundable under Washington State law, even if the record is not found.

How to Get Spokane Death Certificates

You can order Spokane death records three ways: in person at the health district, by mail, or online through VitalChek. Each method gives you the same certified copy. The difference is time and cost.

In-person visits to the 1101 W. College Ave. office are the fastest option. Same-day service is available during walk-in hours. Bring your ID, your relationship documentation, and payment. The base fee is $25 per certificate. Check with the office for accepted payment methods. This is the best route if you need the record quickly for an estate, insurance claim, or legal matter.

Mail requests go to Spokane Regional Health District, 1101 W. College Ave., Spokane, WA 99201. Include a completed request form, a photocopy of your government ID, proof of your relationship to the deceased, and a check or money order for $25 per certificate. Allow several weeks for mail processing. Do not send cash or original documents.

Online orders go through VitalChek at srhd.org or directly through the VitalChek platform. VitalChek is the only state-approved third-party vendor for Washington vital records. Online processing typically takes 3 to 7 business days. The total online cost is higher than the base $25 fee because of VitalChek service charges. You can add optional express shipping for faster delivery.

Note: The $25 fee per certified copy cannot be waived under RCW Chapter 70.58A. Burial transit permits for deaths occurring in Spokane County are also available through the health district.

Spokane Regional Health District

The screenshot below shows the Spokane Regional Health District vital records FAQ page, which covers how to order death certificates, what documents you need, and what the fees are for Spokane County residents.

The health district's FAQ page is a helpful starting point before you visit or submit a mail request for a Spokane death certificate.

Spokane County Auditor Records

The Spokane County Auditor's Recording Division handles property records, marriage licenses, and other recorded documents. They do not issue death certificates. However, if you are researching an estate or need recorded property documents alongside death records, the Auditor's office is the right place for those.

Auditor office address: 1116 W. Broadway Avenue, Spokane, WA 99260. Phone: (509) 477-2270. Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM. You can search their online recording portal at recording.spokanecounty.org. Copy fees are $1.00 per page for plain copies and $3.00 for the first page plus $1.00 per additional page for certified copies.

For historical Spokane death records before 1907, the Washington State Digital Archives has free online access. The digital archives contain the Spokane County Auditor Death Register from 1891 to 1907, Death Returns from 1888 to 1907, and county deaths from 1888 to 1907 and 1989 to 2011. You can search these at digitalarchives.wa.gov at no cost.

Spokane Genealogy and Historical Death Records

Spokane has several local resources for historical death records and genealogy research. The Spokane Public Library's Northwest Room is a strong starting point for older records. Their address is 906 W. Main, Spokane, WA 99201, phone 509-444-5336. Northwest Room hours are Monday and Tuesday noon to 8 PM, Wednesday through Friday 10 AM to 6 PM. Genealogy volunteers are available on Tuesdays from 10 AM to 5 PM and can help with obituary lookups and early death records. Visit their site at spokanelibrary.org.

The Eastern Washington Genealogical Society is another resource for Spokane researchers. Their mailing address is PO Box 1826, Spokane, WA 99210-1826. They hold meetings, assist with research, and publish resources on Eastern Washington families and deaths.

At the state level, FamilySearch offers free access to Washington death certificates from 1907 to 1960 and the Washington State Death Index through 2020. You can search by name, date, and county at no cost through familysearch.org. The Washington State Digital Archives at digitalarchives.wa.gov provides the death index and historical county records for free, with no registration required.

Note: The Washington State Department of Health holds Spokane death records from July 1, 1907 to the present. For very recent deaths, check with the funeral home first, as the certificate may still be in processing.

Spokane Public Library Resources

The Spokane Public Library's Northwest Room holds local history collections useful for death record research. The screenshot below shows the Spokane Public Library website, which lists research services including genealogy assistance and obituary lookups available through the Northwest Room.

The Northwest Room has microfilm, local newspapers, and archived records that are not available through state databases, making it a useful complement to official death certificate searches.

Spokane County Death Records

Spokane is the county seat of Spokane County. All death records for the city and surrounding county go through the Spokane Regional Health District. Visit the Spokane County death records page for more on county-level resources, historical records, and additional search options.

View Spokane County Death Records

Nearby Cities

These cities are near Spokane. Spokane Valley is in the same county and uses the same health district for death records.