University Place Death Records

University Place is a city in Pierce County, and death records for University Place residents are handled through the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department. If you need to find a death record or order a certified death certificate, the health department office at 3629 South D Street in Tacoma is the local authority. Records go back to 1907 for Tacoma and Pierce County deaths. You can request in person, by mail, or online through VitalChek. The University Place City Clerk handles city administrative records but does not process death certificates.

University Place Death Certificate Office

For a University Place death certificate, your primary contact is the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department. They hold certified death certificates for all Pierce County deaths including University Place, with coverage going back to 1907 for Tacoma deaths and 1926 for broader Pierce County deaths. They can also issue certificates for any Washington State death filed electronically, which covers many modern records across the state.

The health department phone is 866-687-1464. You can also find detailed ordering information including an online form at forms.tpchd.org/certificates.php. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. When you visit, bring a valid government photo ID and proof of your relationship to the deceased. Qualifying relationships include spouse or domestic partner, children, parents, siblings, grandparents, legal guardians, attorneys, and others with a documented legal need. The full eligibility list is defined under RCW Chapter 70.58A.

University Place is a few miles west of Tacoma. The Tacoma health department office is easily accessible by car or public transit. Same-day service is typically available for in-person walk-in requests during business hours.

University Place City Clerk

The University Place City Clerk's office handles city administrative records, public records requests, and city documents. They do not issue death certificates or other vital records. If you need those, go to the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department.

The city clerk is at City Hall, University Place, WA 98466. Phone: 253.564.1623. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 4 PM. Their public records portal is at cityofup.com/300/Public-Records. Through this portal you can submit public records requests for city documents such as permits, contracts, and council minutes.

Records not maintained by the city include business licensing, fire records, police reports, and property taxes. For fire records and police reports, contact Pierce County. For property taxes, contact the Pierce County Assessor. The city clerk's scope covers city government records only.

University Place City Public Records Portal

The screenshot below shows the University Place City Clerk public records page, which explains how to submit public records requests for city administrative documents. Death certificates are not available here; they must be ordered through the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department.

The city's public records portal is useful for accessing city-specific documents, while vital records like death certificates are handled at the county health department level.

How to Order University Place Death Records

There are three ways to get a University Place death certificate. You can order online through VitalChek, request by mail, or visit the health department in person. The base fee is $25 per certified copy. An additional $15 identity verification fee may also apply. Fees are nonrefundable under Washington State law.

Online orders go through VitalChek. VitalChek is Washington State's only contracted vital records vendor. You can start the process at the TPCHD online form at forms.tpchd.org/certificates.php. Total online cost is $48.50, which breaks down as $25 for the certificate, $12.50 for health department processing, and $11.50 for VitalChek. Processing takes 3 to 7 business days after identity confirmation.

Mail requests go to 3629 South D Street, Tacoma, WA 98418. Include a completed request form, a photocopy of your photo ID, relationship documentation, and a check or money order for $25 per certificate. Make it payable to Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department. Do not send cash. Allow several weeks for mail processing.

In-person visits at the Tacoma office during business hours are fastest. Same-day service is typically available. This is the best option when you need a certificate quickly for an estate, insurance claim, or other time-sensitive purpose.

If you need an older record not available at the county level, the Washington State Department of Health holds all Washington death records from 1907 to the present. Contact them at 1-866-687-1464 or visit doh.wa.gov.

Historical University Place Death Records

University Place was incorporated as a city in 1995. Before that, it was part of unincorporated Pierce County. Historical death records for the area before incorporation are covered under Pierce County records at the state level. The Washington State Digital Archives at digitalarchives.wa.gov has free access to Pierce County Auditor death records from 1892 to 1907 and Department of Health death certificates from 1907 to 1997. The death index spans 1907 to 2017. These are all free to search and view online.

FamilySearch provides free access to Washington death certificates from 1907 to 1960 and the state death index through 2020. You can search by name, year, and county at no cost at familysearch.org. The Tacoma-Pierce County Genealogical Society at tpcgs.org offers research assistance and maintains local indexes useful for Pierce County family history research including University Place.

The Tacoma Public Library at 1102 Tacoma Ave South, Tacoma, WA 98402, holds a local history collection with obituaries and historical newspapers. Their website is at tacomalibrary.org. The Heritage Quest Research Library in Puyallup at 2102 E. Main Ave., Suite 105, phone 253-863-1806, is open Monday through Saturday and focuses on genealogy research for the Pierce County area.

Pierce County Death Records

University Place is in Pierce County. All death records for University Place residents go through Pierce County's vital records system at the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department. Visit the Pierce County page for more details on county resources and search options.

View Pierce County Death Records

Nearby Cities

These nearby cities are also in Pierce County and use the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department for death records.