Find Death Records in Franklin County

Franklin County death records are available through the Benton-Franklin Health District, the Washington State Department of Health, and the Washington State Digital Archives. If you need to search for or order a certified death certificate from Franklin County, this page covers every main source, what each one holds, and how to get copies. Records go back to the late 1800s through the auditor's office and extend to the present through the health district.

Franklin County Vital Records

Franklin County shares a health district with Benton County. The Benton-Franklin Health District serves as the local vital records office for both counties. It issues certified death certificates for deaths that happened in Franklin County and keeps records from 1980 to present. The office is located in Kennewick, just across the river from Pasco.

The health district at 7102 W. Okanogan Place, Kennewick, WA 99336 can be reached at (509) 460-4204. Walk-in hours run Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and again from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Certified death certificates cost $25 per copy. Staff can help with in-person requests and can tell you what identification and documentation you need to bring.

For deaths that occurred anywhere in Washington State from 1907 to the present, you can also order certified copies through the Washington State Department of Health. The DOH vital records office in Tumwater handles statewide requests by mail or through VitalChek. The state-level process works for Franklin County deaths as well, so you have two local routes and one statewide route depending on your situation.

The Benton-Franklin Health District vital records page shows certificate ordering options for Franklin County residents.

The county auditor's office in Pasco at co.franklin.wa.us also maintains a range of county-level records, though current death certificates are not processed there. The auditor's office keeps marriage records and historical documents from the early county era. For any record from after 1907, the health district or the state DOH is the right place to call.

Historical Franklin County Death Records

Franklin County has death records going back to 1879. The Franklin County Auditor held these records from 1879 to 1910, and there are 67 known entries in that set. These early records were later transferred to microfilm and made available through the Washington State Archives. They contain name, date of death, age, sex, race, marital status, place of death, cause of death, place of birth, last residence, occupation, and parents' names and birthplaces. That level of detail makes them quite useful for family history research.

The Washington State Digital Archives holds these early records in a free, searchable online database. You can search by name and pull up index information and, in many cases, scanned images of the original documents. The Digital Archives also holds Department of Health death certificates from 1907 to 1997, which covers most of the twentieth century. Washington State death records from 1907 forward were required under the state's registration system, so coverage is fairly complete after that year.

The Franklin County Auditor website provides information on historical records and county services.

For older records not yet digitized, the Washington State Archives holds physical copies on microfilm. You can contact the archives to request a lookup or visit in person. The Eastern Regional Branch in Cheney, WA handles many eastern Washington counties including Franklin. If the Digital Archives does not have what you need, the physical archives is the next step.

Search and Order Franklin County Death Certificates

There are three main ways to get a certified death certificate for a Franklin County death. You can visit the Benton-Franklin Health District in person, submit a mail request to the health district or the state DOH, or order online through VitalChek. Each method has slightly different processing times and requirements.

In-person requests at the Benton-Franklin Health District are the fastest option for recent deaths. You need a valid government-issued photo ID and documentation that shows you have the right to request the record. Under Washington law, certified death certificates are restricted to eligible requestors. These include the deceased's immediate family members, legal representatives, and others who can show a legitimate need. The health district staff can walk you through the requirements when you call.

Mail requests go to either the Benton-Franklin Health District or to the Washington State Department of Health. The DOH handles deaths from 1907 to the present across all of Washington. Mail requests typically take two to four weeks. For online orders, VitalChek processes requests on behalf of the state DOH. There is an additional service fee for online orders on top of the standard $25 certificate fee.

The Washington State Digital Archives is a free tool for searching historical death index records and viewing older certificates. These are informational copies rather than certified documents, but they are very useful for research and for identifying the right records before placing a paid order.

• In-person: Benton-Franklin Health District, Kennewick, WA 99336
• Phone: (509) 460-4204
• Online: VitalChek for state DOH certificates
• State DOH: doh.wa.gov/licenses-permits-and-certificates/vital-records
• Historical search: Washington State Digital Archives (free)

Genealogy Resources in Franklin County

Researchers looking into Franklin County family history have a few local resources to work with. The Franklin County Historical Society at franklincountyhistoricalsociety.org holds local historical records, family histories, photographs, and documents from early Pasco and the surrounding area. The society offers research assistance for people who cannot visit in person. Their collections focus on the county's settler history and the communities that grew along the Columbia River.

The Mid-Columbia Libraries system also serves the Franklin County area. Their genealogy collections include local history materials, access to historical newspapers, and regional databases that cover the Tri-Cities area. You can visit a branch in Pasco or use remote access through the Mid-Columbia Libraries website. Libraries are often overlooked as a genealogy resource, but the newspaper archives alone can fill many gaps in death records, especially for the early twentieth century when obituaries were common even in small papers.

The Mid-Columbia Libraries website shows genealogy and local history resources for the Franklin County area.

Death Records and Washington Law

Washington's vital records system is governed by RCW 70.58A, the state's vital statistics act. This law sets out who must register a death, what information goes on a death certificate, and who can access certified copies. Under RCW 70.58A, deaths must be registered within three days. The physician or other certifier confirms the cause and manner of death, and a funeral director or other authorized person completes the registration with the state registrar.

Access to certified death certificates is limited under state law. Only certain people can get a certified copy. These include a spouse or domestic partner, a parent or child, a legal representative, or someone who can show they have a direct and tangible interest in the record. This restriction applies to recent records. Older records that are more than fifty years past the date of death are generally considered public and can be accessed more broadly through the Digital Archives or the state archives system.

Informational copies of death records, which are not certified and cannot be used for legal purposes, are available to any person who requests them. If you just need the information for family history research and do not need to use the document as legal proof, an informational copy may be all you need. The Washington State Digital Archives provides this kind of access for older records at no cost.

Cities in Franklin County

Franklin County includes the city of Pasco, which is one of the Tri-Cities along the Columbia River. Death records for Pasco residents are filed through the Benton-Franklin Health District and the state DOH.

Other communities in Franklin County include Connell, Mesa, Kahlotus, and Washtucna. All death records for Franklin County residents go through the same Benton-Franklin Health District and state DOH system regardless of which community the person lived in.

Nearby Counties

Franklin County borders several other eastern Washington counties. Death records in each county are handled by that county's health district or the state DOH.