Search Klickitat County Death Records

Klickitat County death records are available through the Klickitat County Health Department in Goldendale, which issues certified death certificates for deaths registered in the county through the Washington State Electronic Death Registration System. The county has its own vital records office at the courthouse, along with historical death registers maintained by the county auditor going back to 1891. This guide covers how to request certified copies, what it costs, where to find older records, and what genealogy resources are available for Klickitat County.

Klickitat County Health Department Vital Records

The Klickitat County Health Department handles death certificate requests for Klickitat County. The office is at 115 West Court Street, Room 103, in Goldendale. You can reach them by phone at (877) 553-2194 (toll-free) or (509) 773-4565. Fax is 844-952-0437. The health department issues death certificates through the VitalChek system, which means you order online even when going through the county office. Before submitting a request, it is a good idea to call and confirm that the specific death you are looking for was registered through the Washington State Electronic Death Registration System (EDRS), as this affects certificate availability.

Death certificate fees effective January 1, 2021 are $25 per certified copy. Additional copies ordered at the same time carry their own processing fees. If you order through VitalChek, a credit card payment carries a 3% processing fee, while an electronic check payment carries a $1.25 fee. These VitalChek transaction fees are separate from the $25 certificate fee.

Under Washington law, certified death certificates are only issued to eligible parties as defined in RCW 70.58A. As of 2021, you must provide identification and proof of your eligibility when requesting a certificate. Qualified requesters include the spouse or domestic partner, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, and legal representatives of the estate. Bring a valid government-issued ID and any documents that show your relationship to the deceased when you visit in person or include copies with a mail request.

The Klickitat County Health Department vital records page provides current information on ordering death certificates and eligibility requirements.

You can also order Klickitat County death certificates through VitalChek directly online. VitalChek is the authorized vendor for Washington State vital records and processes orders for deaths throughout the state, including Klickitat County. Online orders are mailed after processing.

Historical Klickitat County Death Records

Klickitat County has death records going back to 1891, predating Washington's statewide registration system by 16 years. The county auditor kept death registers from 1891 to 1907 before the state took over record-keeping. These early registers, along with birth returns from 1891 to 1907 and marriage records from 1891 to 2005, are all digitized and available through the Washington State Digital Archives. For genealogists tracing Klickitat County families from the late 1800s, these pre-1907 records are often the only source for that period.

The Washington State Digital Archives has Klickitat County Auditor death records from 1891 to 1907 with index and images. Department of Health death certificates from 1907 to 1997 are also available with full image access. The death index covers 1907 to 1960 and 1965 to 2020. All records in the digital archives are free to search and view. No account or fee is required. This is the best starting point for historical Klickitat County death record research.

The Klickitat County Auditor at 205 South Columbus Avenue in Goldendale, phone (509) 773-4001, maintains land records from 1883 and marriage records from 1860. The auditor holds the historical death registers for the 1891 to 1907 period, though microfilm copies are at the Washington State Archives. Death certificates for recent deaths are not issued by the auditor. Those come from the health department. The auditor's fee for a certified copy of older records is $25 for the first copy and $15 for each additional copy.

The Klickitat County Auditor's office in Goldendale maintains historical death registers from 1891 to 1907 and other county records going back to the 1880s.

How to Order Klickitat County Death Records

There are several ways to request death records for Klickitat County. The right method depends on how old the record is and whether you need a certified copy or just want to view the information for research.

For certified copies of recent Klickitat County deaths, start with the health department at 115 West Court Street in Goldendale. The health department uses the VitalChek system for ordering, so you may be directed to complete your request online even if you are calling in person. Before you go, call (877) 553-2194 to confirm that the death you need was registered through the state's electronic system. Some deaths, particularly older ones, may not be in the EDRS and could require a different approach. You will need a valid ID and documentation of your eligibility under RCW 70.58A.

Online ordering through VitalChek at vitalchek.com is the most convenient option if you do not live near Goldendale. VitalChek handles Washington State vital records orders online. You fill out a form, pay by credit card or electronic check, and the certificate is mailed. Credit card payments carry a 3% fee; electronic check is $1.25. The base certificate cost is $25. Processing time varies but typically runs a few business days plus mailing time.

For deaths from 1997 or earlier, the Washington State Digital Archives at digitalarchives.wa.gov is the best free resource. Search by name, county, and year. View full death certificate images online. No fee or registration is required. For the pre-1907 period, the auditor's death registers are also available in the digital archives. This covers Klickitat County deaths as far back as 1891.

You can also contact the Washington State Department of Health in Olympia to order certified Klickitat County death certificates by mail. The state office processes mail requests and can issue the same certified copies as the county health department. This can be a good option if you have trouble reaching the Klickitat County office directly.

Genealogy Resources for Klickitat County

Klickitat County's genealogy resources reflect its rural setting in the Columbia River Gorge and south-central Washington. The Presby Museum, also known as the Klickitat County Historical Museum, in Goldendale is the main local repository for historical materials. The museum holds pioneer history, photographs, and local family information. Researchers working on Klickitat County families will find the museum useful, especially for the late 1800s and early 1900s period. Contact the museum in Goldendale before visiting to confirm research access hours and availability.

The Goldendale Community Library is part of the Fort Vancouver Regional Library District. The library has a local history collection with vertical files on local subjects and regional newspaper archives access. Obituaries in local newspapers can provide information not found in official death records, including survivors' names, place of origin, and church affiliations. The library's newspaper resources are particularly useful for Klickitat County deaths from the mid-1900s, when many papers were not indexed elsewhere.

For broader state-level genealogy research, the Washington State Archives maintains records for the region. The nearest regional branch for Klickitat County research would be the Southwest Washington branch in Olympia, which has older court and county records. Contacting the archives by phone before visiting is recommended, as appointment procedures vary by branch.

Note: The Washington State Digital Archives at digitalarchives.wa.gov is the most comprehensive online source for Klickitat County death records, covering from 1891 through 1997. For families with roots in the White Salmon, Bingen, or Goldendale areas, searching there first will give you a good sense of what records exist before reaching out to in-person resources.

Washington Death Records Law

Klickitat County death records follow the same Washington State laws that govern vital records statewide. The key statute is RCW 70.58A, which covers the registration of vital events, who can access records, and how copies are issued. The 2021 updates to this chapter introduced stricter eligibility rules for certified copies. Under the current law, only eligible parties can receive a certified death certificate. Eligible parties are defined as the spouse, domestic partner, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, legal representatives, and others with a documented legal need.

The requirement to provide proof of your relationship went into effect in 2021. Before that, the rules were less strict. If you have been used to getting death certificates without providing eligibility documentation, this is a change to be aware of. You will need to bring ID and relationship documentation when you request a certified copy, whether you go in person, submit a mail request, or order through VitalChek.

When someone dies in Klickitat County, the attending physician, physician assistant, or medical examiner is responsible for certifying the cause and manner of death. The funeral home or person in charge of disposition files the death record electronically through the state's Electronic Death Registration System. Once the record is filed and accepted, the Klickitat County Health Department can issue certified copies. This process is mandatory and must be completed within specific timeframes set by state law.

Informational death certificates are an alternative for people who do not qualify for a certified copy. Informational copies carry a notation that they are not valid for legal use. They show the same information as a certified copy, which makes them useful for family history research, but they cannot be used to settle estates, transfer property, claim insurance, or other legal matters. Ask the Klickitat County Health Department whether an informational copy is available for the record you need if you do not meet the eligibility requirements for a certified copy.

Cities in Klickitat County

Klickitat County includes Goldendale, White Salmon, Bingen, Stevenson Junction, and other communities. Death certificates for events anywhere in Klickitat County are available through the county health department or the Washington State Department of Health.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Klickitat County. Each maintains its own vital records office for deaths within their boundaries.