Find Death Records in Stevens County

Stevens County death records are handled by the Stevens County Health Department in Colville, which serves as the local vital records agent for deaths occurring within the county. Located in the far northeast corner of Washington State, Stevens County is a rural area with deep historical roots and records dating back to before statehood. Whether you are searching for a recent death certificate or tracing family history through older records, this guide covers the offices and resources available in Stevens County.

Stevens County Vital Records Office

The Stevens County Health Department in Colville is the local authority for death certificates. The office is located in Colville, WA 99114, and can be reached by phone at (509) 684-2266. Hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The department acts as a local vital records agent for the Washington State Department of Health, which means they can issue certified copies on the state's behalf for deaths occurring in Stevens County.

Fees are $25 for the first certified copy and $10 for each additional copy requested at the same time. This is slightly different from some other counties, which charge $25 per copy regardless of quantity. If you need multiple copies for an estate, ordering them all at once saves money. In-person requests often receive same-day service, which is convenient for families dealing with urgent estate and funeral matters. Mail orders typically take one to two weeks.

Like all Washington local health departments, Stevens County can only issue certified copies to qualified requesters. You need to provide a valid photo ID and show your relationship to the deceased or your legal purpose for requesting the record. Immediate family members, legal representatives, and those with a direct interest in the record qualify under RCW 70.58A. The health department will review your eligibility before issuing the certificate.

The Stevens County Health Department website has contact details and information on the services provided for vital records in the county.

The county health department site covers death certificate fees, eligibility requirements, and how to submit a request for Stevens County records.

Historical Stevens County Death Records

Stevens County has a well-preserved collection of early vital records. The Washington State Digital Archives holds the Stevens County Auditor's Register of Deaths from 1891 to 1907, with both index entries and scanned images of the original documents. This makes it one of the better-documented early periods for any Washington county. Register of Births from 1900 to 1907 and Marriage Records from 1859 to 2008 are also available in the archive. These records are free to search online.

Before Washington statehood in 1889, Stevens County was part of a broad territorial area. The county's land records go back to 1883 and marriage records to 1859, reflecting early settlement patterns in the region. Death records from this very early period are fragmentary and scattered across church registers, territorial records, and private collections. The Stevens County Historical Society and Research Center in Colville holds extensive local historical collections that can fill gaps the official records don't cover.

The Stevens County Auditor at 215 South Oak Street, Colville, WA 99114, phone (509) 684-3751, maintains records for the county going back to its founding. Historical death records from 1891 to 1907 are on microfilm at the Washington State Archives. The auditor handles property records, marriage licenses, and other historical document requests. For very old records not available online or at the auditor's office, the Washington State Archives Eastern Regional Branch is the next step.

The Digital Archives death certificate collection for Washington State covers 1907 through 1997 and includes Stevens County deaths. Searching by name across this range is free and the results often include scanned images. This is particularly useful for mid-century deaths where state records are complete but certified copies would cost $25 each.

How to Order Stevens County Death Records

The Stevens County Health Department handles in-person and mail requests for certified death certificates. In-person requests often get same-day service, which is a real advantage in a rural county where travel can be a significant factor. If you are in Colville, go to the health department on a weekday during business hours with your ID ready.

For mail orders, write to the Stevens County Health Department in Colville, WA 99114. Include a completed request form, a clear photocopy of your government-issued photo ID, documentation of your relationship to the deceased, and a check or money order. Make checks payable to the Stevens County Health Department. The $25 fee covers the first copy and $10 covers each additional copy in the same order. Mail requests usually take one to two weeks once the office receives them.

If the death occurred before the health department's coverage window or you cannot get a response locally, the Washington State Department of Health in Olympia is your next option. The state holds death records from 1907 forward and can fulfill requests for any Washington death during that period. You can also order through VitalChek, which routes orders to the appropriate state or local agency but adds service fees.

Genealogy Resources in Stevens County

The Northeast Washington Genealogical Society (NEWGS) covers Stevens, Ferry, and Pend Oreille counties, making it the key genealogical organization for this part of the state. Their resources include cemetery transcripts, census returns, church registers, vital records, biographies, land records, maps, and newspapers. They have published several Stevens County-specific works including a Stevens County Births and Deaths index covering 1890 to 1907, Civil War veterans buried in Stevens County, and an R L Polk's Directory for 1911 to 1912. These publications are invaluable for researchers working with early Stevens County families.

The Stevens County Historical Society and Research Center in Colville holds local history collections that include photographs, documents, and artifacts. Research assistance is available. This is the place to go for local context that official records don't provide, like community newspapers, church records, and personal diaries that can confirm or clarify death dates and circumstances.

For statewide searches that cover multiple counties, the Washington State Digital Archives is free and searchable by name. The Washington State Archives Eastern Regional Branch also holds Stevens County court records and other non-digitized materials. Their contact number is (360) 753-1684 for general inquiries, though you may be directed to the regional branch for Stevens County-specific requests.

Washington Vital Records Law

Stevens County death records are governed by RCW 70.58A, the Washington Vital Records Act. This law applies uniformly across all counties and sets the rules for who can get a certified copy, what the record must contain, and how long records are retained. The Stevens County Health Department follows these state-level rules without deviation.

Access to certified death certificates with full identifying information is limited to the deceased's immediate family and legal representatives during the restricted period. After 50 years from the date of death, the record becomes fully public and anyone can request it. For genealogists working on older Stevens County records, the 50-year threshold means deaths before the mid-1970s are now generally accessible to any requester. Deaths from the 1890s and early 1900s are long past this threshold and available through the Digital Archives for free.

Washington law also requires death records to be filed promptly. A death certificate must be filed within three days of the death and before the body is buried or cremated. The attending physician, coroner, or medical examiner signs the medical portion. The funeral home or person in charge of disposition completes the personal information. This two-part process means errors sometimes appear when the information provided to the funeral home is not accurate. Corrections can be made through an amendment process at the health department or state DOH.

The law also sets out what a death record must contain. Required fields include the full name of the deceased, date and place of death, age and birthplace, parents' names and birthplaces, cause and manner of death, the certifying physician or coroner, and information about burial or cremation. For genealogists, a complete death certificate from this era can confirm multiple generations of family information at once.

Cities in Stevens County

Stevens County is a rural county centered on Colville. Other communities include Chewelah, Kettle Falls, Springdale, and Loon Lake. None currently qualify for their own city page based on population, but all deaths in the county are handled through the Stevens County Health Department in Colville.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Stevens County. Each has its own local office for death certificate requests.