Washington ranks 24th out of 51 (the 50 states and D.C.) for how easy, fast and affordable it is to get certified birth, marriage, divorce and death records.
Cost#45 (tie)of 51
Speed#43of 51
Ease of ordering#10of 51
Birth certificates #30 of 51
Cost
$25 first copy, $25 each extra copy (from $40.50 online)
Processing time
Online: within 3–7 business days; mail: within 6–8 weeks; in person: same day
Time until the copy is in hand
8–10 weeks by mail
Where to order
State office or a local health department
Order online
Yes, through the state’s approved vendor, for an extra fee
Records available
State records from July 1, 1907
Marriage records #33 of 51
Cost
$25 first copy, $25 each extra copy (from $40.50 online)
Processing time
Online: within 3–7 business days; mail: within 6–8 weeks
Time until the copy is in hand
6–8 weeks by mail
Where to order
State office or the County Auditor
Order online
Yes, through the state’s approved vendor, for an extra fee
Records available
State records from January 1968; other years from the County Auditor
Divorce records #20 of 51
Cost
$25 first copy, $25 each extra copy (from $40.50 online)
Processing time
Online: within 3–7 business days; mail: within 6–8 weeks
Time until the copy is in hand
6–8 weeks by mail
Where to order
State office or the county Superior Court clerk
Order online
Yes, through the state’s approved vendor, for an extra fee
Records available
State records from January 1968; full decrees from the county Superior Court clerk
Death certificates #31 of 51
Cost
$25 first copy, $25 each extra copy (from $40.50 online)
Processing time
Online: within 3–7 business days; mail: within 6–8 weeks; in person: same day
Time until the copy is in hand
8–10 weeks by mail
Where to order
State office or a local health department
Order online
Yes, through the state’s approved vendor, for an extra fee
Records available
State records from July 1, 1907
Note: These rankings were done on . Prices, processing times and ordering rules may have changed since then, so check with the issuing office before you order. Times marked “estimate” add typical mail delivery to the office’s posted processing time. “Not published” means the office does not post that detail.
How to order Washington birth, death, marriage and divorce records
How do I get a Washington birth certificate?
A certified Washington birth certificate costs $25 from the Department of Health. The fastest way is in person at a local health department, where most orders are ready the same day. Online or phone orders through VitalChek ($40.50 total) ship within 3–7 business days, and mail orders arrive within 8–10 weeks.
Washington birth records: ordering details
Who can order
Certified copies: the person named, a spouse or domestic partner, child, parent, stepparent, stepchild, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, great-grandparent or great-grandchild, a legal guardian, a legal or authorized representative, a government agency, or a court. Anyone can get a noncertified informational copy.
Fee
$25 per copy, including additional copies; fees are nonrefundable. Online or by phone through VitalChek, the total starts at $40.50 per copy ($25 + $8.50 VitalChek fee + $7 DOH processing fee), or $43.50 with VitalChek’s optional $3 identity quiz. Shipping options can add more. An Heirloom birth certificate signed by the Governor starts at $50 (mail only).
How to order
Online or by phone:VitalChek, DOH’s only contracted vendor, or call 1-866-687-1464, any time; pay by card. By mail: send the Birth Certificate Order Form (422-182), your signature, a photocopy of your ID and proof of relationship, and a check or money order payable to “DOH” to Department of Health, Center for Health Statistics, PO Box 9709, Olympia, WA 98507-9709. In person:local health departments sell most birth and death certificates. Check first that yours has your record type and year; there may be an extra fee.
In person at a participating local health department: most orders the same day. VitalChek (online or phone): processed and shipped within 3–7 business days, depending on shipping. Mail: DOH says orders are shipped within 6–8 weeks and that you should receive them within 8–10 weeks. Times start once DOH has full payment and all documents. Heirloom certificates: up to 8–10 weeks.
Older and local records
DOH has Washington birth records from July 1, 1907 to the present.
Tip: The hospital paperwork isn’t an order. After a birth, you still need to order and pay for the birth certificate yourself.
A certified Washington death certificate costs $25. Choose a long form (with cause of death and Social Security number) or a short form (without). Most local health departments issue them the same day; VitalChek orders ($40.50 total) ship within 3–7 business days.
Washington death records: ordering details
Who can order
Long and short form: a spouse or domestic partner, child, parent, stepparent, stepchild, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, great-grandparent or great-grandchild, next of kin, a legal guardian, a legal or authorized representative, a government agency, a court, and (within 12 months of the death) the funeral home or the person controlling disposition. The short form is also available to title insurers and anyone who shows it’s needed to protect a right related to the death. Anyone can get a noncertified informational copy.
Fee
$25 per copy, including additional copies; fees are nonrefundable. Online or by phone through VitalChek, the total starts at $40.50 per copy ($25 + $8.50 VitalChek fee + $7 DOH processing fee), or $43.50 with VitalChek’s optional $3 identity quiz. Shipping options can add more.
How to order
Online or by phone:VitalChek, DOH’s only contracted vendor, or call 1-866-687-1464, any time; pay by card. By mail: send the Death Certificate Order Form (422-184), your signature, a photocopy of your ID and proof of relationship, and a check or money order payable to “DOH” to Department of Health, Center for Health Statistics, PO Box 9709, Olympia, WA 98507-9709. In person:local health departments sell most birth and death certificates. Check first that yours has your record type and year; there may be an extra fee.
In person at a participating local health department: most orders the same day. VitalChek (online or phone): processed and shipped within 3–7 business days, depending on shipping. Mail: DOH says orders are shipped within 6–8 weeks and that you should receive them within 8–10 weeks. Times start once DOH has full payment and all documents.
Older and local records
DOH has Washington death records from July 1, 1907 to the present.
Tip: Ask before you order. DOH says the long form may be needed to close bank accounts or claim life insurance, and the short form for vehicle titles, real estate and probate.
The Department of Health issues certified Washington marriage certificates for marriages from 1968 on, for $25. Anyone can order one, with no ID needed. For marriages before 1968, or within the last five months, contact the county auditor where the license was issued.
Washington marriage records: ordering details
Certified copy vs. verification
DOH issues the state marriage certificate. The county auditor can give you a county-certified copy of your marriage license, which works for many purposes, but most federal agencies don’t accept it.
Who can order
Anyone. No proof of identity or relationship is required.
Fee
$25 per copy, including additional copies; fees are nonrefundable. Online or by phone through VitalChek, the total starts at $40.50 per copy ($25 + $8.50 VitalChek fee + $7 DOH processing fee), or $43.50 with VitalChek’s optional $3 identity quiz. Shipping options can add more. County auditor copies: fees set by the county.
How to order
Online or by phone:VitalChek, DOH’s only contracted vendor, or call 1-866-687-1464, any time; pay by card. By mail: send the Marriage / Divorce Certificate Mail Order Form (422-104), your signature, and a check or money order payable to “DOH” to Department of Health, Center for Health Statistics, PO Box 9709, Olympia, WA 98507-9709. County copy: the county auditor’s office where you got the marriage license.
ID needed
None for DOH marriage certificates.
Processing time
VitalChek: processed and shipped within 3–7 business days. Mail: received within 6–8 weeks. It can take up to five months after the wedding for the county to send the record to DOH.
Older records
DOH has marriages from 1968 on. For marriages before 1968, contact the county auditor’s office in the county where the license was obtained.
Tip: Just married? The record can take up to five months to reach the state, so ask the county auditor for a certified copy of your license in the meantime.
The Department of Health issues certified Washington divorce certificates (certificates of dissolution) for divorces from January 1, 1968 on, for $25. Anyone can order one. For the divorce decree, or for divorces before 1968, contact the county superior court clerk where the divorce was finalized.
Washington divorce records: ordering details
Certified copy vs. verification
The divorce certificate is a one-page certified document stating that two people were divorced on a specific date. The decree, which spells out the terms, comes only from the county superior court clerk; DOH doesn’t have decrees, and the clerk can’t issue certificates.
Who can order
Anyone. No proof of identity or relationship is required for the DOH certificate.
Fee
$25 per copy, including additional copies; fees are nonrefundable. Online or by phone through VitalChek, the total starts at $40.50 per copy ($25 + $8.50 VitalChek fee + $7 DOH processing fee), or $43.50 with VitalChek’s optional $3 identity quiz. Shipping options can add more. Decree copies: fees set by the court clerk.
How to order
Online or by phone:VitalChek, DOH’s only contracted vendor, or call 1-866-687-1464, any time; pay by card. By mail: send the Marriage / Divorce Certificate Mail Order Form (422-104), your signature, and a check or money order payable to “DOH” to Department of Health, Center for Health Statistics, PO Box 9709, Olympia, WA 98507-9709. Decree: the county superior court clerk where the divorce was finalized.
ID needed
None for DOH divorce certificates. Contact the court clerk for decree requirements.
Processing time
VitalChek: processed and shipped within 3–7 business days. Mail: received within 6–8 weeks. It can take up to five months after the divorce for the county clerk to send the record to DOH.
Older records
DOH has divorces from January 1, 1968 on. For earlier divorces, contact the county superior court clerk where the divorce was finalized.
Tip: Divorced in the last five months? Ask the county superior court clerk whether the record has been sent to DOH before you order.
Note: Fees, processing times and rules are set by the issuing offices and can change. Times are estimates. Check with the office before you order. PublicLibraries.com is not a government agency.
Other records
Other Washington records people search for
Official Washington sites for other common lookups. Some records are kept by counties or carry fees; the note on each line says so.
Note: Links go to official state sites or services the state designates. Access rules, fees and coverage are set by each office and can change. PublicLibraries.com is not a government agency.
About Washington public records
Certificate Information
The Center of Health Statistics is responsible for the managing and issuing of birth, death, marriage and divorce records for the
state of Washington. Same day service is available by visiting the main office in Olympia and costs $20 dollars. Orders can
also be placed by mail or by phone or online using the VitalChek System. Note that additional fees apply to online and phone
orders as well as expedited shipping and service.
• In-Person Request Forms
• By-Mail Request Forms
• Confidential Birth Information Requests
• Search Request Forms
Birth and death certificates from 1907 to present are available from the state office. The county health departments also
have records from 1921 to present. Older records than 1907 can be acquired from the county auditor. Marriage and divorce records
from 1968 to the present are available from the state office with a slight delay for new record filing. Records older than 1968
or records that have not yet been transfered to the state are available at the county auditor.
In state adoption decrees can be obtained from the Clerk of Court that heard the adoption hearing. Out of state adoption requests can
be submited to the Washington State Department of Health with a completed CHS form from below or through the Clerk of Court.
Department of Health/CHS
Attn: Adoptions
PO Box 9709
Olympia, WA 98507-9709
• Application for Adoption Registration
• CHS Mail in Request Forms
Property Records
Property and parcel records for Washington can be found at the county auditor's department in which the property resides. The auditors
office also handles tax valuations, appeals, and tax payment information.
