Vital records, as their name suggests, are connected with central life events: birth, marriage, and death. Maintained by civil authorities, they are prime sources of genealogical information; but, unfortunately, official vital records are available only for relatively recent periods. These records, despite their recent creation in the United States, are critically important in genealogical research, often supplying details on family members well back into the nineteenth century.The Source: A Guidebook of American Genealogy, by Loretto Szucs and Sandra Luebking.
Ancestry.com Washington State Database
A large collection of databases of births, deaths, marriages, census, obituaries, directories, estate records, and service records.
Washington State Department of Health
Center for Health Statistics
Department of Health
101 Israel Road SE
Tumwater, WA 98501
Birth Certificates
- July 1, 1907 to present: order through the Center for Health Statistics
- For records before July 1, 1907 in King, Pierce, Snohomish, Spokane, Walla Walla and Whatcom contact the local health department
- For all other counties, contact the county auditor.
Death Certificates
- For recent records, in the last 3 months, please contact the Local Health Department where the event occurred.
- July 1, 1907 to to 3 months before the present: order through the Center for Health Statistics
- For records before July 1, 1907 please contact the county auditor where the event occurred.
Marriage Certificates
- For recent marriage certificates from the last 4 months: contact the county auditor where the license was filed.
- For certificates from January 1, 1968 to four months before the present: order through the Center for Health Statistics
- For certificates before January 1, 1968: contact the county auditor where the license was obtained.
Divorce Certificates
- For recent divorce certificates from the last four months: contact the county clerk where the event was filed.
- For certificates from January 1, 1968 to four months before the present: order through the Center for Health Statistics
- For certificates before January 1, 1968: contact the county clerk where the event occurred.
Washington State Department of Health
Center for Health Statistics
Department of Health
101 Israel Road SE
Tumwater, WA 98501