Free links to official Washington state and county government records — courts, criminal histories, vital records, property, voter, business, and licenses across all 39 counties.
How to Get Washington Vital Records (Start Here)
Vital records in Washington — birth certificates, death certificates, marriage records, and divorce records — are handled at the state level by Washington DOH Center for Health Statistics. Marriage licenses are issued locally by the County Auditor.
What this page covers: Washington vital record ordering, eligibility requirements, and related databases. What it does not cover: Genealogy records older than the state vital records system (check the Genealogy Resources page for historical records).
Where to start: For certified copies of birth or death certificates, contact Washington DOH Center for Health Statistics. For marriage licenses, contact the County Auditor in the county where the ceremony will occur. For divorce records, contact the court that granted the decree.
Common mistake: Birth and death certificates, marriage licenses, and divorce decrees come from different offices. Do not assume one office handles all vital records.
Edited by Sam Rokni — Editor & Owner, SearchSystems.net. Public records professional since 1999. NAPBS founding member. Full bio & credentials.
Last reviewed: June 04, 2026 · Methodology: Washington vital records URL verified against the official state publisher at doh.wa.gov on the review date. 7 primary .gov sources cited below.
Washington Vital Records — Key Facts (2026)
Birth, death, marriage, and divorce records for Washington — who can request, how to order, and what 2026 changed.
State-only
Issuing authority
Not federal
Restricted
Birth/death access
Usually self + family
75-125 yr
When records become public
Genealogy threshold
VitalChek
3rd-party portal
Used by many states
CDC NVSS
National statistics
Data only, no certificates
Who can request a Washington vital record
The person named
100%
Parent of subject
100%
Spouse of subject
90%
Adult child
90%
Legal representative
80%
General public (recent)
10%
General public (historical 75+yr)
95%
Unit: % likely to receive a certified copy.
What Changed in 2026 — Washington Vital Records
2026
Washington vital records portal active
The official Washington portal at doh.wa.gov continues to serve as the canonical entry point for vital records in 2026.
For 2026, Washington continues to publish vital records information through state-authorized portals; check doh.wa.gov for current fees and processing times.
Federal record types (federal liens, federal land, federal vital statistics) continue to live OUTSIDE Washington's state portal — see the Primary Sources below for additional official portals.
Birth Records · Cemetery Records · Census Records · Collection Highlights · Corporation Records · Death Records · Divorce Records · Frontier Justice: Territorial Court Case Files · Governors' Daily Records · Indian Census · Institution Records · Land Records ·
This series documents individuals who died in King County, were buried in King County or whose remains were transported through King County . Forms include name of the deceased, date of death, place of death, age, sex, cause of death (if a ...
Based on the date of the vital event (birth, death, marriage, divorce), determine whether you are seeking a state, territory, county, or parish level record. If the record you are seeking has been digitized, you can access it online, through the projects described below.
With its great natural beauty, the area known today as Clark County, Washington, always has attracted people and settlements. Framed by the scenic Cascade Range to the east and majestic Columbia River to the south and west, the area was both a gathering place for native tribes and the site of the first non-native settlement in the Pacific Northwest.
... You can get a marriage license at the Franklin County Auditor's office, located at 1016 N 4th Avenue, Pasco, WA 99301, Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm . The cost is $58, and the license must be purchased at least 3 days in advance of the wedding.
Washington state law specifies who can perform a marriage ceremony. To have a judge perform your ceremony, contact them directly. A fee may apply. Immediately following the ceremony, the couple, the officiant, and two witnesses must sign the Certificate of Marriage. It is the officiant's responsibility to complete and return the certificate to King County within 30 days after the ceremony.
Submitting a Marriage Application by Mail If one or both parties can't come to our office, you can submit a notarized application by mail. To print the application containing an area for a notary seal, perform the following steps: 1. Scroll down and complete the required yellow fields and perform ...
About Tacoma-Pierce County Obituary Index · | Contact Us · Powered by CONTENTdm® · Select the collections to add or remove from your search · A · B · C · D · E · F · G · H · I · J · K · L · M · N · O · P · Q · R · S · T · U · V · W · X ·
Washington State Archives - Digital Archives · Do you have comments, questions, or transcription errors? Give us Feedback · [Identification of item], Skagit County Auditor, Death Records, 1891-1908, Washington State Archives, Digital Archives, http://digitalarchives.wa.gov, [date accessed]. Northwest Regional Archives ·
Submitting the online marriage application is the first step toward completing your marriage licensing process. The next step is for both parties to come in person to the Snohomish County Customer Service Center with $170 to finalize the application process. ... Your ceremony can be performed by anyone who meets the criteria for wedding officiants described in Washington state law.
39 Washington counties are indexed on SearchSystems.net — top 28 counties shown below. Browse the full directory or click any county for local court, sheriff, recorder and assessor links.
Certified birth certificates for events in Washington are issued by the Official Washington Vital Records at doh.wa.gov. Requests can be made by mail, in person, or (in most cases) online through the state's authorized vendor. The county of registration may also be able to issue certified copies for recent local events.
How do I get a Washington death certificate?▼
Washington death certificates are issued by the Official Washington Vital Records; eligibility (next of kin, executor, legal representative) and ID documentation requirements are listed at doh.wa.gov. For deaths within the last year, the county clerk or local registrar where the death occurred can often issue a copy more quickly.
Can I look up a Washington marriage or divorce record online?▼
Washington marriage and divorce records are not generally available in a free, name-searchable online index. The Official Washington Vital Records (doh.wa.gov) handles certified copies; the underlying license/decree is filed with the county clerk or court that issued it, which is also a primary search point.
How long does it take to get a Washington vital record?▼
Standard Washington vital-record processing times vary from a few business days (in-person same-day at some county clerks) to several weeks for mailed requests. The Official Washington Vital Records publishes current turnaround times at doh.wa.gov. Expedited processing is usually available for an additional fee.
What ID do I need to order a Washington certified vital record?▼
The Official Washington Vital Records requires government-issued photo identification (driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID) and proof of your relationship to the record holder, if applicable. The full list of acceptable ID and supporting documents is published at doh.wa.gov.
