The paperwork · Washington
Almost everything that comes after a death, from the bank to the life insurance company, asks for a certified copy. Here is what a copy costs in Washington, where to order it, and how many to get.
Order about 10 certified copies at the start. It costs less to buy them together than to come back for more later, and nearly every office will want an original, not a photocopy.
From the state vital records office
Cost of a certified copy: $25.00
Mail requests to: Center for Health Statistics Department of Health PO Box 9709 Olympia, WA 98507
The state vital records office has records from July 1, 1907, to 2 months before present date. You must complete the following steps to request and receive a death certificate: - Submit an application with the following information: - name on the record; - place of death (city or county); and - approximate date of death. - Provide valid government identification or alternate identification. - Provide documentation to prove your qualifying relationship. - Pay for the certificate. - Fees start at $25 per certificate. - Make a personal check or money order payable to Department of Health. For more information about ordering or to place an order online, visit Ordering a Vital Record \| Washington State Department of Health. The Center for Health Statistics telephone number is (360) 236-4300.
If the family cannot afford a funeral, call the county burial assistance program before signing anything with a funeral home. Find your county on the Washington help page, and see what else is owed to you in the first 48 hours checklist.
Questions families ask
The state vital records office lists the cost of a certified copy as: $25.00 Fees can change, so confirm on the official site before you send payment.
Most families need about 10. Banks, life insurance, Social Security, the vehicle title office, retirement accounts, and property transfers each tend to want an original certified copy, and many will not accept a photocopy.
Yes. Funeral homes file the death record for you and can usually order certified copies at the same time. If you are using a county burial program instead, ask the caseworker how copies are ordered.
Eligibility rules are set by Washington. Spouses, children, parents, and the executor named in the will are commonly eligible, and you may be asked for photo ID and proof of your relationship. The state office confirms the exact rules.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Costs and rules come from the official Washington vital records listing and can change; confirm with the office before you send payment.
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Reviewed by the Final Steps Help research team.
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