Washington Dept. of Health
Center for Health Statistics
P.O. Box 9709
Olympia, WA 98507-9709
(360) 236-4300
(360) 236-4313
Fax: (360) 352-2586
Providing free birth, death, marriage and divorce records for all of Washington State.
Vital records are those documents that mark an important milestone or event in each of our lives. These records include legal certificates of your birth, marriage, death, and court documents of any divorces. Each of these vital records provides not only documentation of the event, but is uniquely important in other ways after the event. People search for vital records for many reasons, including but certainly not limited to: verifying family history (genealogy), locating a missing individual, doing background checks for safety or security reasons, providing proof of a death for insurance purposes, and obtaining a driver’s license.
Where to begin your search for vital records can be a challenge. The good news is that if you know the state and county in which the event took place, you can contact that government agency, such as a county courthouse, registrar, or state office of vital statistics, and request access to these documents. Usually there is a small fee and forms to complete for the request. The bad news is that if you do not know the state or county, your search could take much longer. Fortunately, the state-specific searches that are now available online can really help you. In our current digital age with databases connected through a worldwide network of computers, with diligent research, and the right resources, you can rather quickly obtain useful vital records. State and county agencies can be contacted via the Internet through which you can make your request.
A good place to start looking for the proper agency that maintains each state’s vital records is by using the state-by-state resource provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention site at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w.htm. Here you can click on the state you need and find specific offices for each type of vital records. There are other online resources that are available if you have nothing more than a name. In fact, there are many companies that have created their own niche by providing the valuable service of searching for vital records in such difficult cases. One of these resources is www.vitalchek.com, which is a company owned by LexisNexis, the world’s leading research organization. VitalChek offers you an easy, step-by-step process to request the vital record for which you are searching. At the end of your order, you simply pay the required agency fee, and a single VitalChek order fee, and your document will be on the way.
Another online resource for all vital records is www.archives.com. This resource is helpful for family searches and genealogy, and it has over 1 billion accessible records. In addition, you can browse collections of these records, network with other family history buffs, and get expert vital record search advice. Archives.com does charge a reasonable subscription to access their records, but they also offer a free 7-day trial where you can try searching their databases with no payment obligation. Your vital records search, whether it is for yourself, a family member, or other individual, begins at your fingertips. Using these online resources can save you time, stress, and money, and get you the records or information you need.
The legal documentation of major life events in a person’s live are commonly referred to as vital records. This is where the official records of birth,death, marriage and divorce are found. They are used for legal identification, background checks, and a way for the government to keep accurate vital statistics that can be used for census updates. They are also ways to verify martial status, verify death benefits, and to monitor the official record of court ordered custody and financial agreements of a divorce.
Doing the actual search for these records, if you do not already have the original,can get complicated. Getting an official certified copy from the various government agencies will involve a fee, as the official copy needs to that the raised seal on the document. The question is often asked, “Is there a way I can get these records for free?”
How To Get Vital Records From the Different States
With legal documents come official forms. Vital records are legal documents so in order to get a copy of them, you need an official form filled out, and that will involve a fee. The different states have their own procedures and fee structure set for releasing an official copy of vital records. Occasionally for vital records that are classified as “public record” limited free information that can be found online.
One of the confusing parts of requesting vital records is that different records are stored with different agencies. Once you find the right agency, tracking down the record is pretty simple. If you are luck you will know which agency to contact. For those who do not know that, one resource to try is http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w.htm This is a free service that has the information on all 50 states about which state agency to contact for official copies of each of the vital records.
Free Online Resources To Help Find Vital Records
There are several online resources that can help someone who may not know the state agency, the county or if they are searching for someone else’s information.
Archives.com has over 1.3 billion records. Individuals can browse the collections for themselves, search for family history, and use their expert advisers. There is a subscription fee, but you get a seven day free trial. So a savvy user can gather all the names and information for themselves and family members and do some genealogy searches for seven days, then cancel the subscription.
Ancestorhunt.com is a free search engine where you could turn up digital copies of records, like property deeds, marriage bonds, and other legal documents. All you need is specific surnames and a state to get started. These will not be official records but will be perfect for tracing family history.
Rootsweb.com is a genealogy site where you post your own information and look at over 300,000 other family trees that have also been posted. This gives over 3 billion individual records.
Searching for vital records, for family tree information can be simple and fun. It does not have to cost too much or be frustrating and time consuming. By using the free resources first, you will be able to get some of the basic information needed, so when you do need to request an official copy, you know you will be paying for the correct one from the correct agency.
Yakima County Clerk
Second and East B Street
Yakima, WA 98901
(509) 575-4120
(509) 447-3185
Ahtanum, Alfalfa, Ashue, Birchfield, Brace, Brownstown, Buena, Byron, Cliffdell, Cougar Valley, Cowiche, Donald, East Selah, Emerald, Eschbach, Farron, Flint, Fruitvale, Gleed, Goose Prairie, Grandview, Granger, Gromore, Harrah, Harwood, Holtzinger, Liberty, Lichty, Mabton, Midvale, Moxee City, Naches, Nass, Nile, Outlook, Parker, Pinecliff, Pomona, Pomona Heights, Rimrock, Rupple, Satus, Sawyer, Selah, South Broadway, Summitview, Sunnyside, Tampico, Tasker, Terrace Heights, Tieton, Tietonview Grange, Toppenish, Union Gap, Venner, Wapato, Weikel, Wenas, West Valley, White Swan, Yakima, Yethonat, Zillah, American River, Artesian, Blacks Corner, Elliott Ave, Givens Corner, Parrott Crossing, Silver Beach, Washington Park, Wesley Junction, Wiley City, Willy Dick Crossing
Whatcom County Clerk
311 Grand Avenue,
Bellingham, WA 98225-4038
(360) 676-6777
Acme, Agate Bay, Alderwood, Balford, Barron, Bellingham, Birch Bay, Birch Bay Circle Grange, Blaine, Blue Canyon, Brennan, Cedarville, Chuckanut, Chuckanut Village, Clearbrook, Clipper, Columbia, Comar, Cottonwood Beach, Custer, Deming, Dewey, Diablo, Doran, Edgemoor, Eureka, Everson, Ferndale, Geneva, Glacier, Goshen, Greenwood, Hampton, Happy Valley, Kendall, Kickerville, Larson Mill, Laurel, Lawrence, Limestone Junction, Lummi Island, Lynden, Maple Beach, Maple Falls, Marietta, Mirror Lake, Mountain View, Neptune Beach, Newhalem, Nooksack, Nooksack Salmon Hatchery, Noon, Northwood, Nugents Corner, Peaceful Valley, Pleasant Valley, Point Roberts, Saxon, Semiahmoo, Silver Beach, South Beach, South Bellingham, Strandell, Sudden Valley, Sumas, Van Wyck, Van Zandt, Victor, Wahl, Warnick, Welcome, Wickersham, Alabama Hill, Anacortes Crossing, Beach, Birchwood, Boundary, Cedar Crossing, Delta, Fairhaven, Forest Ridge, Haynie, Hillsdale, Kulshan, Lakeway, Lummi, Parkview, Roosevelt, Sunnyside
Whitman County Clerk
P.O. Box 390
Colfax, WA 99111-0390
(509) 397-4622
Albion, Almota, Armstrong, Balder, Belmont, Busby, Cashup, Chambers, Colfax, Colton, Crabtree, Diamond, Donahue, Dusty, Eden, Elberton, Endicott, Ewan, Ewartsville, Fairbanks, Fallon, Farmington, Flaig, Garfield, Glenwood, Gordon, Grinnell, Harpole, Hay, Hooper, Huntley, Jerita, Johnson, Juno, Kenova, Kitzmiller, La Crosse, Ladow, Lairds, Lamont, Lavista, Leon, Lone Pine, Madson, Malden, Manning, McCoy, Mockonema, Moses, Oakesdale, Palouse, Pampa, Pandora, Parvin, Penawawa, Peyton, Pine City, Pullman, Pullman Junction, Purrington, Revere, Ridpath, Ringo, Riparia, Risbeck, Robinson, Rosalia, Saint John, Seltice, Shawnee, Shreck, Sokulk, Staley, Steptoe, Sunset, Sunshine, Sutton, Swift, Tekoa, Thera, Thornton, Union Center, Uniontown, Walters, Warner, Whelan, Whitlow, Wilcox, Willard, Winona
Wahkiakum County Clerk
P.O. Box 116
Cathlamet, WA 98612-0116
(360) 795-3558
Altoona, Brookfield, Cathlamet, Dahlia, Deep River, Eagle Cliff, East Cathlamet, Eden, Grays River, Oneida, Rosburg, Skamokawa, Sleepy
Walla Walla County Clerk
315 West Main Street
Walla Walla, WA 99362-2838
(509) 527-3221
Adkins, Ash, Attalia, Ayer, Babcock, Baker-Langdon, Berryman, Bolles, Burbank, Burbank Heights, Buroker, Burr, Calhounville, Chew, Climax, Clyde, College Place, Coppei, Dixie, Eastman, Elwood, Ennis, Eureka, Five Points, Gardena, Garrett, Gilliam, Hadley, Harbert, Harsha, Harvey, Hatch, Humorist, Kibler, Kooskooskie, Lamar, Langdon, Le Grow, Lee, Lowden, Magallon, Matthew, Minnick, Mojonnier, Paddock, Page, Pedigo, Pickard, Port Kelley, Prescott, Reese, Rifton, Robinson, Rulo, Russell, Ruxby, Sapolil, Scott, Sheffler, Slater, Stateline, Sudbury, Thiel, Tompkins, Touchet, Tracy, Two Rivers, Valley Grove, Villard Junction, Waitsburg, Walker, Walla Walla, Wallula, Wallula Junction, Welland, Zangar Junction, Dixie Crossing, Thomas
Stevens County Auditor
Attention: Recording
215 South Oak Street
Colville, WA 99114
(509) 684-3751
Addy, Aladdin, Arden, Arzina, Bear, Bingville, Bossburg, Cedonia, Chewelah, Clavton, Clayton, Cline, Colville, Cozy Nook, Daisy, Echo, Enterprise, Evans, Fairview, Ford, Frontier, Fruitland, Gifford, Goldfield Mill, Grays, Greenwood, Hunters, Kettle Falls, Leadpoint, Loon Lake, Marble, Marcus, Maud, Northport, Onion Creek, Orin, Park Rapids, Pinkney City, Powell, Rice, Ryan, Spirit, Springdale, Tumtum, Turk, Valley, Velvet, Ward, Wellpinit, Bissel, Bluecreek, Camas, Carrs Corner, Deer Trail, East Marcus, Kulzer, Waits, Waterloo
Thurston County Clerk
2000 Lakeridge, SW
Olympia, WA 98502-6045
(360) 754-3800
Olympia Genealogical Society
Jeri McCoy
Beachcrest, Belmore, Bordeaux, Boston Harbor, Bucoda, Chain Hill, Delphi, East Olympia, Essex, Five Corners, Four Corners, Grand Mound, Helsing Junction, Independence, Kellys Korner, Lacey, Littlerock, Maytown, Michigan Hill, Mima, Nisqually, North Olympia, North Yelm, Offutt Lake,
Olympia, Puget, Rainier, Rochester, Saint Clair, Schneiders Prairie, Skookumchuck, South Bay, South Union, Sunnydale, Tanglewilde, Tenino, Thompson Place, Tono, Tumwater, Union Mill, Vail, Western Junction, Yelm, Bush, Carlyon Beach, Edgewater Beach, Elizan Beach, Fir Tree, Gravelly Beach, Lamberts Corner, Madrona Beach, McIntosh, Mushroom Corner, Peterson Corner, Plumb, Rignall, Sunrise Beach, Sunset Beach