Order a death certificate

King County has death records for:

• All people who died in Seattle at anytime
• All people who died in King County from 1944 to the present
• All people who died in Washington from 2015 to the present

If you need a certificate for any other deaths in Washington, contact the Washington State Center for Health Statistics.

To order a death certificate you must be a “qualified applicant.” Qualified applicants are: 

• Spouses or domestic partners 
• Parents, stepparents, or legal guardians 
• Children or stepchildren 
• Siblings 
• Grandparents or great grandparents 
• Legal representatives 
• Authorized representatives 
• Government agencies 
• Courts (if used for official duties)

You will need the following information about the subject of the death certificate:

• First and last name 
• Month and year of death
• City or county of death

You must submit documentation to prove your identity and your relationship to the subject of the death certificate. 

• To prove your identity, you will need 1 government issued ID, like a drivers license or passport. The ID must include your photo, full name, and date of birth. The ID cannot be expired by more than 60 days. You can see a full list of acceptable IDs (144 KB) on the state Department of Health’s website.

• To prove your eligibility, you will need to provide 1 of the acceptable documents (207 KB) listed on the state Department of Health’s website.

Death certificates are $25 each. There may be extra fees depending on how you order and pay. There are no refunds even if we can't locate the record or if you are not eligible to receive the death certificate. 

• Order online

  VitalChek is a third party vendor that processes online orders 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

• To order online, a credit card is required.
• Each death certificate costs $25.
• VitalChek fees are: Other Agency fees of $6.00 and VCN Handling fee of 11.50 which includes standard shipping
• All online orders are processed within 4 to 5 business days and then sent by regular mail, unless you select rush delivery.
• Rush delivery is available via UPS for an additional fee of $18.50 or USPS Priority Mail for $9.90.
• UPS rush delivery requires a signature when delivered. UPS will not deliver to PO boxes.

• Order by phone

  VitalChek is a third party vendor that processes online orders 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To order by telephone, please call 1-888-273-4623

• To order over the telephone, a credit card is required.
• Each death certificate costs $25.
• VitalChek fees are: Other Agency fees of $6.00 and VCN Handling fee of 11.50 which includes standard shipping
• All telephone orders are processed within 4 to 5 business days and then sent by regular mail, unless you select rush delivery.
• Rush delivery is available via UPS for an additional fee of $18.50 or USPS Priority Mail for $9.90.
• UPS rush delivery requires a signature when delivered. UPS will not deliver to PO boxes.

• Order by mail

  You can order a death certificate by mail and pay with a check or money order. You will need to download the death certificate order form (297 KB) and mail it in. There is a fee of $4 for mail orders. Your certificate will arrive in 2 to 3 weeks. 
  Orden de Acta de Defunción del Estado de Washington (304 KB, Spanish)

• Order in-person at the Vital Records Office

  Our lobby is now opened from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm (except the 1st Wednesday of every month the office will open at 9 am). We are located on the 2nd floor in the East Lobby.  Once in the East Lobby, check-in on the QLess application and proceed to the VitalChek kiosk to start the ordering process.
  • King County Vital Records will be using VitalChek kiosks for ordering, and the fee is $28.50.
  • Valet parking is available in the King Street Garage, and the first hour is free.