Burien Death Records

Burien death index records are part of Washington State's central vital records system, with free historical records available through the Washington State Digital Archives for deaths from 1907 through 1967. Burien is a city in King County, and all death records from within the city are filed with the Washington State Department of Health. This page explains how to search Burien death records, how to order certified death certificates, and what laws govern access to these vital records.

How Burien Death Index Records Work

Death records in Burien follow Washington State's centralized vital records system. When a death occurs in Burien, the attending physician or funeral home files a death certificate with the Department of Health electronically within ten days. That certificate goes into DOH's permanent registry. Burien does not run a local death index. All records go to the state, and the state is where you search and request them.

The death index is a summary record, not a full certificate. Each index entry shows the name, date, county, certificate number, age at death, and gender. Cause of death does not appear in the index. The index is a tool for finding records. You look up a person in the index, get their certificate number, then use that number to request the full document from DOH if you need it.

Burien is in King County and was incorporated in 1993. Before incorporation, the area was unincorporated King County. Death records from before 1993 for the Burien area would appear in King County records. Since King County has pre-1907 death returns going back to 1881 in the Digital Archives, researchers have a long historical record to search for this area.

King County Handles Burien Death Records

All Burien deaths are processed through King County. King County has a local vital statistics office through Public Health Seattle and King County. That office can issue certified death certificates for King County deaths, including Burien, in addition to the state DOH in Tumwater. This is a distinction that sets King County apart from most other Washington counties.

Burien contracts with the King County Sheriff's Office for police services. Death-related police incident reports for Burien are therefore handled through the King County Sheriff rather than a separate Burien police department. For unusual or unexplained deaths, the King County Medical Examiner investigates and files the death certificate with DOH.

Searching Burien Death Records Online

Use the Washington State Digital Archives at digitalarchives.wa.gov to search Burien death records for free. The statewide index covers 1907 through 1967. Filter your search by King County to focus on Burien records. King County also has pre-1907 death returns in the Digital Archives going back to 1881. So for the Burien area, you have access to indexed records spanning more than 80 years at no cost.

Each index entry shows the name, death date, county, certificate number, age, and gender. Write down the certificate number if you plan to order a full copy from DOH. No account or login is needed. The Digital Archives search is completely free and unlimited.

Source: Washington State Digital Archives

The Digital Archives index is a finding tool. Use it to get a certificate number, then request the full record from DOH if you need more detail.

After 1967, no free public online index exists. Contact DOH at 360-236-4300 to check for a specific record before paying for a certified copy.

You can also search specifically for Burien historical death records at digitalarchives.wa.gov.

Ordering a Burien Death Certificate

Certified death certificates for Burien deaths are ordered from either the state DOH or King County's local vital statistics office. Both charge $20 per certified copy. Under RCW 70.58, deaths within the past 50 years are restricted to qualified applicants. Qualified applicants include the spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, or legal representative of the deceased. Deaths older than 50 years are available to anyone.

A Verification of Death letter costs $15 and confirms a death occurred without providing the full certificate. It has fewer restrictions and is suitable for situations that do not require a certified copy. Both documents are ordered from DOH.

Order options for Burien death certificates:

• In person at DOH or King County Vital Statistics office
• By mail: DOH, PO Box 9709, Olympia WA 98507-9709
• By phone: 360-236-4300 (DOH) or 206-477-4000 (King County)
• Online through VitalChek at vitalchek.com ($20 plus $12.50 processing fee)

Mail orders take 4 to 6 weeks. Walk-in DOH service handles records from 1968 to present the same day.

Source: VitalChek Online Certificate Ordering

VitalChek is available 24 hours a day and is the authorized online vendor for Washington State vital records orders.

Burien Local Resources

The Burien City Clerk handles public records requests for city documents. The Clerk does not hold death certificates but can assist with other city records and direct you to the right agency. Because Burien contracts with King County Sheriff for police services, death-related police incident reports go through the King County Sheriff's Office Records Unit rather than a separate Burien police department.

The King County Medical Examiner handles death investigations for all of King County, including Burien. When the ME investigates a Burien death, it files the certificate with DOH. The ME's investigative records are separate from vital records and can be requested under RCW 42.56.

Historical Death Records for Burien

Burien was not incorporated until 1993, so all pre-1993 death records for the area are filed as King County records. Since King County has pre-statehood death returns going back to 1881 in the Digital Archives, researchers have extensive historical coverage for the Burien area. The Washington State Archives holds physical copies of older records and can assist with requests beyond what the Digital Archives shows online.

The State Archives Research Facility in Olympia at 1129 Washington St SE is open Monday through Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm. Contact them at 360-586-1492 or archives@sos.wa.gov. The Puget Sound Regional Branch in Bellevue holds microfilmed King County records not yet digitized online. Their main site is at sos.wa.gov/archives.

Source: Washington State Archives

The State Archives holds King County records going back to the 1880s and can help researchers find historical death records for the Burien area.

Other useful sources include probate records at King County Superior Court, historic newspapers in the Washington State Library's digital collections, and FamilySearch's Washington death record collections. Cemetery records for Burien-area cemeteries may also be in the Digital Archives.

Public Records and Access Laws

Washington's RCW 70.58 restricts certified death certificates for deaths within the past 50 years to qualified applicants. Deaths older than 50 years are public. The Digital Archives index from 1907 to 1967 is fully open to anyone. No restrictions apply to that index because it contains only basic identifying information without cause of death.

Washington's Public Records Act at RCW 42.56 governs access to all other government records held by Burien and King County agencies. You can request police reports, ME investigative files, and similar records under this law. Agencies must respond within five business days.

Source: RCW 70.58 Vital Statistics

RCW 70.58 is the primary law governing death certificate access, fees, and qualified applicant requirements in Washington State.

The CDC page at cdc.gov provides national context and links to state vital records resources.

Source: CDC Washington Vital Records

The CDC page provides national vital statistics context and links to the Washington DOH vital records system.

Nearby Cities

These nearby cities are also served by Washington's death records system. Each has resources and guidance for searching death index records.