Des Moines Death Index Records

Des Moines death index records are part of Washington State's vital records system, with free historical death indexes available through the Washington State Digital Archives for deaths dating back to 1907. Des Moines is a city in King County along Puget Sound south of Seattle, and all death records from within the city are filed with the Washington State Department of Health. This page explains how to search the Des Moines death index, where to order certified death certificates, and what state laws govern access to these records.

How Des Moines Death Index Records Work

Death records in Des Moines, Washington follow the state's centralized vital records system. When a death occurs in Des Moines, the funeral home or attending physician files a death certificate with the Washington State Department of Health within ten days using the EBDRS electronic system. That certificate becomes part of DOH's permanent registry. The city does not maintain its own death index. All death records go to the state.

The death index is not the same as a full death certificate. An index entry shows only the name, date, county, certificate number, age at death, and gender. It contains no cause of death and no family information. You use the index as a search tool to find the certificate number for a specific person. Once you have that number, you can request the full certified document from DOH.

Des Moines is in King County. All Des Moines deaths appear in the King County portion of the state death index. King County has pre-1907 death returns going back to 1881 in the Digital Archives, giving researchers a long historical record to search. Des Moines was incorporated in 1959, but the area was settled well before that, so pre-incorporation deaths in the area would appear as King County records.

King County Handles Des Moines Death Records

Des Moines is in King County. King County has a local vital statistics office through Public Health Seattle and King County that can issue certified death certificates directly, in addition to the state DOH in Tumwater. Both charge $20 per certified copy. King County is one of the few Washington counties with this local option.

The King County Medical Examiner investigates sudden, unexplained, or violent deaths throughout King County, including Des Moines. When the ME handles a case, it files the death certificate with DOH. The ME's investigative records are separate from vital records and can be requested under Washington's Public Records Act. The ME's office is at 325 Ninth Ave., Third Floor, Seattle WA 98104, phone 206-731-3232.

Searching Des Moines Death Records Online

The Washington State Digital Archives at digitalarchives.wa.gov is the best free resource for Des Moines death index searches. The statewide index covers 1907 through 1967. Filter by King County to narrow results to Des Moines and the surrounding area. King County's pre-1907 death returns in the archives extend the searchable period back to 1881, covering more than 80 years of records.

Each index result shows the full name, death date, county, certificate number, age at death, and gender. Write down the certificate number if you plan to order the full record. The search requires no account and is completely free. Results can be viewed online and downloaded at no charge.

Source: Washington State Digital Archives

The Digital Archives is the primary free resource for Des Moines death index searches before 1968. No login or registration required.

For deaths after 1967, no free public online index is available. Contact DOH at 360-236-4300 to check for a specific record before ordering. You can also search specifically for Des Moines historical death records at digitalarchives.wa.gov.

Ordering a Death Certificate for Des Moines

Certified death certificates for Des Moines deaths are ordered from the state DOH or King County's vital statistics office. The fee is $20 per certified copy. Under RCW 70.58, deaths within the past 50 years are restricted to qualified applicants: spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, and legal representatives. Deaths older than 50 years are available to anyone.

A Verification of Death letter costs $15. It confirms a death occurred without providing the full certificate. The Verification has fewer access restrictions and is sufficient for many situations that do not require a certified copy for legal purposes.

Order a Des Moines death certificate four ways:

• In person at DOH: 101 Israel Road SE, Tumwater WA 98501 (Monday through Friday 8am to 4:30pm)
• In person at King County Vital Statistics: 908 Jefferson St., Suite 111, Seattle
• By mail to DOH: PO Box 9709, Olympia WA 98507-9709
• Online through VitalChek at vitalchek.com ($20 state fee plus $12.50 processing)

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

Source: VitalChek Online Certificate Ordering

VitalChek is the only authorized third-party vendor for online Washington vital records orders. Available 24 hours a day.

Des Moines Local Resources

The Des Moines City Clerk handles public records requests for city documents under RCW 42.56. The Clerk does not hold death certificates but can assist with other city records. The Des Moines Police Department Records unit maintains police reports for death-related incidents in the city.

The King County Medical Examiner investigates sudden, unexplained, or violent deaths in Des Moines. When the ME handles a case, it files the death certificate with DOH. ME investigative files are separate and can be requested under RCW 42.56. The King County Auditor's website at kingcounty.gov/en/dept/auditor provides additional information about county records and historical documents.

Historical Death Records for Des Moines

Des Moines was not incorporated until 1959, so all pre-incorporation death records for the area appear in King County records. King County has pre-1907 death returns indexed in the Digital Archives going back to 1881. Researchers looking for early Des Moines area deaths should search the King County records in the Digital Archives. The Washington State Archives holds physical copies of older records not yet available online.

The State Archives Research Facility is at 1129 Washington St SE, Olympia WA 98504. Staff are available Monday through Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm at 360-586-1492 or archives@sos.wa.gov. The Puget Sound Regional Branch in Bellevue holds microfilmed King County records that may cover the Des Moines area. Their site is at sos.wa.gov/archives.

Source: Washington State Archives

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

Probate records at King County Superior Court, historic newspapers, cemetery records for Des Moines-area cemeteries, and FamilySearch's Washington death collections are all useful supplementary sources for historical death research.

Public Records and Access Laws

Washington's RCW 70.58 governs death certificate access. Certified copies for deaths within 50 years are restricted to qualified applicants. Deaths older than 50 years are public. The Digital Archives index from 1907 to 1967 is fully open with no restrictions. Anyone can search it at no cost because it contains only basic identifying information.

Washington's Public Records Act at RCW 42.56 covers all other government records held by Des Moines and King County. You can submit a public records request for police reports, ME files, and similar documents. Agencies must respond within five business days.

Source: RCW 70.58 Vital Statistics

RCW 70.58 sets out who can get death certificates in Washington and what fees apply statewide.

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

Source: CDC Washington Vital Records

The CDC page links to state DOH vital records resources and provides national death statistics data for Washington.

Nearby Cities

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