Everett Death Index

Everett 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. Everett is the county seat of Snohomish County and the largest city in that county, and all death records from within the city are filed with the Washington State Department of Health. This page explains how to search the Everett death index, where to order certified death certificates, and what state laws govern public access.

How Everett Death Index Records Work

Death records in Everett follow Washington State's centralized vital records system. When a death occurs in Everett, the funeral home or attending physician files a death certificate with the Department of Health electronically within ten days. That certificate becomes part of DOH's permanent state registry. Everett does not run a local death index. All records go to the state.

The death index is different from a death certificate. An index entry shows only the name, date of death, county, certificate number, age at death, and gender. Cause of death does not appear in the index. The index is a research tool. You use it to find the certificate number for a specific person, then request the full certified document from DOH if you need complete information.

Everett is the county seat of Snohomish County. All Everett deaths appear in the Snohomish County portion of the state death index. Everett was founded in 1891 and incorporated in 1893. Records from before 1907 for Everett may be in Snohomish County's older death registers. The county Auditor's office, also located in Everett, is the primary custodian for those historical records.

Snohomish County Handles Everett Death Records

Everett is the county seat of Snohomish County. Both the Snohomish County Auditor and the Snohomish Health District are based in Everett. The Health District issues death certificates for events occurring in Snohomish County, including Everett, and serves as a local alternative to ordering from the state DOH in Tumwater. Both charge $20 per certified copy.

Source: Snohomish County Medical Examiner

The Snohomish County Medical Examiner's office is located in Everett and investigates sudden, violent, or unexplained deaths in Everett and throughout Snohomish County.

The Snohomish County Medical Examiner investigates sudden, violent, or unexplained deaths in Everett and throughout the county. When the ME handles a case, it files the death certificate with DOH. ME investigative records are separate from vital records and can be requested under Washington's Public Records Act.

Searching Everett Death Records Online

The Washington State Digital Archives at digitalarchives.wa.gov provides free access to the Everett death index. The statewide index covers 1907 through 1967. Filter results by Snohomish County to focus on Everett records. Each 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 from DOH.

For deaths after 1967, there is no free public online index. Contact DOH at 360-236-4300 or the Snohomish Health District at 425-339-5200. DOH staff can confirm whether a record exists before you pay for a certified copy.

Source: Everett City Clerk

The Everett City Clerk handles public records requests for city records; for death certificates and vital records, requests go to DOH or the Snohomish Health District.

Source: Washington State Digital Archives

The Digital Archives is free and requires no login. It is the best starting point for any Everett death index search before 1968.

You can run a targeted search for Everett historical death records at digitalarchives.wa.gov.

Ordering an Everett Death Certificate

Death certificates for Everett deaths are ordered from the state DOH or the Snohomish Health District. 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 giving you a full certified copy. The Verification has fewer access restrictions and can serve many purposes that do not require the full certificate.

Order Everett death certificates four ways:

• In person at DOH: 101 Israel Road SE, Tumwater WA 98501 (Monday through Friday 8am to 4:30pm)
• In person at Snohomish Health District: 3020 Rucker Ave., Everett WA 98201
• 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 take 4 to 6 weeks. Walk-in service at DOH handles 1968-to-present records the same day.

Source: VitalChek Online Certificate Ordering

VitalChek is the only authorized third-party vendor for online Washington vital records orders and is available around the clock.

Everett Local Resources

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

The Snohomish County Medical Examiner's office is physically located in Everett. It investigates sudden or unexplained deaths throughout the county and files death certificates with DOH for those cases. Investigative records can be requested under RCW 42.56.

Historical Death Records for Everett

Everett was founded in 1891 and has a well-documented history going back to the 1890s. For deaths before the 1907 statewide registration system, researchers need to check Snohomish County's older records. The Washington State Archives holds early county death registers that may include Everett-area deaths from the city's earliest years.

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. Their site is at sos.wa.gov/archives. The Digital Archives at digitalarchives.wa.gov contains digitized Snohomish County records including cemetery and burial records for the Everett area.

Source: Washington State Archives

The State Archives holds Snohomish County records that predate 1907 and can help researchers find historical death records for Everett's earliest years.

Probate records at Snohomish County Superior Court, historical Everett newspapers, cemetery records for Everett-area cemeteries, and FamilySearch's Washington death collections are useful supplementary sources for historical 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 completely open to the public with no restrictions. Anyone can search it for free because it contains only basic identifying information without cause of death.

Washington's Public Records Act at RCW 42.56 governs all other government records held by Everett and Snohomish County. You can request police reports, ME investigative files, and similar records through this law. 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, what fees apply, and when records become fully public.

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 vital records resources and provides national death statistics data for Washington including Snohomish County.

Nearby Cities

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