Pasco Death Index Lookup
Pasco death index records are filed through Franklin County and maintained by the Washington State Department of Health. Pasco is the county seat of Franklin County and one of the Tri-Cities area communities. This page explains how to search the Pasco death index, how to find free historical records through the Digital Archives, how to order a certified death certificate, and what local Franklin County offices handle records for the Pasco area.
Pasco Overview
How Pasco Death Index Records Work
Pasco is the county seat of Franklin County and part of the Tri-Cities metropolitan area that also includes Richland and Kennewick. When a death occurs in Pasco, the funeral director or attending physician files a death certificate with the Washington State Department of Health within ten days. That record enters the state vital records registry, which DOH manages for all of Washington.
Death records for Pasco are indexed as Franklin County records in the statewide system. The Washington State Digital Archives covers deaths statewide from 1907 to 1967. To search for Pasco deaths in that range, search under Franklin County in the Digital Archives. The death index shows the name, date and county of death, certificate number, age, and gender. It does not include cause of death or detailed family information. You use it as a finding tool and then request the full certificate from DOH when needed.
Franklin County's population has grown significantly since the mid-20th century, driven in part by agriculture and the Hanford nuclear site nearby. This growth means many records researchers encounter are from the 1940s and later, falling partly within the free index range and partly after 1967, when records require a direct DOH request. For deaths after 1967, contact DOH or the Franklin County Auditor for guidance on locating the record.
Note: The city of Pasco does not issue death certificates. That is the responsibility of Franklin County and the Washington State Department of Health.
Franklin County Handles Pasco Death Records
Death records for Pasco are managed through Franklin County. The Franklin County Auditor's Office is at 1016 N. 4th Ave., Pasco, WA 99301, phone 509-545-3502. The Auditor maintains county records and historical documents, but modern death certificates are managed by the Washington State Department of Health.
| Office | Franklin County Auditor |
|---|---|
| Address | 1016 N. 4th Ave., Pasco, WA 99301 |
| Phone | 509-545-3502 |
| Website | franklincountywa.gov/Auditor |
The Franklin County Coroner investigates deaths that are sudden, unexpected, or under unusual circumstances. When the Coroner handles a case, the office files the death certificate with DOH. The Coroner's Office can be reached at franklincountywa.gov/Coroner. Coroner investigation records are separate from the vital records system and can be requested under RCW 42.56.
Franklin County public records requests can be submitted online through GovQA at franklincountywa.gov/PublicRecords. The county responds within five business days and may charge per-page fees for copies. For vital records, the county will direct you to DOH.
Searching Pasco Death Records Online
The Washington State Digital Archives at digitalarchives.wa.gov is the best free source for historical death index searches in Pasco. The index covers deaths statewide from 1907 to 1967. Search under Franklin County for Pasco-area deaths. Results show the name, date, county, certificate number, age, and gender. Use the certificate number to request the full record from DOH when you need more than the index provides.
Source: Washington State Digital Archives
The Digital Archives index is free to use and requires no account or login. Franklin County deaths are searchable going back to 1907.
Source: Franklin County Auditor
The Franklin County Auditor's website can help researchers understand what county-level records are available and direct them to the right agency for Pasco death records.
For deaths after 1967, contact DOH at 360-236-4300 or the Franklin County Auditor's Office. DOH staff can confirm whether a record exists before you pay for a certified copy. Note that Franklin County is in eastern Washington, and the DOH walk-in office in Tumwater requires travel across the Cascades. Mail or VitalChek orders are typically more practical for Pasco-area residents.
Ordering a Death Certificate for Pasco
Certified death certificates for Pasco deaths are issued by the Washington State Department of Health. The fee is $20 per copy. Deaths from the past 50 years are restricted to qualified applicants: the spouse or domestic partner, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, and legal representatives. Valid ID and proof of relationship or authority are required for restricted records.
Deaths older than 50 years are public records. Anyone can request them without proving a relationship. For deaths from 1907 to 1967, check the Digital Archives first for the certificate number before ordering a full certified copy.
In person, visit DOH at 101 Israel Road SE, Tumwater, WA 98501 (Monday through Friday, 8am to 4:30pm). Same-day service is available for records from 1968 forward. For eastern Washington residents, mail orders are more practical. Send a completed application form, a copy of your photo ID, and payment to: Department of Health, Center for Health Statistics, P.O. Box 9709, Olympia, WA 98507-9709. Mail orders take 4 to 6 weeks. Phone orders can be placed at 360-236-4300 with a credit card.
VitalChek handles online orders at vitalchek.com. The cost is $20 plus a $12.50 processing fee. VitalChek is available 24 hours a day. Expedited shipping is available for extra cost. A Verification of Death letter costs $15 and confirms a record exists with fewer access restrictions than a full certified copy.
Pasco Local Resources for Death Records
For Pasco-area death records, the primary local contacts are the Franklin County Auditor at 1016 N. 4th Ave., Pasco, and the Franklin County Coroner for investigation records. Public records requests for county documents go to the Franklin County public records office through GovQA. The county responds within five business days.
Genealogical researchers can find resources through local historical societies in the Tri-Cities area. Libraries in Pasco, Kennewick, and Richland hold newspaper archives and obituary collections. The Tri-Cities area has grown significantly since the 1940s, so many death records are relatively recent. For older records, the Digital Archives and the Washington State Archives are the best resources.
The Washington State Archives in Olympia holds microfilmed Franklin County death records and can assist with requests. Contact them at 360-586-1492 or archives@sos.wa.gov. Their website is sos.wa.gov/archives. FamilySearch also maintains Washington death records and cemetery transcriptions for the Franklin County area. Probate records at Franklin County Superior Court can help confirm deaths and identify family relationships for older records.
Note: Franklin County is in the Tri-Cities area. Researchers looking for records across the metro area should also check Benton County for Richland and Kennewick records, which are nearby and may be relevant for family research.
Historical Death Records for Pasco
Pasco developed as a railroad town in the late 19th century and grew substantially around the time of World War II with the Hanford nuclear site nearby. Death records from the early years of Pasco follow the general pattern for eastern Washington: before 1907, records were kept locally by county officials with varying completeness. From 1907 onward, all deaths are part of the statewide system and searchable through the Digital Archives for 1907 to 1967.
Source: Washington State Archives
The State Archives can assist with requests for Franklin County death records that predate the statewide registration system or are not yet digitized.
The Hanford nuclear site and the military presence in the area during World War II brought significant population growth to Pasco, meaning many records from the 1940s and 1950s may be relevant for family researchers. Those deaths fall partly within the Digital Archives index (up to 1967) and partly in the later period that requires a direct DOH request. Local newspapers from the Tri-Cities area can provide obituary information to supplement official records.
Public Records and Access Laws
Washington's Public Records Act under RCW 42.56 gives the public broad rights to government records. Death records have specific restrictions under RCW 70.58. Certified death certificates for deaths in the past 50 years are restricted to qualified applicants. Records older than 50 years are open to the public.
The Digital Archives index from 1907 to 1967 is fully public. No proof of relationship or payment is needed to search it. The index shows only identifying information, not cause of death, so it is not subject to the same privacy rules as a full certificate.
Source: RCW 70.58 Vital Statistics
RCW 70.58 sets the fees and rules for obtaining certified Washington death certificates statewide, including Pasco and Franklin County.
Franklin County handles public records requests for county documents under RCW 42.56 through the GovQA portal. For vital records, requests are redirected to DOH. The CDC tracks Washington vital statistics at the national level at cdc.gov.
Source: CDC Washington Vital Records
The CDC page provides federal-level access to Washington vital statistics data and links to state resources.
Nearby Cities
These Washington cities also have death records resources and guidance for searching the death index.