Spokane Valley Death Records Search

Death index records for Spokane Valley, Washington are part of the state vital records system managed by the Washington State Department of Health. Spokane Valley is a city in Spokane County, incorporated in 2003, and all deaths occurring here are filed with the statewide registry and tracked under Spokane County in the historical index. The Washington State Digital Archives provides free access to death records from 1907 through 1967, with Spokane County records going back to 1882. This page covers how to search, what the index contains, and how to order certified copies.

How Spokane Valley Death Index Records Work

Spokane Valley was incorporated in 2003. Before that, it was unincorporated Spokane County. Deaths in this area were always recorded at the county level. Today, when someone dies in Spokane Valley, the funeral home or attending physician files the death certificate through the state's electronic system. The record goes into the DOH statewide registry. Spokane Valley city offices do not hold death certificates.

The death index provides basic information: name, date, county, certificate number, age, and gender. No cause of death is included. You use the index to locate a specific record. The Digital Archives index runs from 1907 through 1967. Spokane County also has older death records in the Digital Archives starting from 1882. For deaths after 1967, no public online search tool exists, and you contact DOH directly.

Because Spokane Valley was part of unincorporated Spokane County for most of its history, deaths in this community before 2003 will appear in the index under Spokane County. Search by filtering the Digital Archives for Spokane County and entering the person's name. Records from any part of Spokane County, including the Spokane Valley area, will show up together in those results.

Note: Spokane Valley City Clerk handles city records. The clerk cannot issue or copy death certificates. Those come from DOH only.

Spokane County Handles Spokane Valley Death Records

Spokane County is the county of record for all deaths in Spokane Valley. The county's auditor and health district support the records system, but the actual death certificates are stored at the state DOH level. The Spokane Regional Health District provides local public health services including guidance on vital records access.

For a full look at Spokane County resources, records history, and access options, visit the Spokane County Death Index page.

Searching Spokane Valley Death Records Online

The Washington State Digital Archives at digitalarchives.wa.gov is the best free resource for historical Spokane Valley death records. The site is open to everyone with no account needed. Filter by Spokane County and search by name to find records from 1907 through 1967. The Digital Archives also holds Spokane County Death Records going back to 1882. Results show the name, date, certificate number, age, and gender. Use that certificate number to order the full document from DOH if needed.

The Digital Archives search supports wildcard searches, which helps when you are not sure about spelling. The site also holds cemetery and burial records for the Spokane area, which can help round out a genealogical search. Some coroner inquest files are also available. All of it is free to search online.

Source: Washington State Digital Archives

The Digital Archives holds Spokane County death records from 1882, giving Spokane Valley researchers access to early-era records going back well before Washington statehood.

For deaths after 1967, no public online index is available. Call DOH at 360-236-4300 for help locating a specific record. You can request a Verification of Death letter for $15 if you need to confirm a death without requesting the full certificate.

Ordering a Spokane Valley Death Certificate

Certified death certificates for Spokane Valley are issued by the Washington State Department of Health. Under RCW 70.58, deaths within the past 50 years are restricted. Only qualified applicants may request them. Qualifying family members include the spouse or domestic partner, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, legal guardians, and legal representatives. You must provide proof of identity and your relationship to the deceased. Deaths older than 50 years are public records available to anyone.

The state fee is $20 per certified copy. A Verification of Death letter costs $15. You can order in person at the DOH walk-in office in Tumwater, by phone, by mail, or online through VitalChek. Walk-in orders can be completed same-day for records from 1968 to present. Mail orders take 4 to 6 weeks. VitalChek adds a $12.50 processing fee per order.

Source: VitalChek Online Certificate Ordering

VitalChek is the authorized online vendor for Washington State vital records. Orders are sent to DOH for processing and fulfillment.

Spokane Valley Local Resources

The Spokane Valley City Clerk handles public records requests for city records. This covers city government documents, city council minutes, and similar administrative files. Death certificates are outside the city clerk's scope. For city records requests, visit spokanevalley.org/city-government/city-clerk. The city must respond within five business days under the Washington Public Records Act.

The Spokane Valley Police Department maintains police reports and incident records. Requests for police records related to a death investigation can be submitted through the department. Some active investigation files may be withheld. The Spokane Regional Health District at srhd.org/vital-records provides guidance on vital records and death certificate ordering for the entire Spokane region including Spokane Valley.

Legal aid in the Spokane area is available through Spokane Legal Aid, which provides free civil legal services to income-qualifying residents. They can help with probate and estate matters that require death records. Call 509-456-7702 for information on eligibility and services available in the area.

Historical Death Records for Spokane Valley

The Spokane Valley area was part of unincorporated Spokane County until 2003. Before incorporation, all deaths here were recorded under Spokane County. The Digital Archives holds Spokane County death records back to 1882, so researchers can find deaths in this area from well before Washington statehood. The statewide index from 1907 through 1967 is also fully searchable and free online.

For older records or those not yet digitized, the Washington State Archives is the place to go. Their research facility is at 1129 Washington St SE, Olympia, WA 98504. Research hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm. Contact them at 360-586-1492 or archives@sos.wa.gov. Their website is at sos.wa.gov/archives. Records from the Spokane area include county death registers, coroner inquest files, and some cemetery records.

Source: Washington State Archives

The State Archives holds records from the territorial period onward and is especially useful for deaths in the Spokane Valley area before the city was incorporated in 2003.

Public Records and Access Laws

Washington's Public Records Act under RCW 42.56 establishes broad public access to government records. Death certificates have added restrictions under RCW 70.58. Records for deaths within the past 50 years are not open to the general public. Only the qualified applicants listed in the statute can access them. After 50 years, records become fully public.

The death index in the Digital Archives is open to everyone with no restrictions. It runs from 1907 through 1967. No cause of death is shown in the index. Search it for free at any time. For records from before 1907 in the Spokane County registers, those are also publicly accessible. Once a certificate passes 50 years old, it too becomes a public record.

Source: RCW 70.58 Vital Statistics

RCW 70.58 applies to all death records in Washington, including those filed for Spokane Valley deaths under Spokane County.

Nearby Cities

These Washington cities also have death records resources and guidance for searching the death index.