Tacoma Death Index Records

Death index records for Tacoma, Washington are managed through the state vital records system at the Washington State Department of Health and are searchable online through the Washington State Digital Archives. Tacoma is the county seat of Pierce County and the third-largest city in Washington, with a population of around 220,000. Pierce County death records in the Digital Archives date back to 1883. This page covers how to search the Tacoma death index, how the records system works, and how to get certified death certificates for Tacoma deaths.

How Tacoma Death Index Records Work

When someone dies in Tacoma, the funeral home or attending physician files a death certificate with the Washington State Department of Health within ten days. That certificate becomes part of the statewide vital records database. Tacoma is the county seat of Pierce County, and its death records are part of Pierce County's contribution to the statewide system. The city itself does not hold death certificates.

The death index is a finding tool, not a full record. It shows the name, date, county, certificate number, age, and gender of each recorded death. Cause of death and family information are not in the index. You use the index to find a certificate number, then order the full document from DOH. The Digital Archives index covers 1907 through 1967. Pierce County Death Registers in the Digital Archives go back to 1883 for pre-statehood research.

Tacoma is a large city with a busy port and industrial history. Deaths from occupational accidents, maritime incidents, and other events were regularly documented in early Pierce County records. The historical depth of Tacoma's death records makes it one of the richer cities in Washington for genealogical research. The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department operates locally and can provide guidance on accessing those records.

Note: The Tacoma City Clerk handles public records requests for city administrative records. The city clerk does not issue death certificates. All death certificate requests go through DOH or VitalChek.

Pierce County Handles Tacoma Death Records

Pierce County is the county of record for all deaths in Tacoma. The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department is the local public health authority. They issue some death certificates locally and can provide guidance on accessing vital records. For certified copies of death certificates, the state DOH is the primary source. For county-level records like coroner investigation files, you contact Pierce County directly through their public records process.

For more on Pierce County death records, the county Medical Examiner, and local resources, see the Pierce County Death Index page.

Searching Tacoma Death Records Online

The Washington State Digital Archives at digitalarchives.wa.gov is the free way to search historical Tacoma death records. No account is needed. Filter by Pierce County and search by name. The death index covers 1907 through 1967 statewide. Pierce County Death Registers in the Digital Archives go back to 1883, so pre-statehood Tacoma deaths are also searchable. Results show the name, date, certificate number, age, and gender. Use the certificate number to order the full document from DOH.

The Digital Archives also holds Tacoma-specific cemetery records, burial permits, and coroner inquest files. These can supplement the main death index and are useful when a specific record is hard to find. The system supports wildcard searches to help with spelling variations in older handwritten records.

Source: Tacoma City Clerk Public Records

The Tacoma City Clerk handles city records requests for administrative files. Death certificates are handled separately through the state DOH and Pierce County health systems.

Source: Washington State Digital Archives

The Digital Archives is the main free tool for historical Tacoma death records, with Pierce County coverage back to 1883.

Ordering a Tacoma Death Certificate

Certified death certificates for Tacoma are issued by the Washington State Department of Health. Under RCW 70.58, deaths within the past 50 years are restricted to qualified applicants. These include the spouse or domestic partner, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, legal guardians, and legal representatives of the deceased. You must show proof of your relationship. Deaths older than 50 years are public records available to anyone.

The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department also issues death certificates for Pierce County events locally at their office. This gives Tacoma residents a local option in addition to the state DOH. Call the TPCHD at 253-649-1412 or check their website for hours and location information before going in person.

Source: VitalChek Online Certificate Ordering

VitalChek is the only authorized online vendor for Washington State death certificates. Tacoma residents use the same state system as everyone else in Washington.

Tacoma Local Resources

The Tacoma City Clerk's office handles public records requests for city records. This includes city administrative files, council meeting records, and other city government documents. Death certificates are not part of this system. To request Tacoma city records, visit cityoftacoma.org/city-government/city-clerk. The city responds to requests within five business days under the Washington Public Records Act.

The Tacoma Police Department records division handles requests for police reports. If a death involved a police investigation, those records can be requested from the department. Some records related to active investigations may be withheld. The Pierce County Medical Examiner handles deaths that require investigation, and their files are subject to public records law as well.

Tacoma has several legal aid organizations. Northwest Justice Project serves Pierce County with free civil legal assistance for income-qualifying residents. Call 253-272-1937 or visit nwjustice.org. Tacoma Area Coalition for Individuals and Families also offers referral services for those dealing with estate and probate issues that require death records.

Historical Death Records for Tacoma

Tacoma was a major railroad terminus and port city in the late 1800s. Its early death records reflect that history, with records of maritime workers, railroad laborers, and settlers from many different backgrounds. Pierce County Death Registers starting from 1883 are searchable for free in the Digital Archives. These records predate Washington statehood and document some of the earliest years of organized death registration in the region.

The Washington State Archives holds physical and microfilm copies of records beyond what the Digital Archives has online. Their facility in Olympia is at 1129 Washington St SE, open Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm. Reach them at 360-586-1492 or archives@sos.wa.gov. Website: sos.wa.gov/archives. The Puget Sound Regional Branch in Bellevue also holds Pierce County records and is worth checking for records specific to the Tacoma area.

Source: Washington State Archives

The State Archives holds Pierce County death records from the 1880s and can assist researchers looking for records not yet added to the online Digital Archives database.

Tacoma Public Library maintains historical newspaper archives and local history collections that supplement official death records. Obituaries from the Tacoma Ledger and Tacoma News Tribune, which go back to the 1870s and 1880s, can help locate deaths that may be missing from official registers. FamilySearch also has a large Washington death index database and Tacoma-area cemetery records available for free.

Public Records and Access Laws

Washington's Public Records Act under RCW 42.56 provides broad public access to government records. Death certificates have separate rules under RCW 70.58. Certificates for deaths within the past 50 years are restricted to qualified applicants. Once a record reaches the 50-year mark, it becomes public. The law lists specific qualifying relationships including family members and legal representatives.

The Digital Archives death index covering 1907 through 1967 is fully open to the public. No restrictions apply. The index does not show cause of death. Anyone can search and view it for free. Pre-1907 Pierce County registers are also publicly accessible in the Digital Archives. For restricted records, you must show proof of your qualifying relationship when making the request.

Source: RCW 70.58 Vital Statistics

RCW 70.58 is the controlling state law for death certificate access. It applies to all Washington deaths including those occurring in Tacoma.

The CDC tracks Washington vital statistics at the national level. Their page at cdc.gov provides links to DOH and national resources for Washington death data.

Source: CDC Washington Vital Records

The CDC page links to the Washington DOH and national vital statistics resources, serving as a federal entry point for Washington death data.

Nearby Cities

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