University Place Death Records

Death index records for University Place, Washington are part of the statewide vital records system maintained by the Washington State Department of Health. University Place is a city in Pierce County located on the west side of Puget Sound, adjacent to Tacoma. All deaths here are recorded under Pierce County in the state registry and are searchable through the Washington State Digital Archives for the period 1907 through 1967. For recent deaths, certified copies are available from the state DOH or through VitalChek. This page covers the full process for finding and requesting University Place death records.

How University Place Death Index Records Work

University Place was incorporated as a city in 1995. Before that, it was part of unincorporated Pierce County. All deaths here, before and after incorporation, are recorded under Pierce County in the state registry. When a death occurs in University Place today, the attending physician or funeral home files a death certificate through Washington's electronic registration system within ten days. The record goes into the DOH statewide database in Tumwater.

The death index is a summary record used as a finding tool. It shows the name, date, county, certificate number, age, and gender for each recorded death. No cause of death is included. You use the index to locate a record, then order the full certificate from DOH if you need the complete document. The Digital Archives index runs from 1907 through 1967. For deaths after that, you contact DOH directly.

Pierce County Death Registers in the Digital Archives go back to 1883, predating Washington statehood. Deaths in the University Place area from the late 1800s would appear in those early Pierce County registers. The statewide index picks up in 1907 and covers the area through 1967. That gives researchers a continuous searchable record from 1883 through 1967 for the greater Pierce County area.

Note: University Place City Clerk handles city records requests but does not issue death certificates. All death certificates come from the state DOH or the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department.

Pierce County Handles University Place Death Records

Pierce County is the county of record for all University Place deaths. The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department is the local public health authority and issues death certificates for Pierce County events. For certified copies of death certificates, DOH is the primary source but the health department offers a local alternative. The county's Medical Examiner handles deaths requiring investigation.

For a complete guide to Pierce County death records, county auditor information, and local resources, see the Pierce County Death Index page.

Searching University Place Death Records Online

The Washington State Digital Archives at digitalarchives.wa.gov is the main free resource for historical University Place death records. No login is required. Filter by Pierce County and search by name. The death index covers 1907 through 1967. Each result shows the name, death date, certificate number, age, and gender. Pierce County Death Registers in the same database go back to 1883 for earlier research. You can use the certificate number to order the full death certificate from DOH if you need the complete record.

Because University Place was unincorporated until 1995, all pre-1995 deaths in this area appear in the index under Pierce County. There is no separate University Place category in the Digital Archives. Just search Pierce County and filter by name. The database supports wildcard searches, which helps with spelling variations in older records.

Source: Washington State Digital Archives

The Digital Archives is free and covers Pierce County death records from 1883 through 1967, including the University Place area for the entire searchable period.

For deaths after 1967, no public online index is available. Call DOH at 360-236-4300 for assistance locating a specific record. You can also pay $15 for a Verification of Death letter to confirm a death without ordering the full certificate.

Ordering a University Place Death Certificate

Certified death certificates for University Place 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. Proof of relationship or legal authority is required. Deaths more than 50 years old are public and open to all requesters.

There are four ways to order. Walk in to the DOH office at 101 Israel Road SE, Tumwater, WA 98501, Monday through Friday from 8am to 4:30pm. Call DOH at 360-236-4300. Mail a request to PO Box 9709, Olympia, WA 98507-9709 with payment by check or money order. Or order online any time through VitalChek at vitalchek.com. The state fee is $20 per copy. VitalChek adds a $12.50 processing fee.

Source: VitalChek Online Certificate Ordering

VitalChek processes orders for Washington State death certificates and sends them directly to DOH for fulfillment.

University Place Local Resources

The University Place City Clerk handles public records requests for city administrative records under the Washington Public Records Act. This does not include death certificates, which are a state matter. To request University Place city records, contact the city at cityofup.com/city-government/city-clerk. The city responds to requests within five business days.

The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department is the local health authority for the University Place area. Their vital records staff can answer questions about Pierce County death records and the ordering process. Visit tpchd.org/healthy-people/vital-records for information. For county public records requests that are not vital records, submit through Pierce County's public records office at piercecountywa.gov/publicrecords.

Legal aid in Pierce County is available through Northwest Justice Project at 253-272-1937 or nwjustice.org. They assist income-qualifying residents with civil legal matters including probate and estate issues that often require death records as supporting documents.

Historical Death Records for University Place

University Place was part of unincorporated Pierce County until 1995, so all historical death records for this area are filed under Pierce County. Pierce County Death Registers in the Digital Archives go back to 1883. Statewide death registration started in 1907. Together, these two sources give researchers access to a searchable record running from 1883 through 1967. Deaths in the University Place community during that period can be found by searching Pierce County in the Digital Archives.

The Washington State Archives in Olympia holds physical and microfilmed copies of older records. Their facility is at 1129 Washington St SE, open Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm. Contact them at 360-586-1492 or archives@sos.wa.gov. Website: sos.wa.gov/archives.

Source: Washington State Archives

The State Archives holds pre-1907 county registers and other records not yet digitized. It is a key resource for University Place genealogical research.

Public Records and Access Laws

Washington's Public Records Act under RCW 42.56 provides broad access to government records. Death certificates are subject to additional restrictions under RCW 70.58. Certificates for deaths within the past 50 years are restricted to qualified applicants. The law specifies which family members and legal roles qualify. After 50 years, death certificates become public records.

The Digital Archives death index from 1907 through 1967 has no restrictions. The index is public and free to search. It shows basic identifying information without cause of death. Anyone can use it for research. If you find a record in the index and want the full certificate, you still need to comply with the access rules based on how old the record is.

Source: RCW 70.58 Vital Statistics

RCW 70.58 controls death record access for all Washington deaths, including those filed under Pierce County for University Place.

Nearby Cities

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