Grant County Death Index

Grant County death index records are available for free through the Washington State Digital Archives, covering deaths registered from 1907 through 1967, and certified death certificates for Grant County residents are issued by the Washington State Department of Health. This page explains how to search the death index, how to order a certified copy, what the access rules are, and how to find older historical death records in Grant County.

How Grant County Death Index Records Are Kept

Death records in Grant County fall under Washington State's centralized vital records system. The Department of Health holds all death certificates registered in the state from 1907 onward. Grant County residents' death certificates are part of this statewide database. The DOH does not post individual certificates online, but you can search the index and order certified copies using the methods described on this page.

The Washington State Digital Archives provides free access to the death index for 1907 through 1967. This index includes all deaths registered in Grant County during that period. To search, visit digitalarchives.wa.gov and filter by county. The index shows name, date of death, county, certificate number, age, and gender. Use the certificate number when ordering from DOH to speed up processing.

For deaths before 1907, the Grant County Auditor may hold early death registers and burial records. The county was formed in 1909 from parts of Douglas County, so its earliest county-level records reflect that origin. The State Archives in Olympia holds microfilm for pre-statehood and early state-era Washington records. Contact the State Archives for guidance on what Grant County material is available before 1907.

Grant County Auditor Office

The Grant County Auditor in Ephrata maintains county government records and may hold historical death registers and early burial documents. For death certificates from 1907 onward, the auditor will direct you to the Washington State Department of Health. The auditor also processes public records requests under Washington's Public Records Act for county-held materials that are outside the DOH vital records system.

Grant County uses a Public Records Officer system for formal requests. If you need records not available through DOH, submit your request in writing to the county at grantcountywa.gov/235/Public-Records. The county must respond within 5 business days with the records, a timeline, or an applicable exemption. Early death registers, cemetery records, and burial permits held at the county level are generally subject to the Public Records Act.

The Grant County Auditor in Ephrata handles county-level records and public records requests for documents outside the DOH vital records system.

For pre-1907 historical death records and county-held burial registers, the Grant County Auditor is the first place to contact.

Searching Grant County Death Records Online

The Washington State Digital Archives is the best free tool for searching Grant County death index records. The database covers deaths registered from 1907 through 1967 and is open to anyone without registration or fees. Visit digitalarchives.wa.gov and enter the name. Filter by Grant County to narrow results. Each result shows name, date of death, county, certificate number, age, and gender.

The index is a transcribed finding tool, not a collection of certificate images. Once you confirm the record exists and get the certificate number, you can order a certified copy from DOH. Having the certificate number makes the order process faster and more accurate. For very common surnames in Grant County, the certificate number is especially useful.

The Digital Archives also holds some pre-1907 records including cemetery transcriptions and early burial records for Grant County. These can help when you are researching a death that occurred before state registration began. Cemetery records often include name, birth year, and death date. Try different spellings and broader date ranges if the first search does not return results.

The Digital Archives search portal for Grant County death records is shown below.

The Digital Archives is free, open to all, and covers Grant County death index records from 1907 through 1967.

Note: The Digital Archives index does not cover deaths after 1967. For those, contact DOH directly or order through VitalChek.

Ordering a Grant County Death Certificate

Certified death certificates for Grant County are issued by the Washington State Department of Health. The fee is $20 per certified copy. DOH also offers a $15 Verification of Death letter that confirms a record exists without providing the full certificate. The verification may be enough for some genealogical purposes but is not accepted in place of a certified copy for legal matters like estate settlement or insurance claims.

You can order online through VitalChek, the state's authorized online vendor. VitalChek adds a $12.50 processing fee and shipping to the $20 certificate cost. Phone orders also go through VitalChek. For mail orders, send a completed application, a photocopy of a valid photo ID, and a check or money order payable to DOH. Mail to PO Box 9709, Olympia, WA 98507-9709. Mail processing takes 4 to 6 weeks.

For in-person orders, visit DOH Vital Records at 101 Israel Road SE, Tumwater, WA 98501. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The phone number is 360-236-4300. In-person processing is faster than mail but requires the same valid photo ID and completed application.

Access to death certificates is restricted under RCW 70.58.107 for 50 years from the date of death. Only qualified applicants can order during that period. After 50 years, records are open to the public. Amendments under RCW 70.58.200 take 8 to 12 weeks. RCW 70.58.160 authorizes the fee schedule for all Washington vital records.

VitalChek's online ordering portal is the fastest option for ordering a Grant County death certificate remotely.

VitalChek processes orders around the clock and accepts major credit cards. The $12.50 processing fee is in addition to the $20 state certificate fee.

Grant County Coroner Records

The Grant County Coroner investigates sudden, violent, or unexplained deaths within the county. Coroner records are separate from the state death certificate system and are not included in the Digital Archives death index. These records may include investigation reports, autopsy results, toxicology findings, and cause of death determinations. They are maintained at the county level.

To request Grant County coroner records, contact the Coroner's office at grantcountywa.gov/251/Coroner. Coroner records are subject to Washington's Public Records Act under RCW 42.56. Some parts of these records may be exempt from public disclosure. Submit a written public records request for a formal response on what is available and what exemptions apply.

Historical Death Records in Grant County

Grant County was established in 1909 from the eastern portion of Douglas County. Pre-1907 records for what is now Grant County may therefore be held under Douglas County's early registers. The Washington State Archives in Olympia is the primary source for pre-1907 microfilm records covering both Douglas and Grant County history. Contact the archives at 360-586-1492 or archives@sos.wa.gov. In-person access is available at 1129 Washington St SE, Olympia, WA 98504, Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

FamilySearch has digitized some Washington vital records through a partnership with the State Archives. Their collections are free to search and may include early Grant County material. Cemetery records for Grant County cemeteries can provide burial dates and locations that help confirm early deaths. The Digital Archives holds some Grant County cemetery transcriptions alongside the main death index.

Probate records from the county court can also confirm deaths. When someone died with property, an estate was typically opened in the local court. Those probate files list the decedent, date of death, and heirs. Old newspaper archives from the Moses Lake area are another source for obituaries and death notices not captured in official records.

The Washington State Archives is shown below. This is where pre-1907 microfilm collections and early Washington vital records are held.

State Archives staff can help identify which collections cover Grant County's early history, including records from the period before the county was formally established.

Access Rules for Grant County Death Records

Washington's vital records law restricts death certificates for 50 years under RCW 70.58.107. During the restricted period, only qualified applicants can obtain a certified copy. These are the spouse, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, and legal representatives of the deceased. After the 50-year period passes, the record is open to the public and any person can request a copy without showing a relationship to the deceased.

For county-held records not in the DOH system, Washington's Public Records Act under RCW 42.56 applies. Records held by the Grant County Auditor or Coroner are generally public unless a specific exemption applies. Submit a written request to the Grant County Public Records Officer. The county must respond within 5 business days. Fees for providing copies are governed by RCW 42.56 and the county's established rate schedule.

The CDC's guide to Washington vital records at cdc.gov/nchs/w2w/washington.htm provides additional context on the state vital records system that covers Grant County. Amendments to death certificates take 8 to 12 weeks under RCW 70.58.200. Fraudulent procurement of a death certificate is a crime under RCW 70.58.220.

The Washington State Legislature's RCW portal is shown below. This is where you can read the full text of RCW 70.58 and the Public Records Act that govern Grant County death record access.

RCW 70.58 covers vital records registration, access restrictions, fees, and amendment procedures that apply uniformly across all Washington counties including Grant.

Note: If you need to verify a death for estate or insurance purposes, request a certified copy rather than a Verification of Death letter, as certified copies carry the official state seal and are legally recognized documents.

Cities in Grant County

Grant County's county seat is Ephrata. Moses Lake is the largest city in the county and has its own death index page.

Other communities in Grant County include Quincy, Soap Lake, Mattawa, George, and Royal City. Death certificates for residents of any Grant County community are issued by the Washington State Department of Health.

Nearby Counties

Grant County is bordered by several Washington counties. Grant is one of the larger central Washington counties, so several county lines are nearby.