King County Death Index

King County death index records are managed through Washington State's vital records system, with the Washington State Digital Archives providing free online access to historical indexes dating back to 1881. King County is Washington's most populous county, home to roughly 2.3 million people, and its death records span from pre-statehood registers through the present day. This page covers how to search the King County death index, where to order certified death certificates, what the records contain, and how state law governs public access.

How the King County Death Index Works

Death records in King County follow Washington State's two-tier system. Current records are filed with the Washington State Department of Health (DOH), which maintains the official vital records registry. Historical records from 1907 and earlier are accessible through the Washington State Digital Archives. King County is unique because it also has pre-1907 death registers going back to 1881, which are indexed and searchable online for free.

When someone dies in King County today, the attending physician, medical examiner, or funeral home files a death certificate with DOH within ten days. That certificate then becomes part of the state vital records system. DOH holds all certificates regardless of which county the death occurred in. For deaths investigated by the King County Medical Examiner, the ME's office files the certificate on behalf of DOH, but the record still goes into the same state registry.

The death index is different from a death certificate. The index is a summary listing that shows the name, date, county, certificate number, age, and gender. It does not include cause of death or family information. Certified death certificates contain the full record. The index is the tool you use to locate a specific record so you can then request the full certificate.

King County Auditor and Recorder's Office

The King County Auditor's office at 516 Third Avenue in Seattle plays a role in historical death records for the county. The Recorder's Office, located in Room W-150 of the same building, maintains recorded documents including community property agreements and some older vital record registers. For pre-statehood and early county death returns, the auditor's records feed into the state's historical archives.

The Auditor's website links to historical records including early King County death returns. These go back to 1881, well before Washington achieved statehood in 1889. For researchers tracing family history, these registers can fill in gaps that don't exist anywhere else. The pre-1907 records are indexed in the Washington State Digital Archives and are free to search online.

Searching the King County Death Index Online

The Washington State Digital Archives is the best free resource for King County death index searches. It covers death index records from 1907 through 1967 statewide, and King County specifically has pre-1907 death returns indexed from 1881 through 1907. That makes King County one of the best-documented counties for historical research in the entire state.

The Digital Archives search at digitalarchives.wa.gov lets you search by name, year range, or county. Each result shows the person's name, death date, county where the death was recorded, certificate number, age, and gender. You can use the certificate number to order a copy from DOH if you need the full record. The archives also include cemetery records and burial permits for many King County locations, which can provide additional context for genealogical research.

The screenshot below shows the Digital Archives search interface, which is free to use and requires no account or registration.

Source: Washington State Digital Archives

The Digital Archives index is a finding aid, not the full record. Once you locate an entry, use the certificate number to request the document from DOH.

For deaths after 1967, DOH does not offer a public online index. You would need to contact DOH directly or use VitalChek to request a search. If you know the approximate year and county, DOH staff can help confirm whether a record exists before you pay for a full certified copy.

Ordering a King County Death Certificate

Washington State law under RCW 70.58 governs who can obtain a certified death certificate and what it costs. The fee is $20 per certified copy. Deaths within the past 50 years are restricted to qualified applicants only. Those who qualify include the spouse, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, and legal representatives of the deceased. Verification of Death letters, which confirm a death occurred but show less detail, cost $15 and have fewer access restrictions.

King County is unique in Washington because it has a local vital statistics office through Public Health Seattle and King County. You can order King County death certificates directly from this office in addition to the state DOH.

You can also order through the state DOH at 101 Israel Road SE, Tumwater WA 98501. Call 360-236-4300 or mail requests to PO Box 9709, Olympia WA 98507-9709. Mail orders take 4 to 6 weeks. In-person visits to DOH are available Monday through Friday, 8am to 4:30pm.

For faster service, VitalChek processes online orders for Washington death certificates. The cost is $20 plus a $12.50 processing fee. Visit vitalchek.com to place an order.

Source: VitalChek Online Certificate Ordering

VitalChek is the only third-party vendor authorized to process Washington State vital records orders online.

King County Medical Examiner Death Records

The King County Medical Examiner's office investigates deaths that are sudden, unexpected, violent, unexplained, or occur without a physician in attendance. When the ME's office handles a case, it files the death certificate with DOH on behalf of the family. The record becomes part of the state vital records system just like any other death certificate. However, ME investigative files are separate from the vital records system and have different access rules.

Autopsy reports and investigative records from the ME's office are public records in Washington but may be withheld in part if they relate to ongoing investigations. You can submit a public records request directly to the King County Medical Examiner under RCW 42.56, the Public Records Act. The ME handles a significant number of cases each year given King County's large population, and its records can be important for estate, insurance, and legal matters.

Historical Death Records in King County

King County has some of the oldest death records in Washington. The pre-1907 death returns for King County date back to 1881, indexed and searchable for free through the Washington State Digital Archives. These early records reflect deaths in a rapidly growing frontier community and sometimes show different levels of detail than modern certificates.

The Washington State Archives holds physical copies of older records and can assist with requests that go beyond what the Digital Archives shows online. The Archives office is at 1129 Washington St SE, Olympia WA 98504. You can reach them at 360-586-1492 or archives@sos.wa.gov, Monday through Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm. Their website is at sos.wa.gov/archives.

Source: Washington State Archives

The State Archives holds records that predate the DOH system and can assist genealogical researchers with older King County deaths.

Other sources worth checking for historical King County deaths include probate court records at the King County Superior Court, which often reference the deceased and date of death. Historic newspapers available through the Washington State Library and other digitization projects can also confirm deaths and provide context. FamilySearch maintains a large collection of Washington death index records and cemetery transcriptions that supplement the Digital Archives data for King County.

Public Records Access for King County Death Records

Washington's Public Records Act under RCW 42.56 gives the public broad rights to access government records. Death records, however, have a specific restriction under RCW 70.58. Certified death certificates for deaths within the past 50 years are restricted to qualified applicants. Deaths older than 50 years are available to any member of the public.

Qualified applicants for restricted records include the spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, or grandchild of the deceased, as well as legal representatives with documented authority. Funeral homes and government agencies also have access for official purposes. You must show proof of your relationship or authority when requesting a restricted record.

Source: RCW 70.58 Vital Statistics

RCW 70.58 sets out who can obtain certified copies of Washington death certificates and what fees apply.

Death index records in the Digital Archives (1907-1967) are fully public with no restrictions. The index shows basic identifying information without cause of death, so it does not trigger the same privacy concerns as a full certificate. Anyone can search and view the index at no cost.

For King County public records requests that fall outside the vital records system, such as ME investigative files or auditor records, you submit a request under RCW 42.56. The county has its own public records procedures, and most departments respond within five business days.

The CDC also maintains Washington vital statistics data at the national level. Their page at cdc.gov links to both state and federal resources for death data in Washington.

Source: CDC Washington Vital Records

The CDC page serves as a national entry point to Washington's vital statistics system and links to DOH resources.

Cities in King County

King County includes many cities and communities. Death records for all of them are filed through the state DOH system and indexed in the Washington State Digital Archives for historical searches.

Nearby Counties

These counties border or lie near King County. Each has its own death index records and courthouse resources.