Search Kitsap County Death Index
Kitsap County death index records are part of Washington State's vital records system, with historical indexes available for free through the Washington State Digital Archives. Located on the Kitsap Peninsula across Puget Sound from Seattle, Kitsap County has a population of roughly 280,000 and is served by the county auditor, the county coroner, and the Washington State DOH for current death certificates. This page explains how to search the Kitsap County death index, order certified copies, and access historical records.
Kitsap County Overview
How Kitsap County Death Index Records Work
Death records in Kitsap County are created and maintained through Washington State's centralized vital records system. When a death occurs, the attending physician or funeral home files the certificate with the Washington State Department of Health within ten days. That record then enters the statewide registry maintained by DOH in Tumwater. The county does not hold its own separate vital records database for modern deaths.
Historical death records from 1907 through 1967 are indexed in the Washington State Digital Archives, which provides free public access. The index shows name, date, county, certificate number, age, and gender. For genealogical research and older family history work, this is often the first stop. The Digital Archives also holds some cemetery records and burial permits tied to Kitsap County locations.
The death index is a finding tool. It tells you a record exists and gives you the certificate number. To get the actual certificate with cause of death and family details, you request it from DOH or order online through VitalChek. Knowing the certificate number makes that request much faster.
Kitsap County Auditor Death Records
The Kitsap County Auditor in Port Orchard handles county-level records, including historical death registers that predate the state vital records system. The auditor's office is a useful starting point for older records and can direct you to the right resource depending on what you need. Pre-1907 county registers may be available through the auditor or through the Digital Archives.
| Office | Kitsap County Auditor |
|---|---|
| Address | 619 Division St., Port Orchard, WA 98366 |
| Phone | 360-337-7185 |
| Website | kitsap.gov/auditor |
Source: Kitsap County Auditor
The Auditor's office can help with questions about historical records and direct you to the right agency for current death certificate requests.
For current certified death certificates, the auditor's office will refer you to DOH. The county does not issue state vital records directly. However, the auditor maintains other county records that may be useful for estate research, property transfers, and related matters that often follow a death.
Searching Kitsap County Death Records Online
The Washington State Digital Archives at digitalarchives.wa.gov is the primary free tool for searching Kitsap County death index records. The index covers 1907 through 1967 and is fully public with no login required. You can search by name, narrow by county to Kitsap, and filter by year range. Each result shows the key identifying details needed to request a full certificate from DOH.
The screenshot below shows the Digital Archives interface used to search Kitsap County historical death records.
Source: Washington State Digital Archives
The Digital Archives search is free, covers 60 years of Kitsap County death index data, and requires no account or registration.
For deaths after 1967, there is no free public online index. You can contact DOH at 360-236-4300 to ask about a specific record or submit a formal request. Staff can confirm whether a record exists before you pay for a certified copy. If you have a name and approximate year, that is usually enough to locate the record.
Ordering a Kitsap County Death Certificate
Certified death certificates for Kitsap County deaths are issued by the Washington State Department of Health. The fee is $20 per copy. Under RCW 70.58, deaths within the past 50 years are restricted to qualified applicants. Those who qualify include the spouse, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, and legal representatives of the deceased.
You can order in three ways. In person, visit DOH at 101 Israel Road SE, Tumwater WA 98501, Monday through Friday 8am to 4:30pm. By mail, send your request to PO Box 9709, Olympia WA 98507-9709. Mail orders take 4 to 6 weeks. By phone, call 360-236-4300 to get instructions. Online orders go through VitalChek at vitalchek.com, with a $12.50 processing fee added to the $20 certificate cost.
Source: VitalChek Online Certificate Ordering
VitalChek is the state-authorized online vendor for ordering Washington death certificates, including those for Kitsap County events.
A Verification of Death letter is also available from DOH for $15. This document confirms that a death was registered and is less detailed than a certified copy. It has fewer access restrictions and is often sufficient for legal or administrative purposes that don't require the full certificate.
Kitsap County Coroner Death Records
The Kitsap County Coroner investigates deaths that are sudden, unattended, violent, or otherwise require a determination of cause and manner. When the coroner handles a case, the office files the death certificate with DOH. That certificate enters the state registry just like any other. The coroner's own investigative files, however, are separate from the vital records system.
| Office | Kitsap County Coroner |
|---|---|
| Website | kitsap.gov/coroner |
Source: Kitsap County Coroner
The Kitsap County Coroner's office can be contacted directly for questions about coroner case records and reports.
Coroner records are public records under RCW 42.56 but may be withheld in part if they relate to an active investigation. To request coroner records, submit a public records request to the Kitsap County Coroner's office. Most requests receive a response within five business days.
Historical Death Records in Kitsap County
Historical death research in Kitsap County benefits from several overlapping sources. The Digital Archives covers 1907 through 1967. Pre-1907 county records may be found through the Auditor's office or the Washington State Archives in Olympia. The State Archives is at 1129 Washington St SE, Olympia WA 98504, reachable at 360-586-1492 or archives@sos.wa.gov.
Source: Washington State Archives
The State Archives holds physical records that predate the DOH system and serves researchers working on older Kitsap County deaths.
Cemetery records for Kitsap County are available through both the Digital Archives and independent cemetery transcription projects. Probate records at the Kitsap County Superior Court often reference death dates and are public. These can help confirm details when vital records are incomplete or missing for a specific time period.
Public Records Law and Kitsap County Death Records
Washington's Public Records Act under RCW 42.56 gives the public the right to access government records, with specific limits for vital records. RCW 70.58 restricts certified death certificates for deaths within the past 50 years to qualified applicants. Deaths older than 50 years are open to the public.
For Kitsap County public records requests outside the vital records system, you contact the specific county department that holds the record. The Kitsap County public records page at kitsapgov.com/records guides you through the process. Most departments respond within five business days.
Source: RCW 70.58 Vital Statistics
RCW 70.58 is the primary law governing who may obtain a certified Kitsap County death certificate and under what conditions.
The death index in the Digital Archives (1907-1967) is fully public and unrestricted. It shows only basic identifying data and does not include cause of death, so it does not carry the same privacy restrictions as a full certificate. Anyone can search the index for free without needing to establish a relationship to the deceased.
Cities in Kitsap County
Kitsap County's largest city is Bremerton. Death records for all cities in the county are filed through the state DOH system.
Other communities in Kitsap County include Port Orchard, Poulsbo, Bainbridge Island, and Silverdale. Death records for all of these flow through the Washington State DOH vital records system.
Nearby Counties
These counties border or lie near Kitsap County. Each has its own death index records and county resources.