Snohomish County Death Index

Snohomish County death index records are part of Washington State's vital records system, with the Washington State Digital Archives offering free online access to historical death indexes from 1907 through 1967, the Washington State Department of Health holding certified certificates from 1907 to the present, and the Snohomish Health District serving as a local vital records option for county residents. This page covers how to search the Snohomish County death index, where to order a certified certificate, what the county Medical Examiner handles, and what state law says about access and restrictions.

How the Snohomish County Death Index Works

Washington State runs a centralized vital records system. Deaths in Snohomish County are registered with the Department of Health, which holds all certificates from 1907 forward. Historical indexes from 1907 through 1967 are available free at the Washington State Digital Archives. Snohomish County is Washington's third most populous county, so its death records are among the most voluminous outside of King and Pierce counties.

When someone dies in Snohomish County, the attending physician or funeral home files a death certificate with DOH within ten days under RCW 70.58.050. The record enters the state system regardless of whether the death occurred in Everett, Marysville, Lynnwood, or a rural part of the county. For deaths that require investigation, the Snohomish County Medical Examiner files the certificate on behalf of the family and then maintains separate investigative files.

The death index is a summary finding tool, not a full certificate. It shows name, death date, county, certificate number, age, and gender. It does not include cause of death or family information. Use the index to locate a specific entry and then request the full certificate from DOH or the Snohomish Health District.

Snohomish County Auditor's Office

The Snohomish County Auditor's Office in Everett maintains county records including recorded documents, licensing, and historical materials. For death records, the Auditor's historical role connects to early county death registers that predate the 1907 statewide system. Those older records are now accessible through the Digital Archives or held by the State Archives. Researchers can contact the Auditor's Office for guidance on older Snohomish County materials.

Source: Snohomish County Auditor

The Snohomish County Auditor's Office handles county records and can direct researchers toward early death register materials.

For public records requests covering Snohomish County documents outside the vital records system, submit a request under RCW 42.56 through the county's public records process. Most county departments respond within five business days.

Searching the Snohomish County Death Index Online

The Washington State Digital Archives at digitalarchives.wa.gov is the primary free resource for Snohomish County death index searches. The archive covers the statewide death index from 1907 through 1967. You can filter results by county to narrow to Snohomish. Each result shows name, date of death, certificate number, age, and gender. Use that certificate number when contacting DOH or the Snohomish Health District to order a full copy.

Source: Washington State Digital Archives

The Digital Archives index covers Snohomish County death records through 1967 at no cost, requiring no account or registration.

Snohomish County's death records in the Digital Archives reflect a diverse population that grew rapidly during the early twentieth century around Everett's timber and port industries. Cemetery records and burial permits in the Digital Archives can supplement the death index and help confirm burial locations. The archive's advanced search allows wildcard searches for uncertain spellings, which is helpful for older handwritten entries.

For deaths after 1967, contact DOH at 360-236-4300 or use VitalChek to request a search. The Snohomish Health District at 3020 Rucker Ave., Everett, WA 98201 can also process requests for Snohomish County certificates. Call the Health District at 425-339-5200 for information about their vital records process.

Note: For deaths after 1967, neither the Digital Archives nor any public online index exists. You need to contact DOH or the Health District directly.

Ordering a Snohomish County Death Certificate

Snohomish County residents have two local options for ordering death certificates: the Snohomish Health District and the state DOH. Both charge $20 per certified copy. A Verification of Death letter costs $15 and provides less detail than a full certificate. Mail orders to DOH take four to six weeks.

You can also order from 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. For faster online service, VitalChek at vitalchek.com processes orders for $20 plus a $12.50 processing fee per order, plus shipping, and is available 24 hours a day.

Under RCW 70.58.107, death certificates for deaths within the past 50 years are restricted to qualified applicants. Those include the spouse, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, and legal representatives of the deceased. Deaths older than 50 years are open to any member of the public.

Snohomish County Medical Examiner

The Snohomish 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, and that record enters the state vital records system. The ME's investigative files, including autopsy reports and toxicology findings, are separate records with different access rules.

Source: Snohomish County Medical Examiner

The Snohomish County ME office investigates deaths requiring official inquiry and files death certificates with DOH.

Autopsy reports and investigative records from the Snohomish County Medical Examiner are public records under RCW 42.56. Some portions may be withheld if they relate to ongoing investigations. You can submit a public records request directly to the ME's office. Given Snohomish County's large population, the ME handles a significant number of cases annually, and its records can be important for estate, insurance, and legal matters.

Historical Death Records in Snohomish County

Washington began mandatory statewide death registration in 1907. Before that, death records in Snohomish County were kept inconsistently by county officials. Early Snohomish County records reflect a booming lumber and shipping economy centered on Everett. Some pre-1907 materials may exist at the county level or in the State Archives, though the volume varies. The Digital Archives covers Snohomish County from 1907 through 1967, which is the most accessible starting point.

The Washington State Archives at 1129 Washington St SE, Olympia, WA 98504 holds microfilmed county records and can assist with research requests. Contact the Archives at 360-586-1492 or archives@sos.wa.gov, Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The Puget Sound Regional Branch in Bellevue holds microfilmed records for Snohomish County and other nearby counties that may not yet be digitized. Their website is at sos.wa.gov/archives.

Other useful sources for historical Snohomish County deaths include probate court files at the Snohomish County Superior Court, historic newspapers from Everett and surrounding cities, local cemetery transcriptions, and FamilySearch, which indexes Washington death records from multiple sources. The county has well-documented cemeteries that can help confirm deaths and provide burial information for genealogical research.

Source: Washington State Archives

The State Archives and Puget Sound Regional Branch hold Snohomish County materials not yet available in the online Digital Archives.

Public Records Access for Snohomish County Death Records

Washington's Public Records Act under RCW 42.56 gives the public broad rights to access government records. Death records carry 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 include the spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, or grandchild of the deceased, and legal representatives with documented authority. Funeral homes and government agencies also qualify for official purposes. You must show proof of your relationship when requesting a record less than 50 years old.

Death index records in the Digital Archives from 1907 through 1967 are fully public. The index shows basic information without cause of death, so it doesn't carry the same privacy restrictions as a full certificate. Anyone can search those records at no cost.

Source: RCW 70.58 Vital Statistics

RCW 70.58 defines who can receive certified Washington death certificates and sets the statewide fee structure.

The CDC maintains Washington vital statistics at the national level. Their page at cdc.gov provides DOH contact information and links to state resources for anyone researching Snohomish County death records.

Cities in Snohomish County

Snohomish County includes several major 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 Snohomish County. Each has its own death index records and courthouse resources.