Stevens County Death Index Records

Stevens County death index records are part of Washington State's vital records system, with historical indexes from 1907 through 1967 available free at the Washington State Digital Archives. This page explains how to search the Stevens County death index, where to order certified death certificates, what information the records contain, and how state and county resources can help researchers and families locate the documents they need.

How the Stevens County Death Index Works

Death records in Stevens County follow the same two-tier structure used across all of Washington State. When a death occurs in the county today, the attending physician, funeral home, or medical certifier files a certificate with the Washington State Department of Health within ten days. DOH then maintains that record in the central vital records registry. The certificate stays with the state, not with the county. Stevens County itself does not issue certified death certificates for deaths from 1907 onward.

The death index is separate from the full death certificate. Think of the index as a name-and-date summary that points you to a specific record. The Washington State Digital Archives holds the index for deaths statewide from 1907 through 1967. Each entry in the index shows the deceased person's name, date of death, county, certificate number, age, and gender. That certificate number is what you use to request the full record from DOH. The index itself has no cause of death or family details, so it is open to the public at no cost.

For deaths after 1967, there is no public online index. You contact DOH directly and request a search or order a certificate if you know the approximate year and location.

Note: Deaths occurring before 1907 were recorded inconsistently, and those older registers, if they exist for Stevens County, may be held at the county level or at the Washington State Archives in Olympia.

Stevens County Auditor's Office

The Stevens County Auditor's Office in Colville serves as the main county records office. While current death certificates are held at the state level, the Auditor's Office can provide guidance on locating historical death records and early county registers. Researchers looking for records that predate statewide registration in 1907 may find that the Auditor's Office has early death registers or can direct them to the right archive.

The Auditor's Office maintains various county records and can help researchers understand what is available locally versus what has been transferred to the state. Hours are generally Monday through Friday during regular business hours, though it is best to call ahead before visiting for records research.

If you need to submit a public records request to Stevens County, that process runs through the county's public records portal at stevenscountywa.gov/public-records. Requests are handled under the Washington Public Records Act, RCW 42.56, and the county has five business days to respond.

Searching the Stevens County Death Index Online

The Washington State Digital Archives at digitalarchives.wa.gov is the best free tool for searching historical Stevens County death index records. The database covers deaths statewide from 1907 through 1967. To narrow results to Stevens County, use the county filter when searching. You can also search by name, year range, or a combination of both.

Search results from the index include the name of the deceased, date of death, county of death, certificate number, age at death, and gender. The index does not show cause of death. Once you find the entry you need, write down the certificate number. You will need that number to request the full certificate from the Washington State Department of Health. The Digital Archives search is free and requires no account or registration.

Source: Washington State Digital Archives

The Digital Archives death index is a free public finding tool covering 1907 through 1967. Use it to locate certificate numbers before requesting full records from DOH.

For Stevens County deaths before 1907, the Digital Archives may also have early county death registers. Search with terms like "Stevens County" combined with "death" or "burial" to see what older materials are available. The coverage for pre-statehood records varies by county, so results may be limited.

After 1967, the only way to search Stevens County death records is to contact DOH directly. Staff there can confirm whether a record exists before you pay for a certified copy. This is useful when you are not certain of the exact date of death and need to narrow down the year.

Ordering a Stevens County Death Certificate

Washington death certificates are issued by the state Department of Health, not by Stevens County. The fee for a certified copy is $20 per certificate. Additional copies ordered at the same time are also $20 each. A Verification of Death letter, which confirms a death occurred but contains less detail than a full certificate, costs $15 and is available with fewer access restrictions.

Under RCW 70.58, death certificates for deaths within the past 50 years are restricted to qualified applicants. Those who qualify include the spouse or domestic partner, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, legal guardians, and authorized legal representatives of the deceased. If you are outside this group, you would need to demonstrate a tangible interest in the record. Deaths older than 50 years are open to any member of the public.

You can order by mail using the Death Certificate Mail Order Form. Send the completed form, a copy of your valid photo ID, and payment by check or money order payable to "Department of Health." Mail orders typically take 4 to 6 weeks to process. In-person same-day service at the Tumwater office is available for deaths from 1968 to present. Older records may need additional processing time.

VitalChek is the authorized online ordering vendor for Washington death certificates. You can place orders at vitalchek.com any time. The cost is $20 for the certificate plus a $12.50 processing fee per order. Expedited shipping options are available at extra cost. VitalChek handles delivery times faster than mail-in requests in most cases.

Source: VitalChek Online Certificate Ordering

VitalChek is the only DOH-authorized third-party platform for ordering Washington State death certificates online.

Stevens County Coroner

The Stevens County Coroner investigates deaths that occur under unusual, sudden, or suspicious circumstances within the county. When the Coroner's Office handles a case, it files the death certificate with DOH on behalf of the family, just as a physician would. The record enters the same state vital records system. However, the Coroner also maintains separate investigative files, including inquest records and cause-of-death reports, that are distinct from the vital records system.

Investigative records from the Coroner's Office are generally public records under RCW 42.56, though some portions may be withheld if an investigation is ongoing. You can contact the Stevens County Coroner directly at stevenscountywa.gov/coroner or submit a written public records request through the county's records portal. Coroner inquest records from Stevens County going back many decades may also be searchable in the Washington State Digital Archives, which holds some county coroner collections.

Note: Not all deaths in Stevens County go through the Coroner. Most deaths attended by a physician are certified directly by that physician, and those records flow to DOH through the standard process.

Historical Death Records in Stevens County

Washington State began mandatory death registration in 1907. Before that date, death records in Stevens County were kept at the local level, if at all. The Washington State Archives holds microfilm and original copies of early county death registers for many Washington counties, and Stevens County materials may be included. The Archives research facility is located at 1129 Washington St SE, Olympia WA 98504. 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.

The Washington State Archives is digitizing records on an ongoing basis and adding them to the free Digital Archives. Some pre-1907 Stevens County materials may already be searchable online. The Archives also has cemetery records, burial permits, and coroner inquest files from various counties that can supplement official death records for historical research.

Source: Washington State Archives

The State Archives in Olympia holds pre-1907 county records and can assist researchers looking for early Stevens County deaths.

FamilySearch is another strong resource for historical Stevens County death records. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has partnered with the Washington State Archives to digitize and index Washington vital records, and FamilySearch offers free search access to many collections. Their Washington death index records span several date ranges and may include records not yet in the Digital Archives. Obituaries from old Stevens County newspapers are another route. The Washington State Historical Society and local libraries often maintain access to historic newspaper archives that can confirm deaths and provide family details.

Public Records Access for Stevens County Death Records

Washington's Public Records Act, found at RCW 42.56, gives the public broad rights to government records. Death certificates, however, carry a specific privacy protection under RCW 70.58. A certified death certificate for a death that occurred within the last 50 years is restricted to qualified applicants only. Once 50 years have passed from the date of death, any person may request the record without proving a relationship.

The death index records in the Digital Archives, covering 1907 through 1967, are fully open to the public. The index shows basic identifying information but no cause of death, so it does not carry the same restrictions as a full certificate. Anyone can search and view the index for free at any time.

Source: RCW 70.58 Vital Statistics

RCW 70.58 defines who qualifies to obtain a restricted death certificate and how the 50-year rule applies to Washington death records.

For county records other than vital records, such as coroner inquest files or auditor records, you submit a public records request under RCW 42.56. Stevens County must respond within five business days. Fees for copies are charged per page as set by county ordinance. The county's public records portal at stevenscountywa.gov/public-records handles incoming requests.

The CDC maintains Washington vital statistics information at the national level. Their page at cdc.gov provides contact details and links to both state DOH and national resources for death data in Washington State.

Nearby Counties

These counties border or lie near Stevens County. Each has its own death index records and county resources for vital records research.