Search Thurston County Death Index

Thurston County death index records are maintained through Washington State's vital records system, with the Washington State Digital Archives offering free online access to historical death indexes from 1907 through 1967. This page covers how to search the Thurston County death index, where to order certified death certificates, what to expect from the county coroner's records, and how state law governs public access to vital records.

How the Thurston County Death Index Works

Death records in Thurston County follow Washington State's standard two-tier system. All deaths from 1907 onward are registered with the Washington State Department of Health, which maintains the official vital records registry. Thurston County is home to Olympia, the state capital, and the DOH vital records office itself is located in the county at 101 Israel Road SE in Tumwater. Even so, DOH issues certificates for the entire state, and Thurston County records are not handled separately from any other county.

When a death occurs in Thurston County, the attending physician, funeral director, or medical certifier completes the death certificate through the Electronic Birth and Death Registration System (EBDRS). The record goes to DOH, which then holds it in the central vital records registry. The county does not maintain its own separate set of certificates from 1907 onward. The Thurston County Auditor may have older historical registers from before statewide registration began.

The death index is a summary listing, not the full record. It shows the name, date of death, county, certificate number, age, and gender. It does not include cause of death or family information. The index for 1907 through 1967 is free to search at the Digital Archives. For more recent deaths, there is no public online index, and you contact DOH directly.

Thurston County Auditor's Office

The Thurston County Auditor's Office in Olympia maintains county records and can provide guidance on historical vital records research. For deaths before 1907, the Auditor's Office may hold early death registers or know where those records are located. The Auditor also handles public records requests for county documents that fall outside the state vital records system.

Source: Thurston County Auditor

The Thurston County Auditor's website provides access to county records services and guidance on historical vital records in the county.

Thurston County also has a public records portal at thurstoncountywa.gov/public-records for submitting written requests for county records. Requests are handled under the Washington Public Records Act, RCW 42.56, and the county must respond within five business days.

Searching the Thurston County Death Index Online

The free Washington State Digital Archives at digitalarchives.wa.gov is the primary online tool for searching historical Thurston County death index records. The database covers all Washington counties from 1907 through 1967. You can filter by county, search by name, or use a date range. Each result shows the deceased's name, date and county of death, certificate number, age, and gender. The index does not show cause of death.

Once you find the record you need, note the certificate number. That number is what DOH uses to locate and pull the full death certificate. If you only need to confirm that a death occurred, a Verification of Death letter from DOH for $15 may be enough, and it has fewer access restrictions than a certified copy.

Thurston County may also have pre-1907 materials in the Digital Archives. Older county death registers and cemetery records from early Washington Territory settlement are held in some form for many counties. Search the archives with "Thurston County" combined with "death" or "cemetery" to see what is available for that earlier period.

Note: For deaths after 1967, the only search option is to contact DOH directly at 360-236-4300. Staff can confirm whether a record exists before you pay for a full copy, which helps if you are unsure of the exact death year.

Ordering a Thurston County Death Certificate

Washington death certificates are issued exclusively by the state DOH, not by Thurston County or any local office. The fee is $20 per certified copy. A Verification of Death letter costs $15. Under RCW 70.58, certificates for deaths within the past 50 years are restricted to qualified applicants. Qualified applicants include the deceased person's spouse or domestic partner, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, legal guardian, legal representative, and others who can show a tangible interest in the record.

Because the DOH walk-in office is located in Tumwater, Thurston County residents have the advantage of being able to use in-person same-day service for records from 1968 to present. This is faster than mailing in a request, which typically takes 4 to 6 weeks. In-person orders require a completed application form, valid photo ID, and payment.

Online orders go through VitalChek, the DOH-authorized vendor, at vitalchek.com. The cost is $20 plus a $12.50 processing fee per order. Expedited shipping options are available at additional cost. Phone orders can also be placed at 360-236-4300 Monday through Friday with payment by credit card.

Source: VitalChek Online Certificate Ordering

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

Thurston County Coroner's Office

The Thurston County Coroner investigates deaths that are sudden, violent, or otherwise require official inquiry within the county. When the Coroner handles a case, the death certificate is filed with DOH just as it would be for any other death. The Coroner's investigative files, however, are separate from the vital records system and are subject to their own access rules.

Source: Thurston County Coroner

The Thurston County Coroner's Office handles death investigations and maintains inquest records that may be requested under the Public Records Act.

Coroner investigative records are generally public under RCW 42.56, though some portions may be withheld if an investigation remains active. You can submit a public records request to the Coroner's Office directly or through the county's public records portal. Coroner inquest records from older Thurston County cases may also be searchable in the Digital Archives, which holds some county coroner collections statewide.

Historical Death Records in Thurston County

Thurston County has a significant history as the seat of Washington State government, and its early records are relatively well documented. Death registration in Washington began in 1907. Before that date, deaths were recorded at the local level by county auditors or health officers, and coverage was not uniform. The Washington State Archives, located at 1129 Washington St SE, Olympia WA 98504 (360-586-1492, archives@sos.wa.gov), holds early county records including death registers, cemetery permits, and probate files that reference deaths in Thurston County going back to Washington Territory days.

The Archives is open Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm. Their main website is at sos.wa.gov/archives. Because the State Archives is physically located in Olympia, Thurston County researchers have the convenience of visiting in person without traveling far. Staff can assist with record lookups and guide you to the right collections for pre-1907 research.

Source: Washington State Archives

The State Archives in Olympia holds pre-1907 and historical death records for Thurston County and can assist with in-person research.

FamilySearch also has Washington death index records and cemetery transcriptions, many of which cover Thurston County. Their free search tools at familysearch.org can supplement what you find in the Digital Archives. Probate court records at the Thurston County Superior Court often list the deceased's name, date of death, and surviving heirs, making them useful for confirming deaths in the 1880s through early 1900s when official certificates are missing.

Public Records Access for Thurston County Death Records

Washington's Public Records Act under RCW 42.56 gives broad public access to government records. Death certificates, however, carry a separate restriction under RCW 70.58. A certified death certificate for a death within the past 50 years is available only to qualified applicants. Records older than 50 years are open to anyone without proof of relationship.

The death index records available in the Digital Archives for 1907 through 1967 are fully public. The index contains no cause of death and does not carry the same access restrictions as the full certificate. Anyone can search the index for free at digitalarchives.wa.gov.

Source: RCW 70.58 Vital Statistics

RCW 70.58 sets the 50-year rule and defines who qualifies for restricted Washington death records.

For county records outside the vital records system, you submit a request under RCW 42.56 through the Thurston County public records portal. The county has five business days to respond. Fees for copies are per page as set by county ordinance. The CDC maintains national vital statistics data for Washington at cdc.gov, which links to both DOH and federal resources for death statistics in the state.

Cities in Thurston County

Thurston County includes several cities with separate pages for death records research. Death records for all cities in the county 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 Thurston County. Each has its own death index records and county resources for vital records research.