Wahkiakum County Death Records

Wahkiakum County death index records are part of Washington State's vital records system, with historical indexes available at no cost through the Washington State Digital Archives. This page explains how to search the Wahkiakum County death index, where to order certified death certificates, how the county auditor and coroner fit into the records system, and what state law says about who can access death records.

How the Wahkiakum County Death Index Works

Wahkiakum County is Washington's smallest county by population, a rural community along the Columbia River near the Oregon border. Death records here follow the same state system as every other Washington county. When a death occurs in Wahkiakum County, the attending physician, funeral home, or medical certifier files a certificate with the Washington State Department of Health within ten days. DOH holds all certified death certificates from 1907 onward for the entire state, including Wahkiakum County. The county does not issue or maintain its own certified certificates for that period.

The death index is a separate record from the full certificate. The index is a summary that shows the name, date and county of death, certificate number, age, and gender of the deceased. It does not include cause of death. The index for 1907 through 1967 is available free at the Washington State Digital Archives. Use the certificate number you find there to request the full record from DOH. After 1967, no public online index exists for Wahkiakum County deaths, and you contact DOH directly for those searches.

Wahkiakum County Auditor's Office

The Wahkiakum County Auditor's Office in Cathlamet is the main county records office. It maintains local government records and can provide guidance on locating historical death records for the county. Researchers looking for deaths before 1907 may find that the Auditor's Office holds early registers or knows where those records are located. The Auditor can also direct you to the Washington State Archives for older materials that have been transferred to Olympia.

Source: Wahkiakum County Auditor

The Wahkiakum County Auditor's Office in Cathlamet handles county records and can assist with guidance on historical death records research.

Wahkiakum County public records requests are handled under RCW 42.56, the Washington Public Records Act. You can submit requests to the county at co.wahkiakum.wa.us/306/Public-Records-Request. The county has five business days to respond to requests.

Searching the Wahkiakum County Death Index Online

The Washington State Digital Archives at digitalarchives.wa.gov is the best free tool for searching Wahkiakum County death index records. The database covers the statewide death index from 1907 through 1967. Filter by Wahkiakum County when searching to narrow results, or search by name and year range. Each entry in the index shows the deceased's name, date and county of death, certificate number, age, and gender. Cause of death is not included in the index.

Wahkiakum is a small county with a relatively small number of records compared to more populous counties. That can actually make searching easier, since there are fewer results to sort through when looking for a specific individual. Once you find the entry, note the certificate number and use it to order the full certificate from DOH.

Source: Washington State Digital Archives

The Digital Archives death index is free to search and covers Wahkiakum County death records from 1907 through 1967.

For pre-1907 Wahkiakum County deaths, the Digital Archives may hold early county registers or territorial death records. The county's relatively small size means coverage may be limited, but it is worth searching. The Digital Archives also holds cemetery records from various Washington counties that can help confirm older deaths.

Note: For deaths after 1967, contact DOH at 360-236-4300 to request a search. Staff can confirm whether a record exists before you pay for a certified copy, which saves time when the exact death year is uncertain.

Ordering a Wahkiakum County Death Certificate

Washington death certificates for deaths from 1907 onward are issued by the state Department of Health, not by Wahkiakum County. The fee is $20 per certified copy. Additional copies ordered at the same time are also $20 each. A Verification of Death letter, which confirms a death occurred but has less detail than a full certificate, costs $15.

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 guardian, legal representative, and others who can show a tangible interest in the record. For deaths older than 50 years, any person may request the record without proof of relationship.

For mail requests, complete the Death Certificate Mail Order Form, include a copy of your valid photo ID, and send a check or money order payable to "Department of Health." Mail orders usually take 4 to 6 weeks. For faster service, use VitalChek at vitalchek.com, which is the DOH-authorized vendor for online ordering. The cost through VitalChek is $20 plus a $12.50 processing fee per order.

Source: VitalChek Online Certificate Ordering

VitalChek is the DOH-authorized vendor for ordering Washington State death certificates online, including records from Wahkiakum County.

Wahkiakum County Coroner

The Wahkiakum County Coroner investigates deaths that are sudden, violent, or require an official inquiry within the county. In a small county like Wahkiakum, the Coroner typically handles a limited number of cases each year. When the Coroner opens an investigation, the resulting death certificate is still filed with DOH through the standard process. The Coroner's investigative files, including any inquest records or cause-of-death reports, are kept separately from the vital records system.

Contact the Wahkiakum County Coroner at co.wahkiakum.wa.us/274/Coroner for information about investigative records. Those records are generally available under RCW 42.56, though portions may be withheld for active investigations. You can submit a written public records request through the county's records portal at co.wahkiakum.wa.us/306/Public-Records-Request.

Note: The majority of deaths in Wahkiakum County are certified by attending physicians rather than the Coroner. The Coroner only gets involved in specific circumstances defined by state law.

Historical Death Records in Wahkiakum County

Wahkiakum County was organized in 1854 during Washington Territory, and early death records from before statewide registration began in 1907 are scattered among various sources. The Washington State Archives at 1129 Washington St SE, Olympia WA 98504 (phone: 360-586-1492, email: archives@sos.wa.gov) holds microfilm and original records for many Washington counties. Staff can help determine whether pre-1907 Wahkiakum County death registers are in the Archives' collection or remain at the county level.

The Archives is open Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm, and their site is at sos.wa.gov/archives. The Washington State Digital Archives is also actively digitizing older county materials, so it is worth searching there for Wahkiakum County records from the territorial period.

Source: Washington State Archives

The State Archives holds pre-1907 Washington county records, including those that may have been transferred from Wahkiakum County.

Cemetery records are another valuable source for historical Wahkiakum County deaths. The county has several historic cemeteries whose records may be found through FamilySearch, local genealogical societies, or the Digital Archives. Probate records from the Wahkiakum County Superior Court can also confirm deaths and provide family information for cases before official death registration was common. Old Columbia River-area newspapers may also have obituaries that supplement official records.

Public Records Access for Wahkiakum County Death Records

Washington's Public Records Act under RCW 42.56 provides broad public access to government records. Death certificates, though, carry a specific restriction under RCW 70.58. Certificates for deaths within the past 50 years are available only to qualified applicants. Once 50 years have passed from the date of death, the record is open to any member of the public.

The death index records in the Digital Archives, covering 1907 through 1967, are fully open with no access restrictions. The index shows basic identifying information only, not cause of death, so it is treated as public information. Anyone can search the index free at any time at digitalarchives.wa.gov.

Source: RCW 70.58 Vital Statistics

RCW 70.58 establishes the 50-year rule for Washington death records and defines who qualifies as a restricted-access applicant.

For county records outside the vital records system, such as Coroner inquest files, submit a written request under RCW 42.56 through the county's public records portal. Wahkiakum County has five business days to respond. The CDC maintains Washington vital statistics data at cdc.gov, which links to state DOH and federal vital records resources for researchers who need a broader view of Washington death data.

Nearby Counties

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