Federal Way Obituary Records
Federal Way obituary and death records are accessible through the Washington State Department of Health and King County's local health offices. If you need a certified death certificate for someone who died in Federal Way, the state vital records office handles most requests. You can search historical obituary notices through the King County Library System and the Washington State Digital Archives, which holds death index records going back to 1907. This page covers where to look, what it costs, and how to get what you need.
Federal Way Overview
Federal Way Death Certificates
Deaths that occur in Federal Way are registered with the Washington State Department of Health. King County Public Health also has a role in local death records and the medical examiner process. For most requests, you go directly to the state. The Washington State Center for Health Statistics issues certified copies of death certificates for deaths occurring anywhere in Washington from July 1, 1907 to the present.
King County Public Health handles some local vital records and death-related services. Their office covers Federal Way and all other communities in King County. If you are not sure whether to contact the county or the state, start with the state DOH line at 360-236-4300. They can tell you exactly where to direct your request and what documents you need to provide.
| Agency | Washington State Dept. of Health, Center for Health Statistics |
|---|---|
| Mailing Address | PO Box 9709, Olympia, WA 98507 |
| Appointments | 111 Israel Road SE, Tumwater, WA 98501 (by appointment only) |
| Phone | 360-236-4300 |
| Website | doh.wa.gov/vital-records |
Note: Walk-in service is not available at the state office. You must schedule an appointment or submit your request by mail or through VitalChek online.
Ordering a Federal Way Obituary or Death Record
Washington State offers two main ways to order a certified death certificate for a Federal Way resident. You can order online through VitalChek, which is the only state-approved third-party vendor. Or you can mail a paper application to the Center for Health Statistics in Olympia.
The Washington Department of Health vital records page has everything you need to get started. It covers who can request a death certificate, what ID is required, and the current fee schedule.
The DOH death records page at doh.wa.gov/death-record walks you through every step. It lists what forms of ID are acceptable and explains the difference between a certified copy and an informational copy.
Fees as of the current schedule: mail orders cost $25 per certificate. VitalChek online or phone orders cost $40.50, which includes an expedite fee. Mail orders ship within 8 to 10 weeks. VitalChek orders ship within 3 to 7 business days. Only certain people can request a certified copy. Close relatives, legal representatives, and those with a documented need qualify. Others can get an informational copy, which cannot be used for legal purposes.
- Spouse or domestic partner
- Parent or legal guardian
- Child, grandchild, or sibling
- Attorney or authorized representative
- Government agency acting in official capacity
Washington State Digital Archives
The Washington State Digital Archives is one of the best free tools for searching older Federal Way death records and obituary indexes. The site holds the statewide Death Index covering individuals who died in Washington from 1907 through 2020, with over two million entries. This is a free index search, not a certified record, but it helps confirm dates and locate case numbers.
You can search the death index at digitalarchives.wa.gov. The collection includes records from the Washington State Department of Health. For events near Federal Way's incorporation area, searches by name and year are reliable going back several decades. The archive also holds coroner records and burial permits from King County for earlier periods.
King County Archives maintains a separate set of death-related records including death registers, coroner records, and burial permits. These complement the state collection and are especially useful for pre-1950 research. Contact the King County Archives through King County's medical examiner and archives office for help finding older records.
Historical Obituary Records in Federal Way
Federal Way was incorporated as a city in 1990, so historical records for the area exist under the older unincorporated King County records system. Newspaper obituaries for Federal Way residents were published in regional papers including The Seattle Times and The Federal Way Mirror. The King County Library System holds archival newspaper collections that include local obituary notices going back several decades.
For genealogy research, FamilySearch has Washington death certificates from 1907 to 1960 and Washington county death registers from 1881 to 1979. These are indexed and images are free to view. Search by name at familysearch.org. Ancestry.com also holds Washington death index records and some digitized newspaper collections with obituaries for the greater Seattle-King County area.
King County Library Genealogy Resources
The King County Library System serves Federal Way and offers genealogy resources at several branches. Through KCLS, cardholders can access Ancestry Library Edition, Newspapers.com archive access, and other subscription databases that include historical obituary collections. The Federal Way branch at 34200 1st Way S, Federal Way, WA 98003 is the primary local branch.
KCLS genealogy resources are available free with a library card. Newspaper archives in these databases often include obituary notices from the late 1800s forward. Staff at the genealogy desks can help you search digitized newspaper collections for Federal Way obituaries and death notices. Many notices from The Seattle Post-Intelligencer and The Seattle Times are indexed and searchable online through these tools.
Note: Library database access may be used in-branch or remotely with a valid KCLS card.
King County Obituary Records
Federal Way is in King County. All death certificates and vital records for Federal Way residents are processed through the King County and state systems. For more resources, county-level search tools, and office locations, see the King County obituary records page.
Nearby Cities
These cities are near Federal Way. Each has its own obituary and death records access through county vital records offices.