Search Lynnwood Obituary Records

Lynnwood obituary and death records are managed through Snohomish County, which serves as the local registrar for vital records in this part of Washington. Researchers can find death certificates, genealogy resources, and historical obituary indexes through the county auditor's office, the Snohomish County Health Department, and Sno-Isle Libraries. This page explains each source, how to request records, and where to look for older Lynnwood obituaries from South Snohomish County newspapers.

Snohomish County Vital Records

Death certificates for Lynnwood are handled through two county offices. The Snohomish County Auditor's Office at 3000 Rockefeller Avenue, Everett, WA 98201 (phone: 425-388-3483) maintains birth certificates from 1907 forward and death certificates from 1891 forward. Death certificates cost $25 for the first copy and $20 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. In-person requests are typically same-day. Mail requests take 7-10 business days.

The Snohomish County Health Department's Vital Records office also issues death certificates. They can provide death records for deaths occurring in the rest of Snohomish County, including Lynnwood, from 1960 to present. For deaths in Everett specifically, their records go back to 1953. For deaths outside these date ranges, the Washington State Department of Health is the right office to contact.

Under RCW 70.58A, certified copies are restricted to qualified applicants. You must show proof of identity and a qualifying relationship such as spouse, child, parent, or sibling. Noncertified informational copies are available to any requester but cannot be used for legal purposes.

Note: If the death occurred more than three months ago and the local county office no longer has the record, the Washington State Department of Health should have it on file going back to July 1907.

Washington Digital Archives - Lynnwood Deaths

The Washington State Digital Archives provides free online access to the Department of Health Death Index covering July 1907 through 1960 and 1965 through 2017. All Snohomish County deaths, including Lynnwood residents, are included. You can search by name and filter by the Death Records collection. The database holds over 2.3 million statewide entries.

Scanned death certificates are available up to 1999. For deaths from 2000 through 2017, only the index entries are available online. Death certificates for that more recent period, and for the current period, must be ordered from the state DOH or the local health department. The Washington State Archives Northwest Regional Branch also holds original county-level death records from January 1891 to July 1907 for the northwest region, which includes Snohomish County.

Researchers tracing Lynnwood ancestors who died before 1907 should contact the Northwest Regional Branch directly. Some materials may be available only by appointment. The branch holds birth and death records, marriage records, and court records including naturalization for that pre-statewide registration period.

Historical Obituaries for Lynnwood

The Sno-Isle Genealogical Society (SIGS) has assembled one of the best local obituary resources in Snohomish County. The society has copied and organized death notices and obituaries from South Snohomish County newspapers, creating searchable data files with over 15,000 individual records. Sources include the Edmonds Review, Edmonds Tribune, Edmonds Tribune-Review (1905-1930), and the Richmond Beach Herald (1924-1927). The SIGS Research Library is located in the Humble House at Heritage Park, 19827 Poplar Way, Lynnwood, WA 98037. To order copies of obituaries, email library@snoislegen.org with "OBITUARIES REQUEST" as the message header.

The society also maintains special collections including 1907-1981 newspapers from the Edmonds Tribune Review and approximately 74,000 entries of obituaries for Snohomish and Island Counties from 1986 to 2000. You can browse the records on the SIGS website before requesting copies. This is a valuable supplement to the state records for anyone researching Lynnwood families from the early twentieth century.

The Washington State Library guides researchers to digital newspaper collections for broader obituary access. Resources include Washington State Newspapers, Washington Digital Newspapers, and Northwest Digital Heritage. The library's Ask-A-Librarian service can also help with locating specific materials, even though the direct obituary lookup service has ended due to budget constraints.

Sno-Isle Libraries Genealogy Tools

Sno-Isle Libraries serves Lynnwood and offers several genealogy databases for death and obituary research. The library system provides access to HeritageHub (formerly America's Obituaries and Death Notices), a collection of U.S. obituaries from 1704 to today. This is described as the go-to resource for newspaper obituary content.

Ancestry Library Edition is available for in-library use only at Sno-Isle locations. It has death certificates from many U.S. states and can be useful when federal or out-of-state records are involved. ProQuest Historic Newspapers also provides access to obituary content in major U.S. newspapers. Sno-Isle libraries keep microfilm of local newspaper content that is not available online, and reference staff can help obtain microfilm via interlibrary loan if needed.

Patrons can book a personalized genealogy appointment through the library's "Book a Librarian" program. A librarian can sit down with you and help develop a research strategy for finding Lynnwood obituary records. A valid Sno-Isle Libraries card is required for remote database access. Temporary cards can be obtained by visiting any branch location or contacting staff.

How to Order Lynnwood Death Certificates

There are three ways to order. Online orders go through VitalChek and cost $40.50 per certificate plus handling fees. Phone orders through VitalChek at 1-866-687-1464 cost the same amount. Mail orders sent to the DOH cost $25 per certificate but take 8-10 weeks after payment is received and processed. Local health department in-person service may be same-day and may carry a small additional fee.

To order any death record you need:

• Full name of the deceased
• Date of death or approximate month and year
• City or county where the death occurred
• Valid government-issued photo ID
• Proof of qualifying relationship for certified copies

The DOH mailing address is Center for Health Statistics, Department of Health, PO Box 9709, Olympia, WA 98507. For in-person appointments, the office is at Town Center 2, 111 Israel Road SE, Tumwater, WA 98501. Walk-ins are not accepted; call 360-236-4300 to schedule. VitalChek is the only state-authorized third-party vendor for Washington vital records orders.

Snohomish County Obituary Records

Lynnwood is in Snohomish County. Death certificates and vital records for Lynnwood residents are filed through the county offices in Everett. For details on the full county court system, the auditor's office, and more genealogy resources, visit the Snohomish County records page.

View Snohomish County Obituary Records

Nearby Cities

These cities are near Lynnwood. Each files death records through its own county or the state vital records office.