Obituary Records in Mountlake Terrace

Mountlake Terrace obituary and death records are managed through Snohomish County, which handles vital records for this south Snohomish County city near the King County border. Death certificates can be obtained through the Snohomish County Auditor's Office or the county health department. Historical obituary content is available through Sno-Isle Libraries and the Sno-Isle Genealogical Society. The Washington State Digital Archives provides free online access to the statewide death index going back to 1907. This page covers all the key sources for Mountlake Terrace death record research.

Snohomish County Death Certificate Offices

Birth and death certificates for Mountlake Terrace are maintained by the Snohomish County Auditor's Office at 3000 Rockefeller Avenue, Everett, WA 98201 (phone: 425-388-3483). Death certificates from 1891 forward are available there. The cost is $25 for the first copy and $20 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. In-person requests are typically processed the same day. Mail requests take 7-10 business days.

The Snohomish County Health Department Vital Records office also provides death certificates. They cover deaths occurring in Mountlake Terrace and the rest of Snohomish County from 1960 to the present. For Everett specifically, the health department's records go back to 1953. Deaths before these dates must be ordered from the Washington State Department of Health.

Since January 1, 2021, RCW 70.58A restricts certified copies to qualified applicants only. Eligible relationships include spouse, child, parent, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, legal guardian, and authorized representative. Proof of identity and relationship is required. Anyone can request a noncertified informational copy without proving relationship, but those copies bear a watermark and cannot be used for legal purposes such as closing estates or claiming benefits.

For very recent deaths in Mountlake Terrace (within the current or prior month), the county health department is often the fastest source. After three months, the state DOH should have the record in its system.

Washington State Digital Archives

The Washington State Digital Archives hosts the Department of Health Death Index covering July 1907 through 1960 and 1965 through 2017 statewide. All Snohomish County deaths, including Mountlake Terrace residents, are in the database. The index is free to search and contains over 2.3 million entries. Scanned death certificates are viewable for records up to 1999. For years 2000 through 2017, only index entries are available online.

The 1907-1960 records were transcribed by FamilySearch volunteers and typically include detailed fields like cause of death, birthplace, occupation, and parents' names. The 1965-2017 data was pulled from DOH systems and is less complete but still provides enough information to identify the right record. Once you have a certificate number from the index, you can order a certified copy from the DOH.

For Mountlake Terrace researchers interested in pre-1907 deaths, the Washington State Archives Northwest Regional Branch holds original Snohomish County death records from January 1891 to July 1907. Those records predate statewide registration and were kept by the county auditor. The branch also holds marriage records and court records including naturalization. Contact the branch before visiting to confirm availability and schedule a research appointment.

Obituary History for Mountlake Terrace

The Sno-Isle Genealogical Society maintains extensive obituary records for South Snohomish County, which includes Mountlake Terrace. The society has assembled over 15,000 individual records from local newspapers including the Edmonds Tribune-Review (1905-1930) and the Edmonds Review. The collection also covers the Richmond Beach Herald (1924-1927). To request copies, email library@snoislegen.org with "OBITUARIES REQUEST" as the message header. The SIGS Research Library is at 19827 Poplar Way, Lynnwood, WA 98037.

The society also holds approximately 74,000 entries for Snohomish and Island County obituaries from 1986 to 2000, covering the period when many residents of Mountlake Terrace were active in the community. These are searchable by surname and given name. Obituary records from the Edmonds Tribune-Review from 1907 to 1981 are also part of the special collections at the SIGS Research Library. You can browse the collection online at snoislegen.org before submitting a request.

The Washington State Library maintains microfilm collections of Snohomish County death records and the Washington State Death Index for 1907 through 2004. Researchers can submit name lookup requests through the Ask-A-Librarian service. Requests should include a full name and a date range to help staff find the right index reel. The library's Vital Records LibGuide walks through available Snohomish County resources in detail.

Sno-Isle Libraries Obituary Tools

Sno-Isle Libraries serves Mountlake Terrace and provides access to several genealogy databases. The primary obituary resource is HeritageHub, which covers U.S. obituaries and death notices from 1704 to today. The Mountlake Terrace Library can provide access to this and other databases. Library staff can assist with locating specific death notices using the system's search tools. According to sno-isle.org, patrons with a valid Sno-Isle card can access many databases remotely from home.

Ancestry Library Edition is available for in-library use only at Sno-Isle locations. It has death certificates from many U.S. states and may contain records for Mountlake Terrace residents who had ties to other states. Many Sno-Isle libraries also keep microfilm of local newspaper content not available online, and staff can help arrange interlibrary loan for reels not held locally. This is especially useful for obituaries from the mid-twentieth century.

The library's "Book a Librarian" program lets you schedule a one-on-one genealogy research session with a librarian. This is a useful option if you are just getting started or if you have hit a dead end in your search for Mountlake Terrace death records. Temporary library cards can be obtained at any branch if you do not already have a Sno-Isle card.

Ordering Mountlake Terrace Death Records

For deaths from 1960 to present, contact the Snohomish County Health Department or Auditor's Office. For older records, or if the county cannot locate the record, order from the Washington State DOH. The DOH holds all Washington death records from July 1, 1907 to present. Order online at doh.wa.gov through VitalChek or call 1-866-687-1464.

Ordering options:

• Online through VitalChek: $40.50 per certificate, ships in 3-7 business days
• Phone through VitalChek at 1-866-687-1464: same fee as online
• Mail to DOH: $25 per certificate, allow 8-10 weeks
• In person at county health office: same-day service may be available, additional fee possible

You need the full name of the deceased, the approximate date of death (month and year), and the city or county of death. For certified copies, you also need valid photo ID and proof of qualifying relationship. Noncertified informational copies are available to anyone without proof of relationship. Mail orders go to: Center for Health Statistics, Department of Health, PO Box 9709, Olympia, WA 98507.

Snohomish County Obituary Records

Mountlake Terrace is in Snohomish County. All death filings for Mountlake Terrace residents go through Snohomish County and the state DOH. Visit the Snohomish County records page for more information on county-level tools and resources.

View Snohomish County Obituary Records

Nearby Cities

These cities are near Mountlake Terrace in Snohomish County or adjacent King County.