Redmond Obituary Records Lookup

Redmond obituary and death records are maintained through King County and the Washington State Department of Health. Whether you need a certified death certificate for a Redmond resident, want to search the state death index, or are looking for historical obituary collections, this page covers the primary resources and how to use them.

King County Vital Records for Redmond

Redmond is in King County. Death certificates for Redmond residents are issued through the Washington State Department of Health and King County Public Health. King County is the most populous county in Washington, and its vital records system serves Redmond and dozens of surrounding cities. To order a death certificate for someone who died in Redmond, the primary route is through the Washington State Department of Health at doh.wa.gov or through VitalChek.

King County Public Health at kingcounty.gov also provides access to King County vital records, including death certificates for events that occurred in the county. The center issues certified copies subject to Washington's closed-record law under RCW 70.58A. Only qualified applicants with a direct and tangible interest can receive certified copies. Eligible requestors include the registrant (if 18 or older), parents, spouse, domestic partner, children, siblings, grandparents, legal guardians, and legal representatives. Valid photo ID and proof of qualifying relationship are required.

The Washington State Department of Health Center for Health Statistics can be reached by phone at 1-866-687-1464 or (360) 236-4300. Orders can be placed online through VitalChek. Mail orders start at $25 per copy. Online or phone orders through VitalChek start at $40.50. Mail orders take 8 to 10 weeks. VitalChek orders ship in 3 to 7 business days. For questions about the status of a certificate order, email contactchs@doh.wa.gov or call (360) 236-4300.

King County's Medical Examiner handles deaths where injury, accident, suicide, or homicide is involved. For those cases, the Medical Examiner's office investigates the cause and manner of death before the certificate is finalized. Funeral homes typically assist families in obtaining copies of death certificates after filing is complete.

Washington Digital Archives Death Index

The free Washington State Archives Digital Archives Death Index covers deaths statewide from July 1, 1907 through 1960 and from 1965 through 2017, including all King County deaths. For Redmond obituary research, this is a solid free starting point. Most entries include the person's name, date of death, gender, location of death, age at death, and death certificate number. Images of death certificates up to 25 years ago are available in the Department of Health Death Certificates collection on the same site.

The King County Archives maintains a separate collection of death records. According to the King County Archives page, that collection includes death registers, coroner's records, death certificates, and burial permits for the Seattle-King County area. As the largest county in Washington, King County's archives serve as a major regional repository for death-related records. Researchers looking for Redmond death records can contact the archives directly for information on accessing these materials. The archives complement state-level collections and are essential for anyone researching deaths in the King County area.

The indexes for 1961 to 1964 are available on microfilm at the State Archives in Olympia. The overall Death Index contains 2,324,901 records. It is open for research. To correct a record believed to be in error, contact the Washington Department of Health Center for Health Statistics at (360) 236-4313 or (360) 236-4312.

The Washington State Department of Health death records ordering page at doh.wa.gov walks Redmond residents through the full process for ordering certified death certificates from the state office.

Historical Redmond Death Records

Before July 1, 1907, King County held its own death registers through the County Auditor. Those records are now preserved at the Washington State Archives Puget Sound Regional Branch. The Washington State Library's Vital Records LibGuide at washstatelib.libguides.com explains that death records prior to July 1, 1907 are held by the county auditor, while after June 30, 1907 they are held by the Washington State Department of Health. The guide notes that the Digital Archives has digitized many death records that can be viewed for free, and that the State Archives holds the original death registers and returns at its five regional branches.

FamilySearch offers several collections that cover King County deaths, including Redmond. The Washington Death Certificates, 1907-1960, collection is indexed and freely searchable on FamilySearch. Washington County Death Registers, 1881-1979, is also available with index and images. The Washington Death Index at Ancestry.com covers 1940 to 2017 and includes King County records. These are useful when searching for Redmond residents who died before online records were widely available.

The Social Security Death Index is another free resource for finding Redmond death dates for individuals who died after 1935. Cemetery records for King County can help confirm burial information referenced in an obituary. The Washington State Library at sos.wa.gov/library/ObituaryResources also maintains a page on obituary research resources statewide, including newspaper archives and library microfilm holdings.

Redmond Library and Genealogy Resources

The King County Library System (KCLS) serves Redmond residents. The Redmond Library branch offers reference services and access to local history and genealogy resources, including newspaper archives and obituary indexes. KCLS provides access to genealogy databases including Ancestry Library Edition, which includes the Washington Death Index. Reference staff can help you navigate the collections and identify which microfilm reels or digital collections cover Redmond obituaries.

The Seattle City Archives at seattle.gov/cityarchives provides guidance on genealogical research tools, including resources that cover King County more broadly. While focused on Seattle, the tips for finding death records, obituaries, and related documents apply across the county including Redmond.

The Washington State Genealogical Society maintains research tools and guides for King County at the Washington State Library in Olympia. The society's collections and publications cover a wide geographic area, including Redmond. For a broader overview of all statewide obituary research tools, the Washington Secretary of State's Library at sos.wa.gov lists newspaper archives, library finding aids, and genealogical society resources. Many of these cover the entire Puget Sound region.

How to Order Redmond Death Certificates

To order a death certificate for a Redmond resident, start with King County Public Health for recent deaths. For deaths more than three months ago, apply to the Washington State Department of Health at doh.wa.gov or order through VitalChek. The CDC Where to Write page at cdc.gov confirms the state Center for Health Statistics phone number at (360) 236-4300.

What to include in your application:

• Full name of the deceased
• Date or approximate date of death
• City or county of death (King County for Redmond)
• Your valid government-issued photo ID
• Proof of qualifying relationship under RCW 70.58A

State mail orders start at $25 per copy and take 8 to 10 weeks. VitalChek online or phone orders start at $40.50 and ship in 3 to 7 business days. All fees are nonrefundable. Noncertified informational copies are available for genealogical purposes without proof of relationship and carry a watermark stating they cannot be used for legal purposes.

King County Obituary Records

Redmond is in King County, and all death certificate filings for the city go through King County systems. For full details on the King County Archives, King County Public Health, and county-level death record resources, see the King County obituary records page.

View King County Obituary Records

Nearby Cities

These cities are near Redmond. Each has its own obituary records page with local resource details.