Spokane Obituary and Death Records
Spokane obituary and death records are available from a range of sources depending on the time period and type of document you need. Spokane is the county seat of Spokane County, and all death certificates for events in the city are filed through the Spokane Regional Health District and the Washington State Department of Health. The Spokane Public Library holds indexed obituaries from the Spokesman-Review going back decades. The Washington State Digital Archives also holds a large collection of death records specific to Spokane County, making this one of the better-documented cities in eastern Washington for death record research.
Spokane Quick Facts
Spokane Regional Health District
The Spokane Regional Health District is the local agency for death certificate requests in Spokane. Spokane residents can request copies in person at the health district office, which may offer same-day service for a fee. The health district works in conjunction with the Washington State Department of Health to issue both certified and informational copies of death certificates. Certified copies are the legally accepted version and require proof of eligibility. Informational copies are available to anyone.
Death certificates in Spokane are generated by the attending physician or the medical examiner and then registered with both the Spokane Regional Health District and the state Center for Health Statistics. Once registered, copies can be ordered through the local office or directly from the state. If you are not sure which office has the record you need, calling the health district first is the fastest way to find out.
For deaths that occurred anywhere in Washington State, including Spokane, the state records go back to July 1, 1907. Records before that date were maintained by the Spokane County Auditor. The county auditor held birth and death records from 1890 to 1907, and these older records are now accessible through the Washington State Digital Archives. The Spokane County Auditor also held a death register from 1891 to 1907, which is indexed and available with images through the archives.
The Washington State DOH vital records page at doh.wa.gov explains the process for ordering a certified Spokane death certificate online, by phone, or by mail.
The page also describes the three types of death documents available and the eligibility rules that govern who can receive a certified copy.
Washington Digital Archives: Spokane Records
The Washington State Archives Digital Archives holds the statewide death index, and the Spokane County section of this collection is one of the most detailed in the state. The index covers July 1, 1907 through 1960 and 1965 through 2017 and contains over 2.3 million records statewide. Spokane researchers can search by name, date range, and county to narrow results quickly.
The Digital Archives also holds the Spokane County Auditor, Death Returns, 1888 to 1907, and the Death Register, 1891 to 1907. Both collections are indexed with images available. These records predate the state's official registration system and are valuable for genealogical research involving Spokane families who were in the area during the late 1800s and early 1900s. The archives are free to search and do not require an account for basic use.
Death certificate images are available through the Digital Archives for records older than 25 years. For more recent deaths, only the index entry is accessible through the archives platform, and a certified or informational copy must be ordered through the state or county.
Historical Spokane Obituary Sources
The Spokesman-Review is Spokane's major daily newspaper and has published obituary notices for well over a century. The Spokane Public Library has indexed obituaries from the Spokesman-Review, and researchers can contact the library reference desk for help locating older death notices. The library also holds microfilm copies of local newspapers going back to the early 1900s. These obituaries often include details about the person's life, family members, and place of burial that are not found in the official death certificate.
FamilySearch maintains a Spokane County Genealogy wiki that lists all major record collections available for the county. This page is a useful starting point for understanding what has been digitized and where to find it. It covers the county auditor records, state death certificates, digital archives holdings, and local library resources in one place.
The Washington State Library in Olympia also holds microfilm of Spokane County death registers in its genealogy collection. Researchers who cannot visit in person can request copies by mail in some cases. The State Library's vital records guide is available online and provides detailed instructions for tracking down older Washington death records.
Spokane Public Library Genealogy Resources
The Spokane Public Library provides extensive local history and genealogy resources to Spokane residents. The library holds indexed obituaries from the Spokesman-Review and other local publications. Reference librarians at the main branch can help researchers navigate newspaper archives, death indexes, and genealogy databases. The library offers free access to Ancestry Library Edition, HeritageQuest Online, and other genealogy tools during library hours.
The Washington State Library's Vital Records in Washington State LibGuide provides detailed guidance on locating Spokane death records. The guide explains the difference between state, county, and archive sources. It also explains how to handle records that fall in the gap years not covered by the standard index, which can sometimes require requesting physical records from an archive or county office directly.
Ordering Spokane Death Certificates
You can order a death certificate for a Spokane resident from the Washington State Department of Health or from the Spokane Regional Health District. The state office is the most common route. The DOH death records page explains the options. Online orders go through VitalChek at $40.50 per certified copy. Mail orders cost $25 per copy and are sent to Center for Health Statistics, Department of Health, PO Box 9709, Olympia, WA 98507.
To place an order, you need the full name of the deceased, the date and county of death, and a valid photo ID. Under RCW 70.58A, only certain individuals may receive certified copies. These include a surviving spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, or legal representative of the estate. If you do not qualify for a certified copy, you can still request a noncertified informational copy, which carries the same data but cannot be used for legal purposes.
- Online (VitalChek): $40.50 per copy
- Mail to state DOH: $25 per copy, 2 to 4 weeks processing
- In-person at Spokane Regional Health District: check for same-day availability
- Certified copies require proof of eligibility
- Noncertified informational copies available to all requesters
Note: VitalChek is the only state-approved third-party vendor. Requests made through other online services are not processed by the state and may result in higher fees and delays.
Spokane County Obituary Records
Spokane is the county seat of Spokane County. All death certificates and vital records for Spokane flow through the county and state systems. For a broader look at Spokane County death records, archival resources, and genealogy tools, visit the county page below.
Nearby Cities
These cities near Spokane also have death record resources available through local and state offices.