Find Death Records in Columbia County

Columbia County death records and obituary information are managed through Columbia County Public Health in Dayton, which holds certified death certificates from 2013 to the present, along with older records available through the Washington State Department of Health and the Washington State Digital Archives. If you need to locate a death certificate or search historical obituary records for a family member in Columbia County, this page covers where to look and how to request what you need.

Columbia County Death Certificates

Columbia County Public Health is the local source for certified death certificates. The office handles records for deaths occurring in Washington State from 2013 to the present. For older records, you need to contact the Washington State Department of Health. To reach the Columbia County office, call 509-382-2181. In-person visits to the office can fulfill most requests within 72 hours.

The Columbia County Public Health birth and death records page explains who can apply, what documents you need, and how to pay. Certified copies can be picked up in person, ordered by mail, or requested online. For recent deaths, the office typically asks that you wait until the funeral home confirms the record is ready before placing your request.

Death certificates cost $25 per copy, which is non-refundable. Cash, card, and checks are accepted for in-person orders. You can also pay online at the Point and Pay counter. Order forms for death certificates can be downloaded from the county site, filled out, and dropped off at the office. All requests must include proof of identity and documentation of your qualifying relationship to the deceased.

Columbia County Death Record Access Rules

Washington State changed its vital records law on January 1, 2021. Under RCW 70.58A, certified death certificates are only issued to qualified applicants. The state treats these as closed records. You must prove both who you are and why you are eligible before any copy is released.

Eligible applicants include the spouse or domestic partner, children, stepchildren, siblings, parents, grandparents, grandchildren, legal guardians, legal or authorized representatives, and government agencies conducting official duties. The person named on the death certificate can also request their own record if they are at least 18, though this applies mainly to birth records. Courts can also request records for official purposes.

You must provide a government-issued photo ID and documents that prove your relationship to the person on the record. If you request a death certificate involving a very recent death, contact the funeral home first. The funeral home can confirm when the record has been filed and is ready to order.

Note: Orders placed by applicants who fail to meet eligibility criteria or do not provide the required information within the allowed window may be cancelled without a refund.

Columbia County Public Records Access

Beyond death certificates, the Columbia County Public Records page directs residents and researchers to the right offices for official county records. The screenshot below shows the county's public records portal, which lists the proper contacts for different record types.

For death certificates and immunization records, the page directs users to the Washington State Department of Health Vital Records online ordering service or to the Columbia County Health Department at 509-382-2181. Marriage licenses, deeds, and military discharge papers go through the Columbia County Auditor's Office at 509-382-4541.

Courts in Washington are not subject to the Public Records Act. So if you need court records related to a death, such as probate filings or coroner reports, you must submit that request directly to the court. The county's public records policy is outlined in Ordinance 2009-02 and follows RCW 42.56.

Columbia County Public Health Vital Records

The Columbia County Public Health office handles local birth and death certificate requests. The image below is from the Columbia County Public Health vital records page, which outlines the ordering process and eligibility requirements.

The page includes downloadable order forms, payment instructions, and contact information for the office. Most requests completed in person are ready within 72 hours. Mail orders take longer, depending on how quickly all required documents are received.

Historical Columbia County Death Records

For Columbia County genealogy research, the Washington State Archives Digital Archives holds the Columbia County Auditor Death Records for 1891 through 1906. This collection contains 230 records and is free to search and view online. The records are open with no access restrictions.

The old death registers from this period often contain more detail than people expect. Each entry can include the decedent's name, place of birth, age, marital status, cause of death, residence, occupation, father's name and birthplace, and the mother's maiden name and birthplace. The name of the person who made the return is also noted in many cases. Researchers can search by last name, first and last name, or the first letter of the last name. A Soundex option is also available for name variants.

Columbia County was created in 1875 from part of Walla Walla County and is named after the Columbia River. Dayton is the county seat. The Eastern Regional Archives in Ellensburg is the appropriate contact for original Columbia County death registers. Reach them at (509) 963-2136 or email cebrancharchives@sos.wa.gov.

The Washington State Library Vital Records LibGuide also lists Columbia County Auditor death records from 1891 to 1906 as available on microform in the state library's genealogy collection. The Washington State Death Index for July 1, 1907, through 2004 is held on microfiche and microfilm. Lookup requests can be submitted through the Ask-A-Librarian service. Include a date range when you ask, because the index runs across multiple reels.

Privacy rules under Washington law may restrict access to vital records from the last 100 years. Some recent records may only be available to direct relatives. Before 1907, counties were responsible for keeping death records. Not every death was registered, so gaps in the record exist for this early period.

Washington State Death Record Resources for Columbia County

The Washington State Department of Health is the primary source for Columbia County death records from July 1, 1907, to three months before the present. The Center for Health Statistics handles ordering, changes to certificates, and eligibility questions. You can reach them at (360) 236-4313 or (360) 236-4312. Online and phone orders go through VitalChek at 1-866-687-1464.

The Digital Archives Death Certificates collection covers July 1, 1907, through December 31, 1996, for all Washington counties including Columbia County. Images of certificates are available free online for many records in this range. The collection is still growing as volunteers continue to scan and index records.

For deaths in the last two months, contact the local health office where the death occurred rather than the state DOH. For deaths prior to July 1, 1907, search the Washington State Digital Archives or contact the county auditor for that period.

Cities in Columbia County

Columbia County is one of the smaller counties in Washington by population. Dayton is the county seat and primary community. Death records for all residents of the county go through Columbia County Public Health or the Washington State Department of Health depending on the year of death.

No cities in Columbia County currently meet the population threshold for individual city pages. Dayton and Starbuck are the main communities. All death and obituary records for the area are managed at the county level through the Columbia County Public Health office at 509-382-2181.

Nearby Counties

Columbia County borders several counties in southeastern Washington. If a death occurred near a county line, confirm the county of death before contacting the wrong office.