Garfield County Death Records

Garfield County obituary and death records can be found through the Garfield County Clerk-Recorder and the Washington State Department of Health. This small rural county in southeastern Washington has records going back to the late 1800s. Whether you are searching for a recent death notice or a historical record for genealogy, this page explains which offices hold Garfield County death records and how to access them. Records at the state level cover the entire span from 1907 to present, while the county clerk handles local requests and older pre-state documents.

Garfield County Clerk-Recorder

The Garfield County Clerk-Recorder is the local office that handles death certificates for Garfield County. Because this is one of the smallest counties in Washington by population, vital records services are provided in person at the courthouse in Pomeroy. The clerk-recorder also handles marriage licenses, recorded documents, and other official records. For Garfield County death certificates, contact the office directly to get current hours, fees, and the forms you need.

Garfield County was created in 1881 from Columbia County. The county seat is Pomeroy, and all local vital records are handled there. If the death you are researching occurred in Garfield County, start with the clerk-recorder's office. They can tell you whether the record is available locally or whether you need to go through the state office for older or more recent records.

The Garfield County Clerk-Recorder death certificates page provides ordering information and guidance for residents. The office handles certified copies of death certificates for deaths that occurred in Garfield County.

Contacting the office directly is the best way to confirm current availability, accepted payment types, and any required forms before making a trip to Pomeroy.

Garfield County Public Health

Garfield County Public Health works closely with the Washington State Department of Health to provide access to vital records for county residents. Because Garfield County does not have a large standalone health district, residents often need to use either the clerk-recorder or the state DOH to get death certificates. The public health office can help with questions about the process and point you to the right resource.

The Garfield County Public Health office handles immunizations, environmental health, and disease reporting in addition to helping residents navigate vital records requests. If you are unsure whether to go to the clerk-recorder or the state DOH, calling public health first is a reasonable first step.

Staff there can tell you which office handles the time period you need and what documentation you will have to bring or submit with your request.

Note: For deaths occurring in the last few months, the local clerk-recorder may handle requests directly. Deaths three or more months old are typically available from the Washington State Department of Health.

Washington State Department of Health Records

The Washington State Department of Health is a key source for Garfield County death records. The Center for Health Statistics at doh.wa.gov maintains death records from July 1, 1907, to present for all Washington counties. You can order online, by phone, or by mail. Phone and online orders go through VitalChek, the state-contracted vendor, and cost a minimum of $40.50 per certificate. Mail orders cost a minimum of $25 per certificate but take 8 to 10 weeks to process.

VitalChek processes Garfield County orders with expedited handling. Online or phone orders typically process and ship within 3 to 7 business days. Payment is accepted by major credit or debit cards. VitalChek verifies your identity and eligibility before issuing a certified copy, as required under Washington's current closed-record rules. If you need the record quickly and cannot visit Pomeroy in person, VitalChek is your fastest option.

The CDC also maintains a reference page on Where to Write for Vital Records in Washington, confirming that the state vital records office can be reached at (360) 236-4300 for all county death records, including Garfield County.

Garfield County Death Records in Digital Archives

Older Garfield County death records are available for free through the Washington State Digital Archives. The Department of Health Death Index at the Digital Archives covers deaths statewide from 1907 to 1960 and from 1965 to 2017. The full index holds more than 2.3 million entries. Most records in the index include the name, date of death, gender, county of death, age at death, and death certificate number. You can search by name and then use the certificate number to order a full copy if needed.

For deaths before July 1, 1907, records were held at the county level. The Washington State Library's Vital Records in Washington State LibGuide explains how to track down these older records. The library holds microfilm copies of early county death registers in its genealogy collection. You can also submit specific lookup requests through the Ask-A-Librarian service if you cannot travel to Olympia in person. For pre-1907 Garfield County deaths, the Garfield County Clerk-Recorder or the county auditor may hold the original registers.

Vital Records Law in Washington

Washington vital records are governed by Chapter 70.58A RCW. This is the key law that applies to all death certificate requests in Garfield County and every other county in the state. RCW 70.58A.200 sets out the requirements for reporting deaths and filing death certificates. RCW 70.58A.520 and RCW 70.58A.530 govern who can receive a certified copy and under what conditions.

Washington became a closed-record state on January 1, 2021. Before that date, certified copies were available to a wider group of people. Now, you must show proof of identity and proof of your relationship to the deceased. Qualified applicants include the registrant (if 18 or over), parents, spouse, domestic partner, children, siblings, grandparents, legal guardians, legal representatives, and anyone with a court order granting access. If you are not sure whether you qualify, contact the Garfield County Clerk-Recorder or the state DOH before submitting your application.

Under RCW 70.58A.510, older death certificates can move from the Department of Health to the Washington State Archives. Once that transfer happens, the DOH can still issue certified copies, but the original records are held at the Archives. This is why Garfield County death records from 1907 through 1996 appear in the Digital Archives online collections at no charge to search.

Communities in Garfield County

Garfield County is one of the smallest counties in Washington by population. The county seat is Pomeroy, and that is where all local vital records services are based. There are no cities in Garfield County that meet the qualifying population threshold for individual city pages on this site. Pomeroy is the main community where death records and obituary requests are handled.

Other small communities in the county include Farmington, Elberton, and Benge. All death certificate requests for Garfield County residents go through the Garfield County Clerk-Recorder in Pomeroy or through the Washington State Department of Health.

Nearby Counties

Garfield County borders several other southeastern Washington counties. If the death you are researching occurred near a county border, check which county the event was recorded in.