Island County Obituary Records

Island County obituary and death records are available through Island County Public Health, the Washington State Digital Archives, and several historical collections that reach back to 1891. This county covers Whidbey Island and Camano Island in northwestern Washington. If you need to order a certified death certificate, search for a historical death entry, or trace a family line buried on the islands, this guide explains which source to use, what each one costs, and how to access it.

Island County Public Health Vital Records

Island County Public Health issues certified death certificates for deaths that occurred in Washington State from March 1, 2014, to the present. The fee is $30 per certified death certificate, which is slightly higher than the state's standard $25 rate. Vital Statistics staff at Island County serve as the primary resource for physicians, funeral directors, and the public for accessing birth, death, and fetal death information.

In-person requests are processed at the Coupeville office only, Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 3:45 PM. You must bring the completed Death Certificate Application, which took effect January 1, 2021, along with acceptable identification documents as required by the new vital records law. Online ordering is also available through VitalChek. For deaths before March 2014, you will need to contact the Washington State Department of Health at 360-236-4300.

The Island County Public Health birth and death records page has the full details on how to apply in person or by mail, including the application form and accepted identification requirements. The page shown here is the Island County Public Health vital records portal.

This is the main local source for certified Island County death certificates for recent deaths and is the first stop for anyone who needs a copy quickly.

Online Ordering Through VitalChek

VitalChek is the state-authorized online ordering service for Island County Public Health. The VitalChek Island County ordering page offers four types of records: long form certified death certificates, short form certified death certificates, noncertified informational copies, and fetal death certificates. The page shown here is the VitalChek ordering portal for Island County vital records.

VitalChek is the fastest option for ordering Island County death certificates without appearing in person, with orders typically shipped within 3 to 7 business days.

A certified long form death copy includes cause of death information and can be used to claim death benefits, settle insurance proceeds, notify Social Security, and for other legal purposes. The short form certified copy is also legally valid but does not contain cause of death information. Noncertified informational copies cannot be used for legal purposes but are suitable for genealogy research and family history work. Online orders start at $40.50 per certificate, compared to $30 for in-person requests at the Coupeville office.

Under RCW 70.58A, effective January 1, 2021, certified copies are restricted to qualified applicants who can demonstrate a direct and tangible interest in the record. Informational copies are available more broadly. If you are ordering for genealogy purposes and cannot prove a qualifying relationship, an informational copy will meet your needs for most research.

Washington State Digital Archives Death Index

The Washington State Digital Archives Death Certificate Index covers Island County deaths from 1907 through 1960 and from 1965 through 2017. This free statewide index has more than 2.3 million records and is open to anyone. Most entries include name, date of death, gender, county of death, age, and certificate number. Some entries also include the residence location of the deceased.

The 1907 to 1960 portion was indexed by FamilySearch volunteers and tends to have more biographical detail than the later entries. The 1965 to 2017 section was provided directly by the Department of Health. If you find a record and need a certified copy, contact the Center for Health Statistics at (360) 236-4313 or (360) 236-4312. That office covers certified copies from July 1, 1907, through three months before the present date.

A separate collection at the Digital Archives, the Island County Auditor Death Records, 1891-1907, holds index entries and images for the 178 death returns filed with the Island County Auditor between 1891 and 1907, along with the county Register of Deaths. For questions about this collection, contact the Washington State Archives Northwest Regional Branch at (360) 650-3125 or nwbrancharchives@sos.wa.gov. The records are open for research with no restrictions.

Note: The 1961 through 1964 death index is on microfilm at the State Archives in Olympia and is not available online.

Island County Historical Death Records

Death registration in Island County began at the county auditor level in 1891, when state law required coroners, physicians, and midwives to report deaths to the county. Many early deaths went unrecorded. The state took over death registration on July 1, 1907. The pre-1907 county records held by the Island County Auditor have been digitized and are searchable through the Washington State Digital Archives.

The Washington State Library holds the Island County Death Returns on microform (GEN MICRO 979.775 DEATH 1891-1907), covering the Island County Auditor register of deaths from September 22, 1891 through January 9, 1907. This physical collection can be viewed at the State Library in Olympia. The Washington State Library vital records LibGuide explains how to submit a lookup request through Ask-A-Librarian if you cannot visit in person. Include a date range because the index runs across many reels of microfilm.

FamilySearch holds Washington County Death Registers from 1881 through 1979 as indexed images and Washington Death Certificates from 1907 through 1960 as a searchable index. Both include Island County entries. The Island County Auditor's office is also responsible for licensing, elections, and voter registration, and is located in Coupeville.

Ordering Island County Death Certificates

The three methods for ordering a certified Island County death certificate are: in person at Island County Public Health in Coupeville, by mail through the Washington State Department of Health, or online through VitalChek. The DOH vital records ordering page explains each method and lists the documents you will need.

For in-person orders, go to 1 NE 6th Street, Coupeville, WA 98239, between 8:00 AM and 3:45 PM on a weekday. Bring a completed Death Certificate Application and valid identification. For mail orders, send to Washington Department of Health, Center for Health Statistics, P.O. Box 9709, Olympia, WA 98507-9709. Mail orders cost $25 and take 8 to 10 weeks. Online orders through VitalChek start at $40.50 and ship within 3 to 7 business days. Island County's local fee is $30 for in-person requests, which is the local rate set by the health department.

For questions, the Consumer Resource Center is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM at 206-464-6684 or 800-551-4636. The DOH death records page also lists specific eligibility requirements and what qualifies as acceptable proof of relationship. Fetal death certificates for events that occurred in Island County are available through VitalChek as certified copies.

Genealogy Resources for Island County Deaths

Island County family history researchers have access to a solid set of tools spanning from pre-statehood death records through modern online indexes. The Washington State Digital Archives holds the earliest island death records starting in 1891, and the FamilySearch collections extend back to 1881 through statewide county register compilations.

The Washington State Library death index on microfiche and microfilm covers July 1, 1907 through 2004 for the state, including Island County deaths. The State Library LibGuide explains how to access the collection and submit a lookup request remotely. Local newspapers published on Whidbey Island and Camano Island have carried death notices for decades, and some of those notices have been extracted and indexed by genealogy volunteers.

The FamilySearch catalog also holds images of the Washington County Records, 1803-2010, which includes Island County records such as death registers and returns from the county auditor period. These are available as images rather than an indexed search and require browsing, but they can turn up records not found in other collections. All FamilySearch resources are free with a free account.

Cities in Island County

Island County communities include Oak Harbor, Coupeville, Langley, and Freeland. No cities in Island County currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site.

Nearby Counties

Island County is surrounded by Puget Sound but is connected to the broader Washington county system through ferry routes and nearby mainland counties.