Kitsap County Death Records Lookup

Kitsap County obituary and death records are held by Kitsap Public Health District, the Washington State Digital Archives, and a set of historical genealogy collections stretching back to 1892. The county sits on the Kitsap Peninsula west of Seattle and was formed in 1857. If you need a certified death certificate for legal or estate purposes, or want to search historical death records for family history research, this guide covers each source available for Kitsap County deaths, including contact information, fees, and how to order or search online.

Kitsap Public Health District Vital Records

Kitsap Public Health District issues birth and death certificates for events occurring in Kitsap County. A new vital records law that took effect January 1, 2021, changed the ordering process. Only individuals with a specific qualifying relationship to the person named on the record can receive a certified copy. You must provide identity documents and proof of your relationship when you apply. No refunds are given if a record cannot be located or if the documentation provided does not prove eligibility.

Birth certificates for births registered in Washington State from 1907 to the present are available in person, by mail, by phone, or through VitalChek. Wait at least 15 days after a birth before applying. Death certificates are available through the same channels. For deaths before 2015, those records are available online through the Washington State Center for Health Statistics, or by calling 360-236-4300. The health district does not hold birth or death records before July 1, 1907. For those early records, contact the State Archives at archives@sos.wa.gov or (360) 586-1492.

The page below is from the Kitsap Public Health District vital records page, which is the main local resource for ordering certified death certificates for Kitsap County deaths from 2015 forward.

This page provides the application form, accepted identification requirements, and full instructions for in-person and mail-in requests at the Kitsap Public Health District.

Washington State Digital Archives Death Index

The Washington State Digital Archives Death Certificate Index covers Kitsap County deaths from 1907 through 1960 and from 1965 through 2017. The full statewide index has more than 2.3 million entries and is free to search. Most records show name, date of death, gender, county of death, age, and death certificate number. Some include residence location as well.

The 1907 to 1960 entries were indexed by FamilySearch volunteers, including many Washington State residents. Those older records tend to have more detail, often including cause of death, surviving relatives, and place of burial. The 1965 to 2017 portion was supplied directly by the Department of Health. The Digital Archives also holds the Kitsap County Auditor Death Records, 1892-1907, as a separate indexed collection with images. That early collection covers the pre-state registration period for Kitsap County deaths.

For deaths outside the index coverage, the Department of Health Death Certificates collection at the Digital Archives covers July 1, 1907 through 1996, with images for records older than 25 years. Records from two months ago up to three months before the present day are handled by the Washington State Center for Health Statistics at (360) 236-4313 or (360) 236-4312. For records from the last two months, contact the local health district where the death occurred.

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

Kitsap County Historical Death Records

Kitsap County was formed in 1857, and the County Auditor began collecting birth and death returns from 1891 forward, as required by state law. Many early deaths went unrecorded, as compliance was uneven before the state took over on July 1, 1907. The County Auditor's early death records from 1892 through 1907 have been digitized and are searchable at the Washington State Digital Archives.

FamilySearch holds several Kitsap County death collections. Washington County Death Registers, 1881-1979, includes indexed images for Kitsap County entries. Washington Death Certificates, 1907-1960, is available as a searchable index. The FamilySearch wiki page for Kitsap County Washington Genealogy provides a detailed breakdown of all available collections, including the Department of Health Death Certificates at the State Archives covering July 1, 1907 through 1997, and the Death Index from 1907 through 2020.

The Washington State Library holds microfilm copies of Kitsap County death registers in its genealogy collection. The Washington State Library vital records LibGuide explains how to submit a lookup request through the Ask-A-Librarian service. Staff can search by name but need a date range since the statewide death index runs across many reels. The Library also maintains the Washington State Death Index on microfiche and microfilm from July 1, 1907 through 2004.

Kitsap County Newspaper Obituary Collections

Local newspapers in Kitsap County have carried death notices and obituaries for well over a century. Several online collections index these notices and make them searchable. The Newspaper Obituaries site at newspaperobituaries.net for Kitsap County aggregates death notices from Kitsap area publications and is a useful starting point for finding recent and historical obituaries without ordering a formal certificate.

Newspaper obituary collections can provide family details, funeral home information, and surviving relatives that do not appear in official death certificate indexes.

The Kitsap Sun, the Bremerton Patriot, and other local papers have published Kitsap County obituaries for generations. Some of the earlier issues have been digitized and indexed. FamilySearch volunteers have also extracted and transcribed many death notices from Kitsap area newspapers into genealogy databases. The Washington State Library holds physical microfilm copies of several Kitsap County newspaper runs that can be viewed in person at the Olympia facility.

Ordering Kitsap County Death Certificates

You can order a certified death certificate for a Kitsap County death three ways: in person at Kitsap Public Health District, by mail through the Washington State Department of Health, or online through VitalChek. The Washington State DOH vital records ordering page explains each method and lists what you need to include with your application.

Mail orders go to Washington Department of Health, Center for Health Statistics, P.O. Box 9709, Olympia, WA 98507-9709. The fee is $25 by mail, and orders take 8 to 10 weeks after payment is processed. Online orders through VitalChek start at $40.50 per certificate. An optional $3.00 identity authentication fee can bring the total to $43.50. VitalChek is the only state-contracted third-party vendor and processes orders in 3 to 7 business days. Any other service offering to handle your order will add fees on top of the state rate.

For questions, call the Consumer Resource Center at 206-464-6684 or 800-551-4636, Monday through Friday from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Under RCW 70.58A, certified copies are limited to people with a direct and tangible interest in the record. Key sections include RCW 70.58A.200 on death reporting requirements, and RCW 70.58A.520 and 70.58A.530 on disclosure and issuance rules. Informational copies are available more broadly and serve genealogy and research purposes. The DOH death records page covers the full list of qualifying relationships and what counts as acceptable proof.

Genealogy Resources for Kitsap County Deaths

Kitsap County family history research has strong support from both state and local collections. The Washington State Digital Archives holds Kitsap County Auditor Death Records from 1892 through 1907 as indexed images, along with the broader Department of Health collections covering 1907 forward. Those resources are all free to search online.

FamilySearch provides several indexed collections covering Kitsap County deaths, including Washington County Death Registers from 1881 through 1979 and Washington Death Certificates from 1907 through 1960. All FamilySearch resources are free with a free account. The FamilySearch Kitsap County genealogy wiki also lists additional resources not yet available online, including physical records held at the State Archives and regional branch offices.

The Washington State Library in Olympia holds microfilm of Kitsap County death registers and a statewide death index on microfiche covering July 1, 1907 through 2004. If you cannot find a record in any online source, the Library's Ask-A-Librarian service can search specific records for you. The State Library LibGuide explains the full process. Local genealogical societies in Kitsap County can also help researchers navigate collections and find records not indexed elsewhere.

Cities in Kitsap County

Kitsap County communities include Bremerton, Port Orchard, Bainbridge Island, Poulsbo, and Kingston. No cities in Kitsap County currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site.

Nearby Counties

Kitsap County sits on the Kitsap Peninsula and is bordered by water on most sides, with neighboring counties accessible by ferry and highway.