Lincoln County Obituary Records

Lincoln County death records and obituary information are available through the local health department in Davenport, the Washington State Digital Archives, and a range of genealogy collections going back to the county's earliest registrations in 1883. Whether you need a certified copy for legal purposes, want to trace a family line through eastern Washington's wheat country, or are looking for an old death notice from a small Lincoln County community, this guide covers every source and how to access each one.

Lincoln County Public Health Vital Records

Lincoln County Public Health (LCPH) in Davenport provides certified copies of death certificates for deaths that occurred in Washington State after March 2016. The office can issue these certificates locally, which saves residents from having to mail requests to Olympia. For deaths prior to March 2016, you will need to order directly from the Washington State Department of Health or through VitalChek. Walk-in customers can often receive records the same day if they are available in the local system.

The Lincoln County Public Health vital records page explains the application process, eligibility requirements under RCW 70.58A, and the types of identification and proof of relationship the office accepts. Out-of-state birth and death certificates are only available through VitalChek and cannot be ordered through the local Lincoln County office.

The page shown here is the Lincoln County Public Health vital records office, which handles local death certificate requests for events in Lincoln County.

This local health office is the fastest option for residents who need a recent Lincoln County death certificate without waiting for mail processing.

Washington State Digital Archives for Lincoln County

The Washington State Digital Archives Death Certificate Index covers Lincoln County deaths from 1907 through 1960 and 1965 through 2017 as part of a statewide collection of over 2.3 million records. The index is free to search and open to anyone. It was partly transcribed by a Lincoln County volunteer, Susan Allan from Lind, Washington, for the 1907 through 1929 portion, which helps explain the high quality of the early entries.

Most entries in the 1907 to 1960 portion include name, date of death, age at death, county of death, and death certificate number. Some entries also include cause of death and residence. The 1965 to 2017 entries come directly from the Department of Health's own data and have somewhat less detail but are still useful for confirming death dates and locating certificate numbers. Images of actual death certificates are available for deaths up to 25 years ago within the same site. If you find a record that appears to have an error, you can contact the Washington Department of Health Center for Health Statistics at (360) 236-4313 or (360) 236-4312 to request a correction.

The Lincoln County auditor death records search portal shown here provides access to Lincoln County records held at the Washington State Archives.

The Lincoln County Auditor's Office at 450 Logan Street in Davenport holds pre-1907 death registers and historical records that support obituary and genealogy research.

Historical Lincoln County Death Records

Lincoln County was established in 1883, and the County Auditor began recording births and deaths from that time. The auditor's records cover death registrations from 1883 through 1907, before Washington State took over. Those early records are now available through multiple sources. The Lincoln County records guide at raogk.org notes that the County Auditor has birth and death records from 1883 to 1907 and marriage records from 1884. The County Clerk holds court records from 1884 and probate records from 1886, which include guardianships, Last Will and Testaments, and estate settlements that often mention death dates and heirs.

The Lincoln County Auditor's Office is located at 450 Logan Street in Davenport. As county recorder, the auditor maintains the permanent historical record for Lincoln County, including deeds, marriage licenses, and the pre-1907 death registers. The office does not primarily issue certified death certificates for modern records, but it holds the historical registers and can help researchers access pre-state-registration records. Staff will assist people in locating materials, though the research itself is done by the visitor.

The Washington State Library research guide, available at the state library's website, explains the full custody chain of Lincoln County death records. The library's Ask-A-Librarian service can perform name lookups in microfilm indexes. The Eastern Regional Branch of the Washington State Archives in Cheney is the appropriate repository for original Lincoln County pre-1907 records. That branch can be reached at (509) 235-7508 or eabrancharchives@sos.wa.gov.

The Lincoln County records resource shown here documents the county courthouse, auditor, and clerk offices that hold historical death and probate records dating back to 1883.

This resource from raogk.org outlines the offices and record dates for Lincoln County historical documents, including death registers going back to the county's founding year.

Ordering Lincoln County Death Certificates

You can order a certified Lincoln County death certificate three ways: in person at Lincoln County Public Health for recent deaths, by mail through the Washington State Department of Health, or online through VitalChek. The Washington State Department of Health death record page explains all three options, the required documentation, and what each type of certificate is used for.

The state offers three types of records. The long form death certificate is printed on certified security paper and includes cause and manner of death and the decedent's social security number. It is used for closing bank accounts, claiming life insurance, and other legal purposes. The short form death certificate is also on certified security paper but does not contain cause of death or social security number; it works for transferring vehicle titles, real estate transactions, and probate. Noncertified informational copies contain the same information as the short form but carry a watermark and cannot be used for legal purposes. Anyone can request an informational copy without proving a qualifying relationship, which makes it a useful tool for genealogy research.

Mail orders cost $25 per copy and take 8 to 10 weeks after full payment and documentation are received. VitalChek orders start at $40.50 and process in 3 to 7 business days. Under RCW 70.58A, certified copies are restricted to qualified applicants including immediate family members, legal representatives, and those with a documented legal need. The CDC's Where to Write for Vital Records page confirms the state vital records office number as (360) 236-4300.

Genealogy Resources for Lincoln County Deaths

Researchers tracing family history in Lincoln County have a number of useful tools available. FamilySearch holds Washington County Death Registers from 1881 through 1979 and Washington Death Certificates from 1907 through 1960, both of which include Lincoln County. These are free to search with a FamilySearch account. The Register of Deaths in Lincoln County covering 1891 to 1907 and 1929 is available as images in the FamilySearch catalog. The Washington State Digital Archives also holds the Lincoln County Auditor Marriage Records, which include marriage returns from 1891 through 1916 and certificates from 1883 through 2004, and can provide genealogical context by confirming spousal relationships and dates.

The Washington State Library vital records LibGuide lists the microfilm holdings for Lincoln County and explains how to submit specific lookup requests through the Ask-A-Librarian service. The State Library holds the Washington State Death Index for July 1, 1907 through 2004 on microfilm. Lookup requests should include a date range since the index spans many reels.

Local newspapers from Davenport and other Lincoln County communities published obituaries and death notices going back to the county's earliest years. Many of those have been extracted and contributed to online genealogy collections. The Eastern Regional Branch of the Washington State Archives in Cheney handles Lincoln County original records and can be reached at (509) 235-7508 or emailed at eabrancharchives@sos.wa.gov for research assistance.

Cities in Lincoln County

Lincoln County communities include Davenport, Wilbur, Harrington, and Sprague. No cities in Lincoln County currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site.

Nearby Counties

Lincoln County borders several eastern Washington counties. Each county has its own vital records office and court system.