San Juan County Obituaries and Death Records

San Juan County obituary and death records cover deaths across the San Juan Islands from the county's formation in 1873 through the present. Because the county is made up of islands, most residents request certified death certificates by mail or through VitalChek rather than visiting an office in person. This guide explains where records are held, how to search the free Washington State death index, and what steps are required to get a certified copy of a San Juan County death certificate.

San Juan County Health and Community Services

San Juan County Health and Community Services is the local department that handles public health questions, including guidance on requesting death certificates. The department works with the Washington State Department of Health to make sure island residents have access to vital records services. Because traveling to a mainland office is not always practical for San Juan County residents, mail and online ordering are the two most common methods for getting a death certificate.

The San Juan County Health and Community Services page covers the range of services offered by the department. From that page, residents can get contact information and guidance on death certificate requests, immunization records, environmental health, and related public health matters.

For certified death certificates, the primary ordering channel is the Washington State Department of Health. That office holds all Washington death records from July 1, 1907, to the present. All orders require valid photo ID and proof of a qualifying relationship to the deceased. Washington became a closed-record state on January 1, 2021, under RCW 70.58A.

The screenshot below shows the San Juan County Health and Community Services page, which guides residents to the right resources for vital records.

This page is the local entry point for San Juan County residents who need guidance on death certificates and other health-related records.

Washington State Death Index for the San Juan Islands

The Washington State Digital Archives Death Certificate Index is the main free tool for searching San Juan County death records online. It covers deaths statewide from 1907 through 1960 and from 1965 through 2017. The index holds more than 2.3 million records. Searches are free and do not require any account or login.

The 1907 to 1960 records were transcribed from original death certificates by volunteers. These older records tend to include more detail, such as cause of death, the deceased's occupation, names of surviving family members, and the place of burial. Records from 1965 to 2017 are a data extract from the Department of Health and usually show the name, death date, and county but with less supporting information. Images of actual certificates are available for deaths up to 25 years old.

If you cannot find a San Juan County death in the online index, the gap years from 1961 through 1964 are available only on microfilm at the State Archives in Olympia. For any record that appears to be in error or is missing, you can contact the Department of Health Center for Health Statistics at (360) 236-4313 or (360) 236-4312.

Note: The state CDC resource confirms the main vital records phone is (360) 236-4300 and that the office holds records from July 1, 1907, to the present for all Washington counties including San Juan.

Historical San Juan County Death Records

San Juan County was formed in 1873. Before state death registration began July 1, 1907, the County Auditor was responsible for collecting death records. Those early records have been transferred to the Washington State Digital Archives and the Washington State Library. Researchers tracing families that lived on the islands before 1907 should check both the county auditor registers and any surviving church or cemetery records from the islands.

The Washington State Library holds microfilm copies of the San Juan County death registers from the pre-1907 period. Researchers can visit the library in Olympia or submit a specific lookup request through the Ask-A-Librarian service. The Washington State Library Vital Records LibGuide explains what the microfilm collection holds and how to submit a remote request by name and date range.

FamilySearch holds Washington County Death Registers from 1881 through 1979 and Washington Death Certificates from 1907 through 1960 as indexed collections. Both are free with a FamilySearch account and cover all Washington counties including San Juan. These are good starting points for anyone researching island families from the early 20th century.

San Juan County Records and Ordering Options

Because San Juan County is an island county, residents most often use mail or online ordering to get death certificates. The county health department can answer questions about the process. For online ordering, VitalChek is the state-contracted vendor.

The VitalChek ordering page for San Juan County records allows residents to order certified death certificates online with processing times of 3 to 7 business days.

Mail orders for San Juan County deaths go to the Washington Department of Health, Center for Health Statistics, P.O. Box 9709, Olympia, WA 98507-9709. Include a check or money order payable to the Department of Health. The fee is $25 per certificate, and no cash is accepted. Processing takes 8 to 10 weeks after payment is received.

For questions about an existing order, reach the Consumer Resource Center at 206-464-6684 or 800-551-4636 (Washington residents only). Hours are Monday through Friday, 10 AM to 3 PM. Have the full name of the deceased, the approximate date of death, and the city or county of death ready when you call. San Juan County deaths may list Friday Harbor, Orcas Island, Lopez Island, or other island communities as the place of death.

Ordering San Juan County Death Certificates

There are three ways to order a certified death certificate for a San Juan County death. In person at a local health office on the mainland is one option, though for island residents this often means a ferry trip. By mail is the most common method for San Juan County. Online through VitalChek is the fastest option and avoids travel entirely.

Long form certificates include the cause of death and the decedent's social security number. Short form certificates show basic identifying information without the cause of death. Noncertified informational copies are available more broadly and work well for genealogy research but cannot be used for legal or financial purposes. All three types are available through the Washington State Department of Health.

Under RCW 70.58A.520 and RCW 70.58A.530, certified copies are restricted to qualified applicants. That means immediate family members, legal representatives, and others who can show a direct legal need. Identity verification is required for every request. Noncertified copies face fewer restrictions and are the right choice for genealogy use.

The Washington State DOH death records page covers all ordering methods and provides links to the forms you will need. VitalChek online orders start at $40.50 and process within 3 to 7 business days. Mail orders start at $25 and take 8 to 10 weeks. Fees are nonrefundable once submitted.

Genealogy Resources for San Juan County Deaths

Researchers tracing San Juan Islands family history can start with the free Washington State Digital Archives death index, which covers 1907 through 1960 and 1965 through 2017. The index is searchable by name and year at no cost. Images of death certificates up to 25 years ago are available in the same system.

The Washington State Library Vital Records LibGuide at washstatelib.libguides.com explains how to use the statewide death index on microfilm covering July 1, 1907, through 2004. Staff can run a name lookup and return results through the Ask-A-Librarian service. This is a useful supplement when the online index does not have a result you expect to find.

For deaths before state registration in 1907, the San Juan County Auditor records are the primary source. Those registers have been transferred to the Washington State Digital Archives and the Washington State Library. FamilySearch also has the Washington County Death Registers collection going back to 1881, which includes San Juan County records from the pre-state-registration era.

Cemetery records from the San Juan Islands can be another source of death information, particularly for the 19th century. Several island cemeteries have been documented by local volunteers and genealogy organizations. The Washington State Library newspaper microfilm collection includes historical island newspapers that published death notices and obituaries for residents.

Note: San Juan County communities including Friday Harbor, Eastsound on Orcas Island, and Lopez Village do not have dedicated city pages on this site. All death records for island communities are handled through the county-level and state systems described above.

Communities in San Juan County

San Juan County encompasses several islands including San Juan Island, Orcas Island, Lopez Island, and Shaw Island, along with smaller surrounding islands. The county seat is Friday Harbor on San Juan Island. No communities in San Juan County currently meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site.

Nearby Counties

San Juan County is an island county in the northern Puget Sound. The nearest mainland counties have their own vital records systems and courthouse resources.