Skagit County Obituary Records

Skagit County obituary and death records are available through the Skagit County Public Health department, the Washington State Department of Health, and the Washington State Digital Archives. The county has death records going back to 1907 at the state level and earlier records held by the County Auditor from 1883 forward. Whether you need a certified death certificate for legal use or want to search historical death notices for a Mount Vernon family, this page walks you through every source and explains what each one holds.

Skagit County Public Health Vital Records

Skagit County Public Health provides local access to birth and death certificate questions for Skagit County residents. The county was created in 1883 from Whatcom County and the county seat is Mount Vernon. The health department works with the Washington State Department of Health to provide vital records services. For certified death certificates, you can apply through the local health department or directly through the state office.

The Skagit County Health Department page covers the range of public health services the department provides, including guidance on vital records. From there, residents can find contact information and links to certificate ordering resources. The page also notes that residents can use the Snohomish Health District if it is more convenient, though Skagit County has its own programs and records access.

Certified copies of Skagit County death certificates require valid photo ID and proof of a qualifying relationship. Washington became a closed-record state on January 1, 2021, under RCW 70.58A. Only people with a direct and tangible interest in the record can receive certified copies. Noncertified informational copies are available more broadly for genealogy and research use.

The screenshot below shows the Skagit County Health Department main page.

This page is the starting point for Skagit County residents who need death certificates or have questions about local health records and services.

Washington State Death Index for Skagit County

The Washington State Digital Archives Death Certificate Index is the best free tool for searching Skagit County death records. It covers statewide deaths from 1907 through 1960 and from 1965 through 2017, with more than 2.3 million entries total. Searches are open to anyone at no cost.

Entries from 1907 to 1960 were transcribed by volunteers from original certificates and tend to be the most informative. They often include cause of death, the deceased's occupation, names of surviving family members, and the place of burial. The 1965 to 2017 records are a data extract that shows the name, date of death, and county with less supporting detail. Images of actual death certificates are available for deaths within the past 25 years. The gap from 1961 to 1964 is on microfilm at the Olympia state archives only.

If you find a record and need a certified copy, contact the Washington Department of Health Center for Health Statistics at (360) 236-4313 or (360) 236-4312. For records after 2017 or for the most recent deaths, contact the Skagit County Health Department directly. Deaths may list Mount Vernon, Burlington, Anacortes, Sedro-Woolley, or other Skagit County towns as the place of death.

Skagit County Historical Death Records

Skagit County has records going back to 1883 when it was formed from Whatcom County. The County Auditor kept death registers before state registration began July 1, 1907. Those early records have been transferred to the Washington State Digital Archives and are searchable online. Researchers tracing families in Skagit County before 1907 should check the county auditor registers alongside any available church or cemetery records.

FamilySearch holds Washington County Death Registers from 1881 through 1979 with index and images, and Washington Death Certificates from 1907 through 1960 as a searchable index. Both cover Skagit County and are free with a FamilySearch account. The registers from the pre-state period are particularly useful for researchers working on 19th-century Skagit Valley families.

Washington State law under RCW 70.58A.200 sets the rules for death record filing and access. The law confirms that the county auditor historically collected death registrations before the state took over that function in 1907. Records from that earlier period that were not transferred to the state archives remain with the county.

The Washington State Library also has the statewide death index on microfilm covering July 1, 1907, through 2004. The Library's Vital Records LibGuide explains the microfilm holdings and how to submit a name-based lookup request through the Ask-A-Librarian service at no charge.

Secretary of State Genealogy Records for Skagit County

The Washington Secretary of State's Legacy project maintains a genealogy resources page that covers statewide death records, including Skagit County. The Washington State Secretary of State genealogy page provides links to digital archives, vital records collections, and guidance on researching Washington family history.

This page from the Washington Secretary of State offers genealogy resources and links to the state archives for Skagit County death record research.

The Washington State Archives Northwest Region Branch in Bellingham is the regional office for Skagit County physical records. It holds materials transferred from county agencies in the region. Researchers who need access to records not yet digitized can contact the Northwest Regional Archives at 808 25th Street, Bellingham, WA 98225-9123, phone 360-650-3125.

Note: The Archives Northwest Regional Branch holds many Whatcom and Skagit county records for the pre-1907 period, and staff there can help identify what is available for a specific time period or family name.

Ordering Skagit County Death Certificates

Three options are available for ordering a certified Skagit County death certificate. In person at a local health department is fastest and may be same-day. Mail requests take 8 to 10 weeks from the state office. Online through VitalChek typically processes within 3 to 7 business days.

For mail orders, send to: Washington Department of Health, Center for Health Statistics, P.O. Box 9709, Olympia, WA 98507-9709. Make checks or money orders payable to the Department of Health. The fee is $25 per certificate and is nonrefundable. Include a copy of your photo ID and any proof of qualifying relationship documents. Do not send cash.

The Washington State DOH ordering page explains all three methods and provides direct links to forms and the VitalChek portal. VitalChek online orders start at $40.50. An optional $3.00 identity authentication fee may apply. VitalChek is the only state-contracted vendor. Fees from any other company ordering on your behalf are on top of the state fee.

When you submit any request, you will need the full name of the deceased, the date or approximate date of death, and the city or county of death. Skagit County deaths may list Mount Vernon, Burlington, Anacortes, Sedro-Woolley, Concrete, Lyman, or other communities as the place of death.

Long form death certificates include the cause and manner of death and the decedent's social security number. Short form certificates include only basic identifying details. Noncertified informational copies are available for genealogy use but cannot be used in legal proceedings or to claim benefits. All certified copies require proof of a qualifying relationship under RCW 70.58A.520.

Genealogy Resources for Skagit County Deaths

The Washington State Digital Archives is the main free online research tool for Skagit County death records. It covers the statewide death index from 1907 through 2017 with a gap from 1961 to 1964, the pre-1907 county auditor registers, and images of certificates up to 25 years old. Everything is free to search online.

FamilySearch has Washington County Death Registers from 1881 to 1979 and Washington Death Certificates from 1907 to 1960, both indexed and free with an account. These collections cover Skagit County families from the earliest years of settlement through the mid-20th century. FamilySearch also holds the Washington County Marriages collection which can help identify family connections tied to a specific death.

The Washington State Library Vital Records LibGuide at washstatelib.libguides.com provides access to the statewide death index on microfilm through 2004. The Ask-A-Librarian service accepts lookup requests by name and date range and returns results from the microfilm index. This service is free and useful when online searches do not return expected results.

Local Skagit County newspapers including the Skagit Valley Herald and earlier papers have published obituaries for county residents going back well over a century. The Skagit Valley Genealogical Society and the Skagit County Historical Museum in La Conner are local resources with collections relevant to death and obituary research. The museum holds local newspaper archives and other primary sources not available through state databases.

Note: Mount Vernon is the largest city in Skagit County. It does not currently have a dedicated city page on this site. Death records for Mount Vernon residents are handled through the Skagit County Public Health department and the state vital records system described above.

Cities in Skagit County

Skagit County includes Mount Vernon, Burlington, Anacortes, Sedro-Woolley, and other communities. Mount Vernon is the county seat and largest city. No Skagit County cities currently have dedicated city pages on this site.

Nearby Counties

Skagit County borders several other northwest Washington counties. Each has its own vital records system and courthouse resources.