Birth certificate
$25.00 by standard mail
Washington ordering methods, fees, and times
Verified 2026-08-06
Washington vital records: fees, timing, and ordering rules.
A source-linked comparison of published birth, death, and marriage certificate channels. Published floors are labeled; they are never presented as a guaranteed final total.
Last verified 2026-08-06
Published fee schedule
Death certificate
$25.00 by standard mail
Washington ordering methods, fees, and times
Verified 2026-08-06
Marriage certificate
$25.00 by standard mail
Washington ordering methods, fees, and times
Verified 2026-08-06
Channel-by-channel price
| Record / channel | First copy | Processing fee | Shipping | Published total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birth certificateDepartment of Health by mail | $25.00Washington ordering methods, fees, and times · verified 2026-08-06 | Not publishedWashington ordering methods, fees, and times · verified 2026-08-06 | Not publishedWashington ordering methods, fees, and times · verified 2026-08-06 | Not publishedWashington ordering methods, fees, and times · verified 2026-08-06 |
| Birth certificateLocal health department | $25.00Washington in-person ordering · verified 2026-08-06 | Not publishedWashington in-person ordering · verified 2026-08-06 | Not publishedWashington in-person ordering · verified 2026-08-06 | Not publishedWashington in-person ordering · verified 2026-08-06 |
| Birth certificateVitalChek online or phone | $25.00Washington online and phone fee breakdown and processing time · verified 2026-08-06 | $15.50Washington online and phone fee breakdown and processing time · verified 2026-08-06 | Not publishedWashington online and phone fee breakdown and processing time · verified 2026-08-06 | $40.50Washington online and phone fee breakdown and processing time · verified 2026-08-06 |
| Death certificateDepartment of Health by mail | $25.00Washington ordering methods, fees, and times · verified 2026-08-06 | Not publishedWashington ordering methods, fees, and times · verified 2026-08-06 | Not publishedWashington ordering methods, fees, and times · verified 2026-08-06 | Not publishedWashington ordering methods, fees, and times · verified 2026-08-06 |
| Death certificateLocal health department | $25.00Washington in-person ordering · verified 2026-08-06 | Not publishedWashington in-person ordering · verified 2026-08-06 | Not publishedWashington in-person ordering · verified 2026-08-06 | Not publishedWashington in-person ordering · verified 2026-08-06 |
| Death certificateVitalChek online or phone | $25.00Washington online and phone fee breakdown and processing time · verified 2026-08-06 | $15.50Washington online and phone fee breakdown and processing time · verified 2026-08-06 | Not publishedWashington online and phone fee breakdown and processing time · verified 2026-08-06 | $40.50Washington online and phone fee breakdown and processing time · verified 2026-08-06 |
| Marriage certificateDepartment of Health by mail | $25.00Washington ordering methods, fees, and times · verified 2026-08-06 | Not publishedWashington ordering methods, fees, and times · verified 2026-08-06 | Not publishedWashington ordering methods, fees, and times · verified 2026-08-06 | Not publishedWashington ordering methods, fees, and times · verified 2026-08-06 |
| Marriage certificateLocal health department | $25.00Washington in-person ordering · verified 2026-08-06 | Not publishedWashington in-person ordering · verified 2026-08-06 | Not publishedWashington in-person ordering · verified 2026-08-06 | Not publishedWashington in-person ordering · verified 2026-08-06 |
| Marriage certificateVitalChek online or phone | $25.00Washington online and phone fee breakdown and processing time · verified 2026-08-06 | $15.50Washington online and phone fee breakdown and processing time · verified 2026-08-06 | Not publishedWashington online and phone fee breakdown and processing time · verified 2026-08-06 | $40.50Washington online and phone fee breakdown and processing time · verified 2026-08-06 |
Processing and realistic wait
| Record / channel | Standard processing | Expedited | Shipping | Total realistic wait | Paid speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birth certificateDepartment of Health by mail | 6–8 weeksWashington ordering methods, fees, and times · verified 2026-08-06 | Not publishedWashington ordering methods, fees, and times · verified 2026-08-06 | Not publishedWashington ordering methods, fees, and times · verified 2026-08-06 | Not publishedWashington ordering methods, fees, and times · verified 2026-08-06 | unknown |
| Birth certificateLocal health department | Most available orders are received the same dayWashington in-person ordering · verified 2026-08-06 | Not publishedWashington in-person ordering · verified 2026-08-06 | Not publishedWashington in-person ordering · verified 2026-08-06 | Not publishedWashington in-person ordering · verified 2026-08-06 | unknown |
| Birth certificateVitalChek online or phone | 3–7 business days after DOH receives the orderWashington online and phone fee breakdown and processing time · verified 2026-08-06 | Not publishedWashington online and phone fee breakdown and processing time · verified 2026-08-06 | Not publishedWashington online and phone fee breakdown and processing time · verified 2026-08-06 | Not publishedWashington online and phone fee breakdown and processing time · verified 2026-08-06 | faster |
| Death certificateDepartment of Health by mail | 6–8 weeksWashington ordering methods, fees, and times · verified 2026-08-06 | Not publishedWashington ordering methods, fees, and times · verified 2026-08-06 | Not publishedWashington ordering methods, fees, and times · verified 2026-08-06 | Not publishedWashington ordering methods, fees, and times · verified 2026-08-06 | unknown |
| Death certificateLocal health department | Most available orders are received the same dayWashington in-person ordering · verified 2026-08-06 | Not publishedWashington in-person ordering · verified 2026-08-06 | Not publishedWashington in-person ordering · verified 2026-08-06 | Not publishedWashington in-person ordering · verified 2026-08-06 | unknown |
| Death certificateVitalChek online or phone | 3–7 business days after DOH receives the orderWashington online and phone fee breakdown and processing time · verified 2026-08-06 | Not publishedWashington online and phone fee breakdown and processing time · verified 2026-08-06 | Not publishedWashington online and phone fee breakdown and processing time · verified 2026-08-06 | Not publishedWashington online and phone fee breakdown and processing time · verified 2026-08-06 | faster |
| Marriage certificateDepartment of Health by mail | 6–8 weeksWashington ordering methods, fees, and times · verified 2026-08-06 | Not publishedWashington ordering methods, fees, and times · verified 2026-08-06 | Not publishedWashington ordering methods, fees, and times · verified 2026-08-06 | Not publishedWashington ordering methods, fees, and times · verified 2026-08-06 | unknown |
| Marriage certificateLocal health department | Most available orders are received the same dayWashington in-person ordering · verified 2026-08-06 | Not publishedWashington in-person ordering · verified 2026-08-06 | Not publishedWashington in-person ordering · verified 2026-08-06 | Not publishedWashington in-person ordering · verified 2026-08-06 | unknown |
| Marriage certificateVitalChek online or phone | 3–7 business days after DOH receives the orderWashington online and phone fee breakdown and processing time · verified 2026-08-06 | Not publishedWashington online and phone fee breakdown and processing time · verified 2026-08-06 | Not publishedWashington online and phone fee breakdown and processing time · verified 2026-08-06 | Not publishedWashington online and phone fee breakdown and processing time · verified 2026-08-06 | faster |
These are published estimates, not observed door-to-door delivery times.
Who can order
- Birth certificate
- Certified birth and death records require a qualified relationship plus identity and eligibility documents. Adult-child eligibility: yes.
- Death certificate
- Certified birth and death records require a qualified relationship plus identity and eligibility documents. Adult-child eligibility: yes.
- Marriage certificate
- State marriage certificates are available without the birth/death qualified-applicant restriction, subject to required information. Adult-child eligibility: yes.
Mail-order requirements
- Birth certificate · Department of Health by mail
- Payment: check, money order. Return envelope: Not required. Notarization: Not verifiable from the published source. Photo ID: Required.Washington ordering methods, fees, and times · verified 2026-08-06
- Death certificate · Department of Health by mail
- Payment: check, money order. Return envelope: Not required. Notarization: Not verifiable from the published source. Photo ID: Required.Washington ordering methods, fees, and times · verified 2026-08-06
- Marriage certificate · Department of Health by mail
- Payment: check, money order. Return envelope: Not required. Notarization: Not verifiable from the published source. Photo ID: Not required.Washington ordering methods, fees, and times · verified 2026-08-06
Genealogy and older records
- Birth certificate
- No separate genealogy rule was verifiable. Records available from: July 1, 1907. Earlier records: County auditor, local health jurisdiction, or Washington State Archives depending on record and year.
- Death certificate
- No separate genealogy rule was verifiable. Records available from: July 1, 1907. Earlier records: County auditor, local health jurisdiction, or Washington State Archives depending on record and year.
- Marriage certificate
- No separate genealogy rule was verifiable. Records available from: January 1968. Earlier records: County auditor, local health jurisdiction, or Washington State Archives depending on record and year.
Official order links
Ordering a vital record
Verified 2026-08-06
Certificates and informational copies FAQ
Verified 2026-08-06