Birth & Death Certificates

We can provide birth certificates registered in Washington state from July 1, 1907, to present and certified death certificates registered in San Juan County from February 1, 2012, to present. All other certificates outside of these ranges can be obtained by contacting the Washington State Department of Health on their website or over the phone Monday through Friday between 8 am and 5 pm at 360-236-4300. Records registered outside of Washington state can be obtained online through Vital Chek. 

How to Order Certificates 

There are three ways you can order a birth or death certificate. Choose the option that works best for you! 

Option 1: Walk In 

You can walk into our San Juan Island office Monday through Friday between 8:30 am and 3:30 pm to order a certificate in person. To save time, you can pre-fill an order form at home and bring it with you to our office.  

We only accept cash or check at this time. Each copy of a certificate costs $25. We aim to have your certificates ready within two days and communicate with you at the time of your order if we are experiencing a delay.  

Option 2: Mail 

You can mail a completed order form to us at P.O. Box 607, Friday Harbor, WA 98250. The address is also on the form. Each copy of a certificate is $25. We only accept cash or check at this time. The certificate(s) are generally mailed within two days after payment is processed through USPS.  

Option 3: Online 

You can order certificates online through Vital Chek, which accepts credit card payments. Fees are variable.  

How to Correct Certificates 

All corrections to birth or death certificates are made through the Washington State Department of Health. Corrections include things like misspellings, name changes, etc. If you need additional assistance, give us a call at 360-378-4474 or drop by our office. 

Adding or changing parents on a birth certificate 

The Acknowledgment of Parentage is an administrative process used to: 

  • Establish a parent-child relationship
  • Add a second parent to the birth certificate

More Information

For any questions not listed above, please contact Washington State Department of Health Vital Records at 360-236-4300 or ContactCHS@doh.wa.gov. 

Last updated February 24, 2025.