Easily obtain your vital records from Whitman County Public Health.
Birth & Death Records
What Records You Can Order
Birth Certificates
Certified copies of birth certificates for anyone born in the State of Washington since 1907. In some cases, records are able to go as far back as 1875.
In some instances, older records may have been filed as delayed birth records and will need to be ordered through DOH.
Death Certificates
Whitman County Health Department has all death certificates on file since 2013. Death certificates that were issued before can be ordered from the Washington State Department of Health.
Who Can Order
Only qualified applicants can receive a certified copy.
Qualified applicants are:
- Subject of the record (a person who is buying their own birth certificate)
- Spouse or domestic partner
- Parent, step-parent, or legal guardian
- Child or stepchild
- Sibling
- Grandparent or great grandparent
- Grandchild
- Great-Grandchild
- Legal representative
- Authorized representative
- Government agency or the courts if the birth certificate is used to conduct official duties
When To Order
Birth Records
Wait at least 15 days after birth to apply and pay for a certificate.
Adding parentage? Learn more about the Acknowledgment of Parentage.
Death Records
For recent records, we recommend waiting until the funeral home says the records are ready.
Older records (those occurring after 2013) can be ordered at any time from WCPH. Records occurring before 2013 can be ordered at any time from the Washington State Department of Health.
How To Order
Order Online
Visit VitalChek and follow the instructions on the site to order your birth or death certificate online.
An additional fee is charged by VitalChek for using this service, and all major credit and debit cards are accepted. Please allow 2-3 business days for processing.
*Other internet vendors are not authorized by Whitman County Public Health and may charge additional fees without providing state-approved services. Neither Whitman County Public Health nor VitalChek have control over the services and fees other Internet vendors offer and charge, nor can we guarantee the confidentiality of any vital record data provided to vendors other than VitalChek.
Order By Mail
Prior to mailing application materials, you must complete a Death Certificate Order Form or Birth Certificate Order Form online. You will receive an email confirming your submission. Once you have submitted an online application, mail the following to 310 N Main St, Ste 108, Colfax, WA 99111:
- Payment of $25 per certificate
- Photocopy of valid ID
- If applicable, photocopies of proper documents proving qualifying relationship. If originals are sent, they will be mailed back to you with your certificate.
If payment and supporting documents are both not received within 30 days of online application being submitted, you will have to reapply.
Order In-Person
Visit one of our office locations and be prepared to do the following:
- Complete online Death Certificate Order Form or Birth Certificate Order Form in-office
- Present a valid ID
- If applicable, present proper documents proving qualifying relationship
- Provide payment of $25 per certificate
We do not guarantee same-day service. If we cannot fulfill the order that day, we will mail out the completed certificate at no cost to you.
If paying with a credit or debit card an additional fee of $2.50 will be applied
Are You a Parent or Guardian to School-Aged Children?
A qualified parent or guardian may obtain a fee-waived birth certificate(s) for their child if:
- child is eligible for or receives basic food benefits under the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or the state food assistance program. The parent or guardian must provide a Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) determination letter or proof from their DSHS Client Benefit Account showing the child’s full name.
- parent or guardian must be enrolling the child in an early learning program or a K-12 public school. They must provide an enrollment letter or statement for the current school year from the program or school on official letterhead.
To waive the fee, the birth certificate cannot be ordered through Vitalchek, only by mail or in-person.
Heirloom Birth Certificate
The Department of Health can help you order a Heirloom Birth Certificate.
Purchasing an Heirloom birth certificate helps to protect Washington's most valuable resource – children. More than half of the certificate's cost benefits the Children's Trust Fund of Washington.
The 8 1/2" x 11" certificate is a legal, official document signed by the Governor and the State Registrar. It includes the same information as a birth certificate.
Apostille
The Department of Health can help you order an apostille.
An apostille is a document issued by Washington Secretary of State that verifies to a foreign government the official document – birth, death, marriage, divorce certificate, or single status letter – came from Washington state.
An apostille is a single page tri-lingual (English/French/Spanish) document with a black and white Washington state seal attached to the official document with a security corner.
Applications & Resources
Death Certificate Order Form
Birth Certificate Order Form
Washington State Vital Records
Acceptable Proofs of Identity Documentation
Learn what documents qualify as "valid ID" when ordering birth and death certificates.
Washington State Vital Records
Acceptable Proofs of Eligibility Documentation
Learn which documents will best prove your eligibility to obtain a certified copy of a birth or death certificate based on your relationship to the subject of the record (person named in the certificate).
Program Contact
If you have any questions, please call us at (509) 397-6280 or email us at CommunityHealth@whitmancounty.gov.