Certified Copies in Washington: Where and What It Costs
Certified copies
Ordering Certified Copies in Washington
Where to order a certified vital record or corporate record issued in Washington, what it costs, what the office requires, and what happens to it afterwards.
- Birth certificate
- $25.00
- Death certificate
- $25.00
- Marriage
- $25.00
- Divorce
- $25.00
Vital records
Issued by: Washington State Department of Health, Center for Health Statistics
Post to: Center for Health Statistics, Department of Health, PO Box 9709, Olympia, WA 98507
Verify current fees: (360) 236-4300
| Record | Certified copy |
|---|---|
| Birth | $25.00 |
| Death | $25.00 |
| Marriage | $25.00 |
| Divorce | $25.00 |
What Washington requires
- Birth and death from 1 July 1907; marriage and divorce from January 1968.
- You must supply valid government ID and documentation of a qualifying relationship for a birth record.
- Death records are available only up to about two months before the present date.
Corporate records
A certificate of good standing and certified copies of formation documents for a Washington entity come from Washington Secretary of State, Corporations Division, Apostille Program, normally online and often the same day.
Washington Secretary of State, Corporations Division, Apostille Program
- Order from the state where the entity was formed, not where it trades.
- A certificate of good standing is a statement of current status. A certified copy of the articles is a different product; if a foreign authority asks for the formation documents, you need the latter.
- Ask for a certified or exemplified copy. A plain download from the state website carries no seal and cannot be authenticated.
What happens next
Once you hold the certified copy, authentication in Washington goes through Washington Secretary of State, Corporations Division, Apostille Program, at $15.00 per document standard, $50.00 expedited.
Questions people actually ask
Where do I order a Washington birth certificate?
From Washington State Department of Health, Center for Health Statistics. Post to Center for Health Statistics, Department of Health, PO Box 9709, Olympia, WA 98507. A certified copy is $25.00.
Does the Washington Secretary of State issue birth certificates?
No. Vital records come from the health department; the Secretary of State handles corporate records and, in most states, the apostille. They are separate offices with separate fees.
What will Washington reject?
Birth and death from 1 July 1907; marriage and divorce from January 1968.
Can I have it apostilled straight away?
Yes, and that is the right order. Order the certified copy first, then send it for authentication. Do not sign, stamp or laminate it in between, and do not open a sealed envelope.
This guide is published by a private document processing service. It is not legal advice and we are not a government agency. Requirements change without notice, so confirm anything critical with the mission before you post documents.
