Birth Certificates 

• The office only issues certificates for births that occurred in Washington from 1907 to present. 
• For births outside the State of Washington, please contact the state in which the event occurred. 
• Only qualified applicants are eligible to receive a copy of a certificate.

New Birth Certificates 

• Certificates for new births typically take up to 3 weeks to become available. While Whatcom County Health Department strives to provide this service as quickly as possible, the information must first be received from the birthing hospital (or center) and uploaded into the State of Washington records system.
• The Vital Records Department processes orders within 2 business days once the information is available.

Death Certificates 

• This office only issues certificates for deaths from 1989 to present.
• For records on deaths prior to 1989, you can search on Washington State Archives or contact the State of Washington Department of Health.
• The State of Washington Department of Health's Center for Health Statistics issues certificates for all deaths occurring in Washington from 1989 to the present.
• For deaths outside the State of Washington, please contact the state in which the event occurred. 
• Only qualified applicants are eligible to receive a copy of a certificate.

Fetal Death Certificates 

• You are able to apply for Fetal Death Certificates using this site.  On Step 2 of the Death Certificate Application, select Fetal Death Certificate.

Still Born Death Certificates 

• Still Born Death Certificates are only available to be obtained by the parents listed on the record.  If you are looking to apply for a Still Born Death Certificate, you will need to do so on the Washington State Department of Health's website, HERE

Attention Applicants

• If you are applying for your own Birth Certificate and you have changed your name since birth, (Legal Name Change, Adoption) please enter the reason for your name change in the 'Special Instructions' field on Step 4 of the application