What certificates are available?

• Certified birth certificates for Washington state births registered from July 1, 1907 to present can be obtained from our office

• Certified death certificates for deaths occurring in Whatcom County from 1989 to present can be obtained from our office

• For vital records outside of Washington State, contact www.vitalchek.com

Application for Certified Copy of Birth or Death Certificate(s)

Certificado de Nacimiento y Defunción Solicitud

свидетельства о рождении и смерти

Processing Times

On Tuesday afternoons from 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM and Thursday mornings from 8:30 AM – 11:30 AM only, you may apply for a birth or death certificate and receive it while you wait, unless the request is for a newborn certificate (please allow three weeks from the date of birth for issuance).

Applications received in person by 11:30 AM will be available at 3:00 PM on the same business day. Applications received after 11:30 AM will be available at 10:00 AM on the following business day, unless the request is for a newborn certificate (please allow three weeks from the date of birth for issuance).

Cost of certificates

$20.00 each, payable in US dollars only. We accept cash, check, debit or credit card.

Note: There is an $8.00 charge for records that are searched for and not found, as allowed under state law, RCW 70.58.107

There is a minimum convenience fee of $2.00 to a maximum of 2.35% on debit and credit card transactions.

Information required for a birth certificate

* Full name of child
* Child's birth date
* City of birth
* Mother's full name, including maiden name
* Father's full name

Information required for a death certificate

How do I order a birth or death certificate?

​By mail

1. Download the application form
2. Send completed application with a check or money order payable to "WCHD" or Whatcom County Health Department to:

Vital Records
509 Girard Street
Bellingham, WA 98225

Regular processing time is one business day plus mail time each way

Online

Click here to apply for a birth certificate online
Click here to apply for a death certificate online

Certificates are processed the following business day and available to pick up after 10:00 AM, or can be mailed to you, whichever you choose.

In person

Visit the Whatcom County Health Department where you can fill out the birth or death certificate application and pay the required fee.

* Applications subject to above processing times

Vital Records
509 Girard Street
Bellingham, WA  98225

Make corrections on a certificate

​Corrections to certificates (misspellings, name changes, etc.) are made through the Washington State Department of Health.

Other Vital Records

Records prior to July 1, 1907

Birth and death records from January, 1891 to July, 1907 can be obtained by contacting:

Washington State Archives
808 25th Street
Bellingham, WA  98225-9123
(360) 650-3125

Whatcom County Deaths from 1908 to 1988, Non-Whatcom County Deaths, Marriage and Divorce records

Washington State Vital Records Office
(360) 236-4300