Access Burien Birth Records
Burien birth records are on file with King County Vital Statistics, the county-level office that handles certified birth certificates for all cities in King County. Burien is located just south of Seattle in King County, and residents there use the same vital records office as Auburn, Kent, Renton, and Seattle. You can order a certified birth certificate in person at the office in Seattle, by phone, by mail, or online through VitalChek. The Washington State Department of Health is also a source for statewide records from 1907 forward. This page covers how to request a Burien birth record, what the process looks like, and what to do if you need older historical records.
Burien Birth Records Overview
Where to Get Burien Birth Records
King County Vital Statistics handles all birth certificate requests for Burien. The office is at 201 S. Jackson St Suite 220 in Seattle. They offer in-person service Monday through Friday. Most in-person requests are handled the same day. You walk in, show your ID, fill out the form, pay the fee, and you can leave with a certified copy before you go. The fee is $25 per copy with an added $15 identity verification charge.
The office also has a self-service kiosk at the same location. Kiosk orders cost $28.50 per certificate. Phone orders are accepted at 1-888-273-4623. For online ordering, use VitalChek. Online orders take 4 to 5 business days to process, plus shipping. If you need a record quickly and can get to Seattle, in-person service is the fastest route.
| Office | King County Vital Statistics |
|---|---|
| Address | 201 S. Jackson St Suite 220 Seattle, WA 98104 |
| Phone | 1-888-273-4623 |
| Fee | $25 per copy + $15 identity verification; kiosk $28.50 |
| Website | kingcounty.gov - Order Birth Certificate |
The Burien City government at burienwa.gov handles municipal services but does not issue birth certificates. The city clerk's office at 400 SW 152nd St Suite 300, Burien WA 98166, phone (206) 241-4647, manages city records only. If you contact them about a birth certificate, they will direct you to King County Vital Statistics.
The screenshot below is from the Burien city government website. Many residents search for records there first before learning that birth certificates are handled at the county level.
Visit burienwa.gov for city services information. For birth records specifically, contact King County Vital Statistics.
The Burien city website covers many resident services but directs birth certificate requests to King County Vital Statistics at the Jackson Street office in Seattle.
Burien Birth Records Access and Who Qualifies
Washington closed birth records to the general public on January 1, 2021. This change was made under RCW 70.58A. Under that law, only eligible requestors can obtain a certified copy. The person named on the birth record may get their own copy if they are 18 or older. Parents and legal guardians can get copies for minors. Adult siblings, adult children, and grandparents with a documented legal need may also qualify. Attorneys, courts, and certain government agencies may receive copies in specific legal circumstances.
When you go to King County Vital Statistics in person, bring a government-issued photo ID. A Washington driver's license or ID card, a U.S. passport, a military ID, or a tribal ID are all accepted. You fill out a request form. The office checks your eligibility and processes the request. If you are requesting for someone else, bring documents showing your relationship to the person on the record. A copy of your own birth certificate or legal guardianship papers are common examples.
Mail requests follow the same eligibility rules. You send a completed request form, a clear photocopy of your photo ID, and a check or money order for the fee. Mail requests take more time than in-person visits. Budget a few weeks if you are not in a rush.
Note: Informational copies of Burien birth records are available without proving eligibility. However, an informational copy is not accepted for passports, name changes, or most legal purposes. Make sure you request a certified copy if you need the record for official use.
Historical Burien and King County Birth Records
Burien was incorporated as a city in 1993, but families in the area go back much further. For historical birth research, King County Archives holds birth records from the early county registration period. The archives have birth registers from 1890 to 1894 and from 1891 through 1907. You can access their collection through kingcounty.gov/archives. These records predate the state vital records system and are separate from the DOH collection.
The Washington State Digital Archives at digitalarchives.wa.gov also holds digitized King County birth records from the 1891 to 1907 period. These are searchable online for free. If you are looking for a birth in the south King County area before the state system started, these two collections are your best options. Searches are by name and county. You can browse by year as well.
For births from 1907 to the present, both King County Vital Statistics and the Washington State Department of Health at doh.wa.gov can issue certified copies. The state DOH processes mail and online requests. Processing times at the state level are longer than at the county office, but the state is useful if you are dealing with a record that for some reason is hard to locate at the county level.
Online Ordering for Burien Birth Records
VitalChek is the official online ordering platform used by King County Vital Statistics for birth certificate requests. You go to vitalchek.com, select Washington State, choose the county, and follow the steps. The process includes an identity verification step before you can complete the order. Once the order is accepted, King County processes and mails the certificate. Allow 4 to 5 business days for processing plus the standard shipping time.
VitalChek charges a service fee on top of the county's standard fee. This fee covers the cost of using the platform. If you want to avoid the VitalChek service fee, in-person or mail-in requests to King County Vital Statistics do not include that extra charge. The county's own website at kingcounty.gov explains both options and lists current fees.
If you are a Burien resident who was born in another state, you need to contact that state's vital records office. King County only holds records for births that occurred within King County, Washington. The Washington State DOH likewise only holds Washington births. For out-of-state births, check the CDC's listing of state vital records offices or contact the state where the birth occurred.
King County Birth Records
Burien is in King County. Birth certificates for Burien residents are on file with King County Vital Statistics. For a full overview of the county records system and all available resources, visit the King County birth records page.
Nearby Cities
These cities are near Burien and all use King County Vital Statistics for birth records.