Klickitat County Birth Records Search
Klickitat County birth records are issued through the Klickitat County Health Department and the Washington State Department of Health for births registered from July 1, 1907 to present. If you need a certified copy of a birth certificate for someone born in Klickitat County, this page explains who can order one, how to request it, and where to find older historical records that predate state registration. The county seat is Goldendale, and the county was established in December 1859. Both the local health office and the state DOH in Tumwater can process requests, depending on the year of birth and what type of copy you need.
Klickitat County Overview
Klickitat County Birth Certificate Requests
The Klickitat County Health Department issues certified birth certificates for Washington State births registered from July 1, 1907 to present. The department uses the VitalChek online ordering system, so you can place a request without visiting Goldendale in person. In-person visits are also accepted at the health office during regular business hours. For deaths, the county only issues death certificates if the death was registered through the Electronic Death Registration System (EDRS), so some older death records must be obtained from the state.
Washington became a closed record state on January 1, 2021. That change means only qualified individuals can receive a certified copy. If you don't meet the eligibility requirements, you can still request a noncertified informational copy, which carries a note that it cannot be used for legal purposes. Both types of copies cost $25 each and are nonrefundable once the request is processed. The fee applies whether the record is found or not.
| Office | Klickitat County Health Department |
|---|---|
| Address | 205 S. Columbus Ave., Goldendale, WA 98620 |
| Phone | (509) 773-4001 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, business hours |
| Online | klickitatcounty.gov/783/Vital-Records |
| Fee | $25 per certified copy |
The county vital records page has current ordering instructions and links to the VitalChek portal. If you plan to mail your request, use the county's mailing address above. Make sure to include a copy of valid government-issued photo ID and any documentation showing your relationship to the person named on the record.
The Klickitat County Health Department vital records page shows ordering options including the VitalChek online system.
Use this page to start an online order or find the mailing address for paper requests.
Note: Klickitat County does not issue death certificates unless the death was registered through the state's Electronic Death Registration System, so contact Washington State DOH for older death records.
Who Can Get a Certified Copy
Washington's closed record law under RCW 70.58A.530 limits certified copies to people with a direct and tangible interest in the record. The qualified list covers: the person named on the certificate (if 18 or older), a spouse or domestic partner, a child, a parent, a stepparent, a stepchild, a sibling, a grandparent, a great-grandparent, a grandchild, a great-grandchild, a legal guardian, a legal representative, an authorized representative, and government agencies or courts acting in an official capacity.
If you fall outside that list, you can still get a noncertified informational copy. That version shows the same information but is stamped to indicate it has no legal standing. Many people use informational copies for family history research since the data is the same. The copy is also $25. You don't need to prove a relationship to request an informational copy, but you do need to submit valid identification with your request.
Under RCW 70.58A.540, some individuals may request nondisclosure of their birth record. If a nondisclosure is in place, the record won't be released to anyone outside the list of qualified requesters, even for informational copies.
Note: Applicants must submit a government-issued photo ID and, for certified copies, written documentation proving their relationship to the subject of the record.
Historical Klickitat County Birth Records
Washington State did not require statewide birth registration until July 1, 1907. Before that date, birth records in Klickitat County were kept locally. The County Auditor recorded births from 1891 through 1907 as part of its local registration duties. The auditor also kept marriage records going back to 1860. These older records are a key resource for genealogy work, since they may be the only documentation of births that happened before the state system started.
The Washington State Archives holds the Klickitat County Auditor birth records from 1891 to 1907 under collection reference GEN MICRO 979.753. Records from 1881 through 1907 are also available through some archive collections, which gives researchers a longer window than the standard 1891 start date. The Eastern Regional Archives branch handles requests for this area. You can reach them by phone at (509) 235-7508. Staff there can confirm what records exist and how to access them. Some records may be accessible through the Washington State Digital Archives, which allows online searching without a trip to the physical branch.
The Klickitat County government website provides contact information for county departments including the Auditor's office.
The county website can help you find the right department for older record requests or document research.
The Washington State Digital Archives is a good starting point for pre-1907 records. The site indexes many county-level collections and lets you search by name, county, date range, and record type. Not every record has been digitized, but many Klickitat County items are included. If the digital archive doesn't have what you need, the Eastern Regional Archives branch can check physical holdings.
The Washington State Digital Archives provides online access to many historical county birth registers.
Search pre-1907 birth records from Klickitat County and other Washington counties through this free state archive database.
Note: Records at the Eastern Regional Archives branch that are under 100 years old may have access restrictions; contact the branch directly at (509) 235-7508 to confirm availability before traveling.
Washington State DOH Birth Records
For births registered from July 1, 1907 forward, the Washington State Department of Health is the central authority. The state office in Tumwater handles requests by mail, phone through VitalChek, and in-person by appointment. If the Klickitat County Health Department is not able to process your request, or if you prefer to go through the state, DOH is a reliable alternative.
Ordering directly through the state DOH involves different fee structures depending on how you order. Mail requests cost $25 per copy. Phone or online orders through VitalChek cost $25 plus an $8.50 service fee and a $7.00 delivery fee. In-person orders at the Tumwater office cost $25 plus a $13.50 appointment fee and $2.50 for the copy. All fees are nonrefundable. Processing time for mail orders runs about 8 to 10 weeks. VitalChek online and phone orders typically take 3 to 7 business days. In-person appointments can often be same-day.
The state DOH mailing address is PO Box 9709, Olympia, WA 98507. The physical office is at 111 Israel Road SE, Tumwater, WA 98501. Phone: 360-236-4300. VitalChek line: 1-866-687-1464. More details on ordering are at the DOH birth record ordering page.
The Washington State DOH vital records page covers all ordering methods, fees, and eligibility rules.
The state DOH processes birth certificate requests for all Washington counties including Klickitat.
Note: All birth certificate fees paid to Washington State DOH or VitalChek are nonrefundable, even if the record is not found or the request cannot be fulfilled.
Washington Birth Record Laws
The main law governing birth records in Washington is RCW Chapter 70.58A, the Revised Uniform Vital Statistics Act. This chapter covers how birth records are created, who can access them, what corrections are allowed, and how the closed record rules work. The chapter took effect on January 1, 2021, replacing older statutes and tightening access rules statewide.
Key provisions include the requirement that certified copies only go to qualified individuals, the process for requesting informational copies, and the rules for requesting amendments or corrections to a birth record. The law also sets out how a person can request nondisclosure under RCW 70.58A.540, which removes the record from general access. Courts and government agencies retain the ability to access records in certain official contexts regardless of any nondisclosure request.
RCW Chapter 70.58A is the current Washington law controlling birth and vital records access and issuance.
Read the full statute to understand who qualifies to request certified copies and what documentation is required.
Cities in Klickitat County
Klickitat County has no cities that meet the population threshold for a dedicated birth records page. Goldendale is the county seat. Residents throughout the county can access birth records through the Klickitat County Health Department in Goldendale or through the Washington State DOH in Tumwater.
Nearby Counties
If you need birth records from a neighboring county, the following counties border Klickitat County.