Thurston County Birth Records

Thurston County birth records are issued through Thurston County Public Health in Olympia, the state capital of Washington. The local health office can process requests for certified Washington birth certificates from 1907 to the present, with in-person, mail, and online ordering options available. This guide covers fees, eligibility, ordering methods, available fee waivers, and historical records dating back to 1891.

Thurston County Public Health - Vital Records

Thurston County Public Health issues certified Washington State birth certificates for births from July 1, 1907 to the present. The office is at 412 Lilly Road NE in Olympia, WA 98506-5132. Walk-in service is available Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. No appointment is needed for most requests. The office also accepts requests by mail and through online ordering systems.

Payment for in-person requests can be made by cash, check, or credit or debit card. Card payments carry a small processing fee: $2.00 or 2.30% for credit cards, and $2.00 or 1.00% for debit cards, whichever is greater. Mail requests must include a check or money order made payable to "TCHD." Cash should not be sent by mail.

Stillbirth records are also available from this office for Thurston County stillbirths from January 1, 1957 forward. Spanish-language order forms are available at the office and may be downloaded from the county website. Death certificates issued by Thurston County Public Health cover Thurston County deaths from January 1, 2008 forward. Earlier Thurston County death records are available from the state DOH.

The Thurston County vital records page has downloadable forms, a list of accepted ID types, and updated fee information.

Thurston County Public Health provides the primary local source for certified birth certificates in Olympia and the surrounding county.

Eligibility and Fee Waivers

Thurston County follows Washington's closed-record rules under RCW 70.58A.530. Certified birth certificates are only available to qualified applicants. Qualified individuals include the subject of the record (if 18 or older), their spouse or domestic partner, a parent or stepparent, a child or stepchild, a sibling, a grandparent or great-grandparent, a grandchild or great-grandchild, a legal guardian, a legal representative, an authorized representative, and government agencies or courts with a valid need. Informational copies are available to anyone but cannot be used for official purposes.

Thurston County offers a fee waiver that is not available at most other Washington counties. Parents or guardians enrolling a child in school who receive federal or state food assistance may qualify for a waiver of the certificate fee. To claim the waiver, you must bring a current DSHS determination letter showing your eligibility for food assistance. This is a meaningful option for lower-income families in Olympia and the surrounding area. The waiver covers the cost of one birth certificate for the child being enrolled in school.

If you are not sure whether you qualify for the waiver, call the office at (360) 867-2500 before visiting. Staff can confirm the current requirements and what documentation to bring. The waiver is only available in person at the local health office; it does not apply to VitalChek or state DOH orders.

Bring a valid government-issued photo ID for all requests. For certified copies requested on behalf of a qualifying family member, include documentation that proves your relationship. The $25 fee is nonrefundable even if the record is not found or your eligibility cannot be verified.

Ordering Options in Thurston County

Thurston County residents have three main ways to request a birth certificate: in person at the health office, by mail, or online. In-person visits are the fastest option and allow same-day processing for most requests. The office at 412 Lilly Road NE in Olympia is open weekdays with no appointment required.

Mail requests should be sent to the same address. Include your completed application form, a photocopy of your valid government-issued ID, proof of eligibility if requesting for someone else, and a check or money order payable to "TCHD." Do not send cash. Processing times for mail requests vary, so plan ahead if you have a deadline.

Online ordering is available through VitalChek at 1-866-687-1464. VitalChek processes most orders in 3 to 7 business days. Fees for online and phone orders include the $25 base fee plus an $8.50 service fee and a $7.00 shipping fee. That brings the total for an online order to approximately $40.50 before any additional copies. Phone orders have similar fees.

Requests can also be sent directly to the Washington State Department of Health at PO Box 9709, Olympia, WA 98507. Mail orders to the state take about 8 to 10 weeks. Since Thurston County is where the state DOH physical office is located (111 Israel Road SE, Tumwater), residents in the area may find the local health office more convenient than the state office for in-person visits.

The Washington DOH ordering guide covers all methods for getting a certified birth certificate, including the local health office option available to Thurston County residents.

Historical Thurston County Birth Records

Thurston County birth records from before state registration began are held in several archives. The Thurston County Auditor has Birth and Death Registers from 1891 to 1906. These are the records created when county auditors were responsible for recording vital events before the state took over on July 1, 1907.

These historical records are accessible through the Washington State Digital Archives, which has digitized many county-level vital records and offers free online searching. Olympia being the state capital means that state archival resources are especially accessible to Thurston County researchers. The nearby Washington State Archives and Secretary of State offices in Olympia also hold records of interest to genealogists.

The Washington Secretary of State genealogy resources page lists holdings from archives across the state, including Thurston County records. The Washington State Library genealogical guide provides links to microfilm collections and databases that may include older Thurston County birth records. The Thurston County Auditor's Office at 2000 Lakeridge Drive SW, Building 3, Olympia, WA 98502 (phone 360-786-5408) handles marriage and land records but not modern birth certificates.

Thurston County's location in Olympia puts genealogical researchers close to several major state archival resources for historical birth record research.

Birth Record Laws and Access Rules

Washington birth records are governed by RCW Chapter 70.58A. The closed-record rules adopted in 2021 restrict certified copies to qualified applicants and allow noncertified informational copies for all others. Thurston County Public Health applies these rules consistently with the rest of the state.

Under RCW 70.58A.540, nondisclosure protections may apply to specific records. These protections can prevent release of a record even to otherwise qualified applicants in limited circumstances. If you believe a nondisclosure order affects the record you are seeking, contact the state DOH at 360-236-4300 or email ContactCHS@doh.wa.gov.

RCW 70.58A governs birth record access throughout Washington, including at the Thurston County Public Health office in Olympia.

RCW 70.58A.530 lists the qualified applicants who may receive certified birth certificates, the rule that Thurston County Public Health follows for every request.

Cities in Thurston County

Thurston County includes three cities that meet the population threshold for dedicated birth records pages.

Nearby Counties

Counties adjacent to Thurston County in western Washington each have their own vital records offices and records pages.