Washington County Death Records

Washington County obituary records are a vital resource for families in the Portland metro area. The county seat is Hillsboro. Washington County is one of the most populated counties in Oregon. It sits west of Portland in the Tualatin Valley. Death records and vital records are managed at the county level by the Health and Human Services office. Birth records here go back to 1842. The county has seen rapid growth in recent decades, driven by the Silicon Forest tech sector. If you need an obituary or death certificate from Washington County, the process starts at the vital records office in Hillsboro.

Washington County Vital Records Office

The Washington County vital records office is at 155 N First Ave, MS 5, Suite 160, Hillsboro, OR 97124. This is the main place to request a death certificate for Washington County. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8am to 4:30pm. Walk-ins are welcome.

You can call ahead at 503-846-3538. Staff will tell you what to bring. You will need valid ID and the full name of the person on the record. The fee is $25 per copy. Cash is not accepted. Bring a check or money order made out to Vital Records. Mail orders are also an option.

Washington County has a large volume of records. Birth records indexed from 1842 to 1917 are on file. Births and deaths from 1855 to 1970 are also on Ancestry for those with a subscription. This makes Washington County one of the best counties in Oregon for deep genealogy work.

The State Archives page shows the full range of Washington County records held at the state level, including vital records and court documents.

Note: The county office handles recent records. For older Washington County death certificates, contact the Oregon Health Authority or order through VitalChek.

Finding Washington County Obituary Records

Washington County obituary notices have appeared in several local papers over the years. The Hillsboro Argus was the main source. It ran from the late 1800s until 2014. The Genealogical Forum of Oregon has indexed Hillsboro Argus obituaries from 2001 to 2012. These are at the GFO library in Portland.

Historic newspapers from Washington County are also online. The Hillsboro Independent ran from 1882 to 1908. The Argus ran from 1894 to 1922. Both are part of the Historic Oregon Newspapers collection at the University of Oregon. Search by name for free.

Funeral homes in Washington County can also help. Duyck and VanDeHey, Fuiten Rose and Hoyt, and Valley Memorial are among the firms that have served this area. Some post obituary notices on their own sites. Others file them with the local paper. If you know which firm handled the service, call them first. They may have a copy on file.

The Genealogical Forum of Oregon is a top resource for Washington County obituary research. Their library holds clipping files, death indexes, and other records. It is open to the public in Portland. A visit there can save hours of online searching.

Oregon State Obituary Resources

The state of Oregon provides tools that cover all counties, including Washington County. The Oregon Health Authority manages the statewide vital records system. All death certificates filed in Washington County flow through this office after the initial filing period.

This state-level resource page connects researchers to obituary records and vital records offices across Oregon, including Washington County.

The Oregon State Archives in Salem holds historical records from Washington County. Court files, land records, and naturalization papers are part of this collection. Census data and tax rolls can help you place a person in Washington County at a given time. Use these alongside obituary searches for the best results.

The Ancestor Hunt lists free death record indexes for Oregon. Some of these cover Washington County. The ONGenealogy site also has links to Washington County death records available online.

How to Order a Washington County Death Certificate

There are three main ways to get a Washington County death certificate. You can visit the county office, order by mail, or use the state system.

For a county-level request:

• Visit the office at 155 N First Ave, Suite 160, Hillsboro
• Bring ID and a check or money order for $25
• Provide the full name and date of death

For a state-level request, order through VitalChek or mail your request to PO Box 14050, Portland, OR 97293. The state fee is $25 per copy. VitalChek adds a service fee. Oregon law under ORS 432 sets who can get a certified copy. Informational copies are available to anyone.

Mail orders to the Washington County office are accepted. Send a check or money order with the full name, date of death, and your relationship to the person. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope. Allow two to three weeks for processing.

Note: Washington County does not accept cash at the vital records window. Plan to pay by check or money order only.

Nearby Counties

Washington County borders Multnomah County, Clackamas County, Yamhill County, Columbia County, and Tillamook County. Many residents of Washington County work in Portland or other parts of the metro area. Deaths may have been filed in a neighboring county if the person died at a hospital outside Washington County lines. Check Multnomah County records if you cannot find a record in Washington County.