Brief Adjudicative Procedure (BAP)

What is the Vital Records Brief Adjudicative Proceeding (BAP) Process? 

A Brief Adjudicative Proceeding (BAP) determines whether the Washington State Department of Health Center for Health Statistics (the Department) took the correct action on your request or application. Outcomes to use a BAP include:

  • Denying an application for a certification for birth, death, fetal death, marriage, and/or divorce.
  • Withholding the issuance of a certification for birth, death, fetal death, marriage, and/or divorce.
  • Denying the registration of a report for birth, death, fetal death, marriage, and/or divorce.
  • Revoking the registration of a birth, death, fetal death, marriage, and/or divorce record.
  • Denying an application for an amendment or correction to a birth, death, fetal death, marriage, and/or divorce record.
  • Denying a request for birth, death, fetal death, marriage, and/or divorce data. 

 If you disagree with the outcome, you may appeal by requesting a BAP. The Department must receive the Notice of Rights and Opportunity for Brief Adjudicative Proceeding (PDF)(DOH 422-227) form within 28 days from the date on your denial letter or you waive your right to a BAP.

You may submit the Notice of Rights and Opportunity for BAP (PDF)(DOH 422-227) form in one of the following ways:

  1. Email the document as an attachment, or in the body of the email include your responses to Section One (1), Two (2), Three (3), and Four (4) and send it to:
    VitalRecordsAdministrativeServices@doh.wa.gov
  2. Mail to:

    Attn: BAPS
    Center for Health Statistics 
    Washington State Department of Health
    P.O. Box 47814
    Olympia, Washington 98504

Within one (1) business day of the Department receiving the Notice of Rights and Opportunity for Brief Adjudicative Proceeding (DOH 422-227), it goes to the Vital Records BAP Presiding Officer for review.

Within 7 business days, the BAP Officer will review the original request, all supporting documentation (such as original application or request, proof documents, and/or court documents, etc.), and provide 2 weeks for you and the Department to provide any additional documentation.

The BAP Officer makes the final decision based on the documentation provided.