Vital Records Closed April 16-17
Vital Records will be closed April 16-17, 2026, during a required relocation of our staff office in the DOH Tumwater Campus. Our public counter in Town Center 2 will be closed, our phone line will be down, and our email inbox will not be monitored. You will not be able to make any appointments for amendment services on April 16-17. Expect slight delays for other Vital Records requests because of this planned closure. Our services will return to normal on Monday, April 20. We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience.
- We can only correct certificates for births, deaths, marriages or divorces that took place in Washington State.
Ordering or correcting a death certificate for the FEMA COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Program
You can use the Affidavit for Correction form and required proof for most corrections. The form summarizes how to make a correction.
- Download the most recent form:
- The form is also printed on the back of every certificate. Print the updated form if the revision date is before January 15, 2015.
Processing Time
We currently have a six (6) month processing turnaround time.
- If you submitted an application with a processing fee, the date your check or money order is cashed is the date we received your request, which helps you estimate the time left for processing.
- The turnaround times are estimations and are subject to fluctuate due to staffing availability.
- We are working diligently to reduce the turnaround times. If your request has not been processed after six (6) months, please call us at 360-236-4300. We appreciate your patience, thank you.
How to Correct a Certificate with the Affidavit for Correction
For each application, you must submit the following:
- A completed and signed Affidavit for Correction (DOH 422-034) (English) (DOCX) or Declaración Jurada de Corrección (DOH 422-034) (Español) (PDF)
- Copy of your government issued photo identification card
- Proof of relationship, if required
- Any required supporting proof documents
By Mail
Center for Health Statistics
Attn: Corrections
P.O. Box 47814
Olympia, WA 98504-7814
Correcting Certificates
Use the webpages below for the certificate you want to correct.
- For a child under 18
- For a person 18 or older
- Demographic changes
- Cause of death changes
Ordering a Certificate with a Correction Request
- Send completed certificate order form with your correction request. Include all required documents referenced on the certificate application instruction page.
- Certificate will be issued after the correction has been processed.
Birth Certificate Application (en español)
Death Certificate Application (en español)
Marriage & Divorce Application (en español)
Exchanging a Certificate with a Correction Request
If you currently have a certified copy of a certificate that was issued less than one (1) year ago, send in the certified copy of the certificate with your correction request; we will exchange the certificate at no charge. A copy of your photo ID and, if necessary, documentation verifying proof of relationship are required.
Contact Us
Email us at VitalRecordsCorrections@doh.wa.gov.
Helpful Links
Court-ordered name change
Gender change
Ordering certificates