Washington D.C. Death Records

To begin, add a death record or view a list of locations and resources for Washington D.C. death records.

Death records are a great source of information, but finding some death records-like those from Washington DC can often seem very difficult. The District of Columbia can be particularly confusing because of the unique status that this area has in the country, that is not quite a state of its own but not a part of any other state either.

Washington DC keeps its own death records, and actually has records dating all the way back to 1855, with records more than 50 years old open to research from the public. Interestingly though, no death records were kept in Washington DC during the Civil War.

The Vital Records Division of the Department of Health is the steward of DC death records. This agency accepts request both through the mail and in person. However, if these are infeasible due to time or distance constraints, you may still be able to get the death records you need by searching online through an internet public records search.

To receive a Washington D.C. death certificate contact:

District of Columbia divorce certificates may be available dating back to 1956. There is a small fee of $6.50, which may be paid with either check or money order and is non-refundable. When you apply you may be asked to provide a photo ID, and information that will prove you are eligible to receive the divorce certificate. You will also need to provide information that will help in finding it, such as the names of both spouses, maiden name of bride, and date of divorce. For more information visit: District of Columbia Department of Health