Why would you need to own a copy of your birth certificate?

Why would you need to own a copy of your Washington birth certificate?

A certified copy of your birth certificate enables you to prove your identity in a wide range of circumstances—everything from applying for a driver’s license to enrolling in university courses. Sometimes it’s necessary to obtain the birth certificate of a close relative, such as when you need to show proof of consanguinity to claim an inheritance. But what happens when you can’t find the birth certificate that you need?

The answer—you order a birth certificate copy through FastFilings. With our fast, secure online ordering form, you can request certified copies of birth certificates. These are just as valid, for all legal purposes, as the original copy. Better yet, it takes only a few minutes to fill out the form; we’ll do most of the legwork for you.

How to Get a Birth Certificate in Washington

Although it’s possible to apply for a Washington birth certificate through the state’s Vital Records agency, the easiest way is to do it right here at FastFilings. 

Why should you order your Washington birth certificates through FastFilings? Here are four reasons:

Speed

Speed

FastFilings’ order form can be filled out and submitted in under five minutes.

Security

Security

The SSL protocol ensures your private data remains safe at every stage of the ordering process.

Certified

Certified

With our state-certified service, you can be assured that you’re dealing with reputable professionals.

Reliability

Reliability

Our error-checking service catches mistakes so they can be corrected in time.

FastFilings gives you a simple, no-hassle method of ordering certified copies of birth certificates.

Who Can Order a Washington Birth Certificate Copy?

Like most states, Washington places certain restrictions on access to birth certificates. Only relatives of the subject or those with official legal authorization can obtain a certified copy of a Washington birth certificate. 

If you are obtaining your own Washington birth certificate replacement, you do not have to provide additional documentation proving your identity; you just need to provide a copy of a valid ID. Otherwise, you must provide one or more pieces of further documentation:

An Individual

The individual who is the subject of the birth certificate

A parent, child, grandparent, grandchild, spouse, sibling, legal guardian, or domestic partner of the individual listed on the birth certificate

A parent, child, grandparent, grandchild, spouse, sibling, legal guardian, or domestic partner of the individual listed on the birth certificate

An individual with a court order that grants permission

An individual with a court order that grants permission to obtain the individual’s birth certificate

An attorney or representative from a licensed adoption agency

Send a copy of certified legal documentation granting authority to obtain the birth certificate.

Representative from a law enforcement agency, or another type of government agency, on official business

A representative from a law enforcement agency, or another type of government agency, on official business

An individual or agency appointed by the court

An individual or agency appointed by the court or otherwise legally authorized to administer the estate of the person named on the birth certificate

An Attorney

An attorney representing the individual, or the estate of the individual, named on the birth certificate

A Funeral

A representative of a funeral establishment performing duties in compliance with HSC § 7100

An Individual Next of Kin

Send a copy of photo ID card issued by the agency and (Option 1) letter from the agency stating official reason for requesting the birth certificate OR (Option 2) copy of certified legal documentation granting authority to obtain the birth certificate.

If you do not qualify for a certified birth certificate replacement, you are allowed to request a non-certified informational copy. These certificates are available to the general public. They contain the same information as a certified copy but cannot be used to verify identity under the law. These documents have a watermark that reads “Cannot be used for legal purposes. Informational only.” You do not need to provide a valid ID to obtain one of these documents.

Washington birth certificates are available from 1907 to the present day.

How Long Does It Take to Receive Your Washington Birth Certificates?

FastFilings will begin processing your request right away, but we are unable to speed up processing times set by the Washington Vital Records agency. 

After your order is received by the agency, it usually takes 10-12 weeks to receive your birth certificate replacement. Bear in mind that processing times may take longer due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.

How Long Does It Take to Receive a Birth Certificate?
What Documents Do I Need?

What Documents Do I Need?

To request a certified Washington birth certificate, you must provide a copy of one government-issued ID. The ID must be current or expired for under 60 days, and it must include your full name, date of birth, and photo. Acceptable forms of ID include:

  • Washington State enhanced driver’s license, driver’s license, permit, or ID card
  • Out-of-state enhanced driver’s license, REAL ID license, driver’s license, or ID card
  • U.S. passport/card
  • Passport, driver’s license, or ID card from another nation
  • Tribal membership or enrollment ID card (must be a federally recognized tribe)
  • Consulate card
  • Permanent resident card
  • U.S. alien registration card
  • U.S. Armed Services ID card
  • U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs ID card
  • U.S. Certificate of Citizenship or Naturalization
  • U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service ID
  • U.S. Immigration or naturalization papers
  • U.S. Merchant Mariner’s card
  • U.S. B1/B2 Visa Border Crossing Card (Form DSP-150)
  • NEXUS, SENTRI, or FAST border crossing card
  • I-327 U.S. Permit to Re-Enter Travel Document
  • I-571 U.S. Refugee Travel Document
  • I-766 Employment Authorization

If you do not have any of the above documents, you may provide copies of two alternative forms of identification. These documents must have identical names and addresses, or form a combination that includes your full name, date of birth, and photo. Acceptable documents include:

  • Any of the above documents that are expired (over 60 days) and/or do not include a photo  
  • Auto insurance policy
  • Current high school student body card 
  • Home utility bill dated within past two months   
  • Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN) letter
  • Medicare card (not DSHS)
  • Monthly bank account statement (no more than 30 days old) 
  • Paycheck or pay stub (no more than 30 days old)
  • Social Security card   
  • State fishing or hunting license
  • U.S. military document (within last year)
How Fast Filings Can Help You
Who Can Apply For a Birth Certificate Replacement?

How Do I Order a Copy of My Washington Birth Certificate?

We’ve learned all about how to obtain a WA birth certificate, so all you need to do is follow our simple three-step ordering process:

  1. Step 1: Fill out our online form. Once we’ve processed your data, we’ll send an application packet to you through postal mail.
  2. Step 2: Sign the documents. Put all the documents (including proof of ID) inside the pre-addressed envelope. 
  3. Step 3: Put the envelope in the mail. Your Washington birth certificate will arrive in the mail shortly.

How Much Does it Cost?

Washington birth certificates cost $25 each, regardless of whether you’re ordering a certified copy or a non-certified informational copy. This does not include processing fees charged by FastFilings.