Find Obituary Records in Washington County

Washington County obituary records and death certificates are available through the county's Taxpayer Services division in Stillwater, the Minnesota Department of Health, and the Minnesota Historical Society. Death registration in Washington County goes back to 1870, and the county's proximity to the Twin Cities means its records are among the more frequently searched in the state. This page helps you find the right source for any Washington County death record or obituary.

Washington County Vital Statistics - Death Certificates

Washington County handles death certificate requests through its Taxpayer Services division, which oversees vital statistics for the county. The main office is in Stillwater. The county also has service centers in Forest Lake and Cottage Grove, providing convenient access for residents across the county. All three locations can assist with death certificate requests. Records go back to 1870. You'll need the full name of the deceased and an approximate year of death to start the search.

Certified death certificates cost $13 for the first copy and $6 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. These fees are set at the state level under Minnesota statute. Certified copies are needed for legal and financial matters. Non-certified copies are public records under Minnesota Statutes section 144.225 and are available for research. Call ahead to any service center to confirm hours and what to bring.

Minnesota Death Search Index

The MDH free death search index at health.state.mn.us covers deaths statewide from 1997 to the present. Enter a name and get basic results including county and date of death. For Washington County deaths after 1997, this index is the quickest free way to confirm a record before ordering a certified copy. If a match comes up, contact any Washington County service center or MDH to get the certificate.

Deaths before 1997 require direct contact with Washington County vital statistics or a mail request to MDH. The MDH vital records page at health.state.mn.us/vitalrecords/death explains the mail request process. The county registrar directory at health.state.mn.us/registrars lists Washington County as a local registrar with multiple service locations.

Washington County Historical Society

The Washington County Historical Society at wchsmn.org maintains local history collections including obituary files, family history records, and archival materials. The society is a strong resource for historical deaths in the county, particularly for records from Stillwater and other older communities in Washington County.

The Washington County Historical Society holds obituary files and family history materials that complement the official death certificate system for county research.

Cemetery records at the historical society often include names, death dates, and burial locations for Washington County residents across many decades. The society's collection draws on local newspapers, family donations, and original documents. For deaths in Stillwater's early years or in rural parts of the county, the historical society may hold materials not found anywhere else.

Washington County MNGenWeb - Minneapolis Tribune Obituary Index

The Washington County MNGenWeb project at washington.mngenweb.net has volunteer-compiled genealogy records including a Minneapolis Tribune obituary index covering surnames M through Z. This index is a useful resource for families in the Washington County area who may have had obituaries published in the Tribune, one of the major regional newspapers that served the Twin Cities metro and surrounding counties for generations.

The MNGenWeb project for Washington County includes a Minneapolis Tribune obituary index for surnames M-Z, along with other genealogy resources for county death records.

FamilySearch has a Minnesota vital records guide at familysearch.org covering the state's death record history and how to navigate county and state resources. The guide is free and helpful for anyone starting out with Washington County genealogy research.

Minnesota Historical Society Death Records

MNHS holds death certificates for all Minnesota counties from 1904 through 2001. Washington County records are part of this collection. The people search at mnhs.org/search/people lets you check for Washington County deaths. All MNHS records are non-certified copies and are open to the public. The MNHS death records help page at mnhs.org/search/people/about/deathrecords explains what the collection contains and how to order copies.

The MNHS Newspaper Hub at mnhs.org/newspapers/hub includes digitized newspapers from Washington County and the broader Twin Cities area. Obituaries from Stillwater papers and regional publications can be searched online and often provide family details not found in the official death certificate. For deaths before 1904, local newspaper archives are often the primary surviving record.

How to Find Washington County Death Records

For deaths from 1997 on, the free MDH death index is the fastest starting point. Check it first. For older deaths, contact Washington County vital statistics. With three service center locations, it's convenient for most county residents. For historical research, use the MNHS people search for 1904 to 2001 records, the MNGenWeb Tribune obituary index, and the Washington County Historical Society's archive.

Mail requests to MDH work for those who can't get to a service center. Include the full name, approximate year of death, and your return address. Processing varies. Plan ahead if you need the record by a specific date. The county's vital records page at washingtoncountymn.gov also has up-to-date information on how to submit requests online or by mail.

Cities in Washington County

Washington County includes Woodbury and several other communities. Death records for all Washington County cities are on file at the county vital statistics offices in Stillwater, Forest Lake, and Cottage Grove, as well as at MDH in St. Paul.

Woodbury is the largest city in Washington County and has a dedicated page on this site. Other cities in the county include Stillwater, Oakdale, Lake Elmo, Hugo, and Cottage Grove. Death records for all of these communities are handled through the county vital records system.

Nearby Counties

These counties are adjacent to Washington County. Each maintains its own vital records office for death certificates and obituary records.