Find Genealogy Records in Lynnwood
Genealogy research in Lynnwood centers on Snohomish County records kept in Everett, the county seat. Lynnwood incorporated in 1959 from unincorporated Snohomish County, so family history work here covers both older county records from the pre-incorporation era and more recent city documents. Birth returns, marriage certificates, land records, and court filings for the Lynnwood area are spread across county offices, the Washington State Digital Archives, and several local historical and genealogical organizations that serve the Puget Sound region.
Lynnwood Overview
Snohomish County Genealogy Records
Snohomish County was formed in 1861 and is located along Puget Sound, with Everett as the county seat. The County Auditor has birth and death records from 1891-1907 and marriage records from 1891. The County Clerk holds divorce and probate records as well as court records. Known beginning dates for government records are: Birth 1882, Marriage 1880, Death 1889, Court 1878, Land 1879, Probate 1880, and Census 1850. There is no known history of courthouse disasters, which means early records should be largely intact.
The FamilySearch wiki for Snohomish County gives a detailed breakdown of all available record types. For birth records, the 1891-1907 Snohomish County Auditor Birth Records are at the Washington State Digital Archives with index and images. Marriage records from 1867-1999 and 2004-2005 are also at the Archives. Death records from 1891-1907 are available there as well. All of these can be searched from home through the Digital Archives birth records portal.
The Snohomish County Auditor records real estate documents, maps, and surveys. The Snohomish County Superior Court Clerk in Everett holds divorce decrees. If you are looking for a divorce record connected to a Lynnwood family, the Clerk's office is the right place to start.
Lynnwood City Clerk and Municipal Documents
The City of Lynnwood maintains municipal records through its City Clerk's office. These records cover the period from 1959 incorporation onward and include city council minutes, ordinances, resolutions, and public records request responses. If you are researching a family that lived in Lynnwood after it became a city, the City Clerk can be a useful secondary source for confirming addresses, property actions, and community connections.
For pre-1959 family history tied to the same geographic area, you need to go to Snohomish County records. Before incorporation, the land that is now Lynnwood was part of unincorporated Snohomish County. All vital records, court filings, and land documents from that period are held by the county, not by any city office. The City of Lynnwood website provides access to the City Clerk and explains how to submit a public records request.
Washington State Digital Archives Collections
The Washington State Digital Archives is one of the best starting points for Lynnwood genealogy research. The Snohomish County Auditor Birth Records, 1891-1907 collection includes both index and images of birth returns and affidavits of births filed with the county auditor. The collection contains 4,593 records. For the best search results, use the parents' last names rather than the child's name. Note that the mother's last name in the record will be her maiden name.
Beyond birth records, the Digital Archives also holds Snohomish County marriage records and death records for the same period. To get more detail on the full scope of available collections, visit the FamilySearch wiki or browse the Digital Archives site by county. Many record types have been fully digitized with images, not just index entries, which means you can view original documents without visiting an archive in person.
The image below is from a Washington State Digital Archives collection that covers Snohomish County genealogy records, including material relevant to the Lynnwood area.
Snohomish County records digitized through the Washington State Archives cover the period when much of the land now within Lynnwood's boundaries was first being settled and documented.
Northwest Regional Archives and Local Societies
The Washington State Archives Northwest Regional Branch covers Snohomish County. This branch is located at 808 25th Street, Bellingham, WA 98225. Phone: (360) 650-3125. Email: nwbrancharchives@sos.wa.gov. The branch is open for in-person research Wednesdays through Fridays by appointment only, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. It holds birth and death records from January 1891 to July 1907, marriage records, court records including naturalization records, court dockets, and civil, criminal, and probate case files, land records, and school district records. There is no charge to view public archival documents; fees apply to copies.
The Washington State Library genealogy guide for Snohomish County identifies several local historical organizations worth contacting for Lynnwood-area research. Among them are the Lynnwood-Alderwood Manor Heritage Association, the Sno-Isle Genealogical Society, the Snohomish Historical Society, and the Marysville Historical Society. These groups often hold local cemetery records, family files, and historical photographs not found in any statewide database.
The Sno-Isle Genealogical Society in particular focuses on Snohomish and Island counties and maintains research collections that can be valuable for anyone tracing families who lived in the greater Lynnwood area before and after incorporation.
Note: When visiting any archive for in-person research, call ahead to confirm hours and appointment availability, as these can change.
Vital Records Access for Lynnwood
For birth and death records tied to events in Lynnwood, the office you contact depends on when the event took place. Records from 1891 to June 30, 1907 were kept by the County Auditor and are now largely accessible through the Washington State Digital Archives. Records from July 1, 1907 to the present are managed by the Washington State Department of Health, Center for Health Statistics, at 101 Israel Road SE, Tumwater, WA 98501. The info line is (360) 236-4300.
For King, Pierce, Snohomish, Spokane, Walla Walla, and Whatcom counties, death records before July 1, 1907 should be requested through the local health department rather than the county auditor. This is an exception that applies to Snohomish County and can affect how you find early death records for the Lynnwood area. The guide at washingtongenealogy.com/vital explains this distinction clearly.
Marriage records before January 1, 1968 should go through the Snohomish County Auditor. Certificates from January 1, 1968 to four months ago should be ordered through the Center for Health Statistics. For very recent marriages within the last four months, the county auditor is again the right contact. For divorce records, the Snohomish County Superior Court Clerk holds older records, and the Department of Health handles those from 1968 onward.
Lynnwood Genealogy Research Tools
The image below is from the City of Lynnwood's official website, which serves as the starting point for requests related to municipal records and public documents.
The City of Lynnwood website connects researchers to the City Clerk's office for public records requests covering municipal documents from 1959 to the present.
For older records tied to the Lynnwood area, the Washington State Digital Archives Snohomish County collection provides digitized access to records from the period when this area was still unincorporated Snohomish County territory.
Snohomish County records held in the Digital Archives span multiple record types and cover the years before Lynnwood's 1959 incorporation, making them essential for tracing older family lines in this area.
Snohomish County Genealogy Records
Lynnwood is in Snohomish County, and the county offices in Everett hold the core records for this region. For a full breakdown of Snohomish County genealogy resources, record types, archive locations, and online access options, visit the county page.
Nearby Cities
These cities are in or near Snohomish County and draw on similar county archives for genealogy research.