“Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice, a river of righteous living that will never run dry.”
– The Holy Bible – Amos 5:24

Christopher S. Mulvaney,

Attorney and Counselor-at-Law

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THIS WEBSITE INCLUDES GENERAL INFORMATION & THE OPINIONS OF CHRISTOPHER S. MULVANEY. IT IS INTENDED TO STIMULATE A BASIS FOR QUESTIONS RELATED TO YOUR PARTICULAR FACTUAL CIRCUMSTANCES — BEFORE YOU ACT.  THIS WEBSITE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE LEGAL ADVICE. IF YOU WANT LEGAL ADVICE, PLEASE MAKE A ZOOM APPOINTMENT TO SPEAK WITH ME.

CONTACT CHRISTOPHER S. MULVANEY FORM

DISCLAIMER:

The use of email or this form for communication with MULVANEY LAW OFFICE, PLLC does not establish an Attorney-Client Relationship. If you don’t think I have responded, please check your spam folder. Time-sensitive information should not be sent through this Form or through email. Sensitive information can be uploaded to an encrypted Dropbox folder in your client file. Google Review Link Yelp Review Link

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Gonzaga University School of Law – Spokane, Washington – Class of 2002 – Cum Laude The Latin phrase “Deo patriae, scientiis, artibus” translates to “For God and country through sciences and arts”.  The initials A.M.D.G. on the seal of Gonzaga Law School stand for Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam, which is Latin for “For the Greater Glory of God” the Motto of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits): a Catholic religious order founded by St. Ignatius of Loyola.

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A Certified Copy of a Death Certificate is required to:

1. Transfer Real Property of a Deceased Person
2. Claim as a Beneficiary on a 401(k), brokerage, or life insurance account of a Deceased Person
3. Claim funds in a Deceased Person’s Bank Account
4. Claim funds in a Deceased Person’s Money Market Account
5. Transfer the Motor Vehicles of a Deceased Person
6. Distribute a Deceased Person’s Non-Titled Personal Property
7. Open an Estate Checking Account to pay Administrative Costs, Taxes, Creditors, & Beneficiaries
8. File a Deceased Person’s Final Tax Return
9. Notify Social Security
10. Notify Pension Providers
11. Notify Credit Bureaus
12. Notify Creditors
13. Notify Beneficiaries
14. Publish an Obituary
15. Open Probate for a Deceased Person
16. Publish Notice to Creditors of a Deceased Person
17. Cremate a Deceased Person
18. Bury a Deceased Person
19. File a Wrongful Death Action on behalf of the Deceased Person’s Estate
20. Take any action on behalf of the Estate of a Deceased Person

You can order a Death Certificate from the Washington Department of Health.

Here is a sample of what a Certified Death Certificate looks like.

Important note: VitalChek is our ONLY contracted and approved third-party vendor. Other third-party companies charge customers high fees to “process” or “help apply” for vital record certificates. If you ordered through one of these companies, you can file a consumer complaint online at Washington State Attorney General Consumer Protection Division, or call:
Consumer Resource Center
Monday-Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 pm.
206-464-6684
800-551-4636 (Washington state only)

Online
Processing Time	Shipped within 3-7 business days of the Department receiving the order from VitalChek, depending on the shipping option you select. A record problem may cause delays.
Description	Go to www.VitalChek.com at any time. Payment by credit/debit card.
Cost	Nonrefundable fee starts at $40.50*Fee breakdown:$25 certificate fee$8.50 VitalChek fee$7 DOH processing fee*$3.00 VitalChek optional identity authentication quiz fee – this will increase the VitalChek fee total to $11.50, and increase the Nonrefundable fee total to $43.50*Other fees may apply depending on ordering and shipping method
Requirements	Certificates:Required informationValid ID (En Español)Proof documentation (En Español)Noncertified informational copies:Required information
Telephone
Processing Time	Shipped within 3-7 business days of the Department receiving the order from VitalChek, depending on the shipping option you select. A record problem may cause delays.
Description	Call 1-866-687-1464 at any time. Payment by credit/debit card.
Cost	Nonrefundable fee starts at $40.50*Fee breakdown:$25 certificate fee$8.50 VitalChek fee$7 DOH processing fee*$3.00 VitalChek optional identity authentication quiz fee – this will increase the VitalChek fee total to $11.50, and increase the Nonrefundable fee total to $43.50*Other fees may apply depending on ordering and shipping method
Requirements	Certificates:Required informationValid ID (En Español)Proof documentation (En Español)Noncertified informational copies:Required information
Mail
Processing Time	Shipped within 6-8 weeks of the department receiving the order and processing payment. A record problem may cause delays.
Description	Send your birth, death or marriage/divorce order form by mail. Payment by check or money order.
Cost	Nonrefundable fee starts at $25.
Requirements	Certificates:Required informationSignaturePhotocopy of valid IDProof documentationNoncertified informational copies:Required informationSignature
In-Person
DOH partners with local Washington health departments for in-person services of most birth and death certificate purchases- check before going to the local health department to make sure they have your record type and year. There might be an additional fee for this service. Customers will receive most orders within the same day.

How long does my order take?

It depends on the way you order and the shipping method you select. The times listed below start after we receive full payment and all required documentation. Missing information or documentation will delay orders.

• Check with your local Washington health department for the certificates they offer and if they have in-person services at this time. There might be an additional fee for this service. Customers will receive most orders within the same day.
• VitalChek online or by phone orders process and ship within 3-7 business days, depending on the shipping option you select.
• By mail, the customer will receive the order within 6-8 weeks after receiving and processing of payment.

How do I check on the status of my order?

I sent it by mail

Before contacting our office, verify that your check or money order processed, on what date, and that the Department of Health cashed it. If your bank processed the check or money order, our office received your order.

If you call our office, provide the customer service representative with the check or money order number and date cashed.

I placed my order online or by phone

Orders placed through our only contracted vendor, VitalChek, have an order number. If you provided your email address, VitalChek sent the receipt to your email. If you did not provide your email during the order, VitalChek sent the receipt to your mailing address. For questions about the order, contact the agency listed on your receipt and have your order number ready.

Shipping notifications only go out by email when an expedited shipping label* is created. You will not receive a shipping notification for items shipped using First Class mail.

*Note, if you have an apostille with your order, DOH creates and sends the shipping label to the Secretary of State to finalize the order. The label creation date does NOT indicate the shipping date. Allow 5-7 business days for tracking to appear.

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Washington State residents can meet with me in Zoom/DocuSign from anywhere in the world, and I can notarize their electronic signatures because I am a remote online notary.  Just email me an image of your photo ID.