Same day service is available for applicants requesting certified copies of death certificates except for older deaths that requires a search. If a search is required the certificate will be mailed to the applicants.
The office is open from 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM. If you are planning to go there in the afternoon, make sure you arrive before 4:00 PM.
Bring all necessary documents you will need to present or submit in order to obtain a death certificate.
Appropriate fee. Acceptable payment methods are: cash, traveler's checks, cashier's checks, money orders, Visa, or MasterCard. Cashier's checks and money orders must be for the exact amount and made payable to Office of Vital Records.
Along with your application, you will also need to send a copy of the front and back of your valid government-issued picture identification which bears your signature or have your signature notarized.
Do not forget to include your payment when you send your application. Acceptable payment methods are: cashier's checks, money orders, Visa, or MasterCard. PLEASE DO NOT SEND CASH. Cashier's checks and money orders must be for the exact amount and made payable to Office of Vital Records. If you pay by credit/debit card, you must include the full card number and expiration date on your application.
Note: An incomplete application will delay the processing of your request.
The Arizona Department of Health Services, Office of Vital Records does not accept online orders; however, for your convenience, you can process online requests through an independent company that the Arizona Department of Health Services have partnered with to provide you this service - VitalChek Network, Inc.
Go online and simply follow the steps to place an order. An additional fee is charged by VitalChek for using this service and all major credit cards are accepted.
In addition to the cost of the certificate, the following charges will be billed to your credit card:
Processing Charge Per Order: $10.00
Express Courier 2-3 Day Delivery: $14.00
Express Courier Standard Overnight (by 4 p.m.): $16.00
Optional UPS Alternate Delivery Location (added to above express rates if chosen by consumer): $5.00
VitalChek will NOT be able to check the status of your order until at least 24 hours after your request was submitted. State Vital Records and the County Office locations do not have access to orders processed through VitalChek and therefore cannot check the status of pending orders.
Birth certificates that link the applicant to the deceased or
Marriage certificate that links the surviving spouse to the deceased.
Note: Being listed as the informant on the death certificate is not sufficient proof of relationship.
Proof of legal interest, examples:
Will that links the deceased to the person with legal interest
Insurance policy
Court order of guardianship
Title to personal or real property listing the deceased and applicant as co-owners
A document that establishes a legal interest in the record
Signed application.
Valid government issued identification or notarized signature on the application.
Attorney Representing an Estate:
A letter of request written on the attorney's letterhead stating their professional relationship ("representing the estate of the deceased"), signed by him/her and contains the attorneys bar number along with the appropriate fee(s).
Signed application.
Valid government issued identification or notarized signature on the application.
Attorney Representing Family Members:
A letter on the attorneys letterhead stating their professional relationship to the family member signed by the attorney and contains the attorneys bar number.
Documentation that the family member has retained the attorney.
Documentary evidence of the family member's relationship to the registrant.
Signed application.
Valid government issued identification or notarized signature on the application.
Attorney Representing Persons with a Legal Interest
A letter on the attorneys letterhead stating their professional relationship to the person with legal interest, signed by the attorney and contains the attorneys bar number.
Documentation that the person with legal interest has retained the attorney.
Documentary evidence of the person's legal interest, examples:
Wills that link the deceased to the person with legal interest Insurance policy
Court order of guardianship
Title to personal or real property listing the deceased and applicant as co-owners
A document that establishes a legal interest in the record
Signed application.
Valid government issued identification or notarized signature on the application.
Non-Attorney Legal Interest/Other Vital Interest:
Documents that will establish that:
There is a relationship between the deceased and the one requesting for the certificate.
The one requesting for the certificate must substantiate his/her legal interest in the certificate.
Notarized or certified documents are preferable but not required.
Signed application.
Valid government issued identification or notarized signature on the application.
Third Party:
A signed and notarized authorization to release the copy to the applicant from the surviving spouse or family member or
A signed authorization along with a photocopy of the signer's valid government issued identification
Proof of relationship from the authorizing part.
Signed application.
Valid government issued identification or notarized signature on the application.
Note: A person with legal interest cannot authorize a third party to receive a certificate on their behalf.
Private Investigator:
Document that will prove the existence of business relationship with the eligible person.
The applicant provides proof of relationship or legal interest between the eligible person and the deceased.
Same day service is available for applicants requesting certified copies of death certificates except for older deaths that requires a search. If a search is required the certificate will be mailed to the applicants.
The office is open from 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM. If you are planning to go there in the afternoon, make sure you arrive before 4:00 PM.
Bring all necessary documents you will need to present or submit in order to obtain a death certificate.
Appropriate fee. Acceptable payment methods are: cash, traveler's checks, cashier's checks, money orders, Visa, or MasterCard. Cashier's checks and money orders must be for the exact amount and made payable to Office of Vital Records.
Along with your application, you will also need to send a copy of the front and back of your valid government-issued picture identification which bears your signature or have your signature notarized.
Do not forget to include your payment when you send your application. Acceptable payment methods are: cashier's checks, money orders, Visa, or MasterCard. PLEASE DO NOT SEND CASH. Cashier's checks and money orders must be for the exact amount and made payable to Office of Vital Records. If you pay by credit/debit card, you must include the full card number and expiration date on your application.
Note: An incomplete application will delay the processing of your request.
The Arizona Department of Health Services, Office of Vital Records does not accept online orders; however, for your convenience, you can process online requests through an independent company that the Arizona Department of Health Services have partnered with to provide you this service - VitalChek Network, Inc.
Go online and simply follow the steps to place an order. An additional fee is charged by VitalChek for using this service and all major credit cards are accepted.
In addition to the cost of the certificate, the following charges will be billed to your credit card:
Processing Charge Per Order: $10.00
Express Courier 2-3 Day Delivery: $14.00
Express Courier Standard Overnight (by 4 p.m.): $16.00
Optional UPS Alternate Delivery Location (added to above express rates if chosen by consumer): $5.00
VitalChek will NOT be able to check the status of your order until at least 24 hours after your request was submitted. State Vital Records and the County Office locations do not have access to orders processed through VitalChek and therefore cannot check the status of pending orders.
Only persons 18 years of age or older may obtain a certified copy of a death certificate.
Arizona is a "closed record" state where vital records are not public record. Arizona law restricts the public's access to vital records as follows to protect the confidentiality rights of our citizens. A.A.C. R9-19-403 specifies that only the following may receive a certified copy of a birth certificate:
Spouse or Immediate Family Member
Attorney Representing an Estate
Attorney Representing Family Members
Attorney Representing Persons with a Legal Interest
Non-Attorney Legal Interest/Other Vital Interest
Third Party
Private Investigator
Genealogical Researcher: A genealogist is eligible to obtain a certificate that is NOT public record.
In addition to the State Office of Vital Records, you can also obtain certified copies of death certificates from your local county health departments.
Same day service is available for applicants requesting certified copies of death certificates except for older deaths that requires a search. If a search is required the certificate will be mailed to the applicants.
The office is open from 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM. If you are planning to go there in the afternoon, make sure you arrive before 4:00 PM.
Bring all necessary documents you will need to present or submit in order to obtain a death certificate.
Appropriate fee. Acceptable payment methods are: cash, traveler's checks, cashier's checks, money orders, Visa, or MasterCard. Cashier's checks and money orders must be for the exact amount and made payable to Office of Vital Records.
Along with your application, you will also need to send a copy of the front and back of your valid government-issued picture identification which bears your signature or have your signature notarized.
Do not forget to include your payment when you send your application. Acceptable payment methods are: cashier's checks, money orders, Visa, or MasterCard. PLEASE DO NOT SEND CASH. Cashier's checks and money orders must be for the exact amount and made payable to Office of Vital Records. If you pay by credit/debit card, you must include the full card number and expiration date on your application.
Note: An incomplete application will delay the processing of your request.
The Arizona Department of Health Services, Office of Vital Records does not accept online orders; however, for your convenience, you can process online requests through an independent company that the Arizona Department of Health Services have partnered with to provide you this service - VitalChek Network, Inc.
Go online and simply follow the steps to place an order. An additional fee is charged by VitalChek for using this service and all major credit cards are accepted.
In addition to the cost of the certificate, the following charges will be billed to your credit card:
Processing Charge Per Order: $10.00
Express Courier 2-3 Day Delivery: $14.00
Express Courier Standard Overnight (by 4 p.m.): $16.00
Optional UPS Alternate Delivery Location (added to above express rates if chosen by consumer): $5.00
VitalChek will NOT be able to check the status of your order until at least 24 hours after your request was submitted. State Vital Records and the County Office locations do not have access to orders processed through VitalChek and therefore cannot check the status of pending orders.
Birth certificates that link the applicant to the deceased or
Marriage certificate that links the surviving spouse to the deceased.
Note: Being listed as the informant on the death certificate is not sufficient proof of relationship.
Proof of legal interest, examples:
Will that links the deceased to the person with legal interest
Insurance policy
Court order of guardianship
Title to personal or real property listing the deceased and applicant as co-owners
A document that establishes a legal interest in the record
Signed application.
Valid government issued identification or notarized signature on the application.
Attorney Representing an Estate:
A letter of request written on the attorney's letterhead stating their professional relationship ("representing the estate of the deceased"), signed by him/her and contains the attorneys bar number along with the appropriate fee(s).
Signed application.
Valid government issued identification or notarized signature on the application.
Attorney Representing Family Members:
A letter on the attorneys letterhead stating their professional relationship to the family member signed by the attorney and contains the attorneys bar number.
Documentation that the family member has retained the attorney.
Documentary evidence of the family member's relationship to the registrant.
Signed application.
Valid government issued identification or notarized signature on the application.
Attorney Representing Persons with a Legal Interest
A letter on the attorneys letterhead stating their professional relationship to the person with legal interest, signed by the attorney and contains the attorneys bar number.
Documentation that the person with legal interest has retained the attorney.
Documentary evidence of the person's legal interest, examples:
Wills that link the deceased to the person with legal interest Insurance policy
Court order of guardianship
Title to personal or real property listing the deceased and applicant as co-owners
A document that establishes a legal interest in the record
Signed application.
Valid government issued identification or notarized signature on the application.
Non-Attorney Legal Interest/Other Vital Interest:
Documents that will establish that:
There is a relationship between the deceased and the one requesting for the certificate.
The one requesting for the certificate must substantiate his/her legal interest in the certificate.
Notarized or certified documents are preferable but not required.
Signed application.
Valid government issued identification or notarized signature on the application.
Third Party:
A signed and notarized authorization to release the copy to the applicant from the surviving spouse or family member or
A signed authorization along with a photocopy of the signer's valid government issued identification
Proof of relationship from the authorizing part.
Signed application.
Valid government issued identification or notarized signature on the application.
Note: A person with legal interest cannot authorize a third party to receive a certificate on their behalf.
Private Investigator:
Document that will prove the existence of business relationship with the eligible person.
The applicant provides proof of relationship or legal interest between the eligible person and the deceased.
Signed application.
Valid government issued identification or notarized signature on the application.
Genealogical Researcher:
The applicant must establish their relationship to the individual whose record they are requesting.
Acceptable types of credible documentation to establish relationship: Birth certificate, Death certificate, Marriage certificate. Pedigrees, Lineage charts, Family trees are NOT accepted.
Signed application.
Valid government issued identification or notarized signature on the application.
A genealogist requesting a certificate that IS public record does not need to establish relationship to the individual whose record they are requesting but must submit the following:
Signed application.
Valid government issued identification or notarized signature on the application.
Note: For those who are presenting documents from a foreign country as proof of relationship or proof of legal interest, they must provide certified copies of the said documents. Photocopies are not acceptable. The applicant must also provide a certified translation of the documents.
Only persons 18 years of age or older may obtain a certified copy of a death certificate.
Arizona is a "closed record" state where vital records are not public record. Arizona law restricts the public's access to vital records as follows to protect the confidentiality rights of our citizens. A.A.C. R9-19-403 specifies that only the following may receive a certified copy of a birth certificate:
Spouse or Immediate Family Member
Attorney Representing an Estate
Attorney Representing Family Members
Attorney Representing Persons with a Legal Interest
Non-Attorney Legal Interest/Other Vital Interest
Third Party
Private Investigator
Genealogical Researcher: A genealogist is eligible to obtain a certificate that is NOT public record.
In addition to the State Office of Vital Records, you can also obtain certified copies of death certificates from your local county health departments.
A Death Certificate is a document issued by a vital records office that declares the date, location and cause of a person's death.
A copy of the death certificate is often necessary when you apply for administrative procedures, such as execution of the will or making funeral arrangements.
Following are procedures on how you can obtain a death certificate in Arizona.