How to Get a Death Certificate in Arizona

Getting a death certificate is one of the first practical steps after a death in Arizona, and the details of who issues it and what it costs are specific to Arizona.

Who issues death certificates in Arizona?

Certified copies come from the Arizona Department of Health Services’ Office of Vital Records in Phoenix, which has death records from July 1909, and the county health departments. In practice, the funeral home usually files the certificate and orders an initial batch of certified copies for you.

How much does a certified copy cost in Arizona?

The state fee for a certified death certificate is $20 per copy, and every copy costs the same. County health departments set their own fees: Mohave and Navajo list $20, and consumer guides report that some smaller counties charge $14 or $15.

Who can order a copy in Arizona?

Only people 18 or older can get a certified copy, and only the people listed in the Arizona Administrative Code (R9-19-314 and R9-19-315) are eligible; the state’s application lists them. Bring valid identification.

How do I order more copies in Arizona?

• At a county health department: county offices issue certified copies from the state’s electronic system, usually for recent deaths. Navajo County, for example, issues them for deaths from February 1, 2008 on.
• By mail to the state: Office of Vital Records, Arizona Department of Health Services, with the application and a money order or cashier’s check for the exact amount payable to “Office of Vital Records.” The state does not accept personal checks.
• Online: through the state’s approved ordering service.

What else should I know before I order?

The state office has said it does not offer same-day service for death certificates, so use a county office if you are in a hurry.

What should I do next?

Confirm with the funeral home how many copies it is ordering for you, then decide how many more you need; see how many death certificates you need in Arizona and our general guide to death certificates.

Add this to your Final Day Plan: your Social Security number, birthplace, and parents’ full names - the death certificate application asks for these, and they’re often surprisingly hard for a family to track down under pressure.

Fees and rules change - confirm current details with the Arizona Office of Vital Records or your county health department before you send payment.