Death Certificate Eligibility

Back to Death CertificatesBack to Death Certificates

Click on your description below for more information about your eligibility to obtain a certified copy of a death certificate.

The Funeral Director or Funeral Director’s Designee is eligible to receive a certified copy of the deceased individual's death certificate if the following criteria are met:

  • The funeral director representing one of the following in a final disposition of the registrant’s human remains within 12 months after the registration of the registrant’s death:
    • The registrant, through a prearranged funeral agreement as defined in A.R.S. § 32-1301;
    • The registrant’s spouse;
    • The registrant’s parent, grandparent, or adult child, grandchild, brother, or sister; or
    • Another person who is responsible for the final disposition of the registrant’s human remains according to A.R.S. § 36-831; and
  • A designee of the funeral director in subsection (B)(1);
  • The funeral director or the funeral director’s designee shall submit a written request on the letterhead of the funeral establishment, or a completed, signed and dated death application that includes:
    • The name and license number of the funeral director.
    • Contact information for the funeral director (telephone number or email address).
    • The name and address of the funeral director's establishment.
    • The registrant’s name currently listed in the registered death record.
    • The registrant’s date of birth and date of death.
    • If known, the:
      • Registrant’s sex;
      • State file number listed on the death record;
      • Town or city of the registrant's death;
      • County of the registrant's death; and
      • Deceased registrant's social security number.
    • The number of certified copies being requested.
  • The funeral director or the funeral director’s designee submits a photocopy of his/her valid government-issued photo identification which contains his/her name and signature or has his/her signature notarized on the written request.
  • If the name of the funeral director or the funeral director’s establishment is not listed in the registrant’s death record, the funeral director or the funeral director’s designee must provide a copy of documentation demonstrating that the funeral director or the funeral director’s funeral establishment has a valid contract to furnish funeral goods or services, as defined in A.R.S. § 32-1301, related to a final disposition of the registrant’s human remains; and
  • The fee in A.A.C. R9-19-105 for each certified copy requested.
    Note: The Bureau of Vital Records and the County Vital Records may waive the identification/notary requirement for the funeral director or the funeral director’s designee signing the application, if a file for the funeral director or the funeral director’s designee is established and contains a copy of the funeral director’s or the funeral director designee’s valid government issued identification and documentation of current employment with the funeral establishment dated within twelve (12) months before the deceased registrant’s death was registered, and contains the name and address of the funeral establishment.  
    All death certificates ordered by the funeral director or the funeral director’s designee must be sent directly to the funeral home and not the individual the funeral director or the funeral director’s designee is ordering for. Only the funeral director or the funeral director’s designee, who is eligible to receive a certified copy of a deceased individual’s death certificate according to A.R.S. 36-324(A) and A.A.C. R9-19-314(B)(1) and R9-19-315(A), may order and pick up death certificates from the applicable County Vital Records Office.    
    The funeral director or the funeral director’s designee may apply for a certified copy of a death record on behalf of a responsible person as stated in (B)(1)(d) above if the funeral director or the funeral director’s designee is representing the responsible person in the final disposition of human remains according to A.R.S. §36-831. 
    Funeral directors or the funeral directors’ designee may not order death certificates on behalf of individuals other than specified in A.A.C. R9-19-314(B)(1)

Click on your description below for more information about your eligibility to obtain a noncertified copy of a death certificate.

A person who is a family member, including a niece or nephew, of a registrant, who is conducting research for genealogical purposes may request a noncertified copy of the registrant’s death certificate if all of the following criteria are met:

  • The applicant is at least 18 years of age.
  • Documentation demonstrating the applicant's relationship to the registrant whose record they are requesting (i.e. one or more birth certificates, death certificates or a marriage certificate that show the person's relationship to the registrant).
  • For births or deaths in Arizona, provide information about the person or related person whose birth or death was registered in Arizona to assist in locating the registered records of the related person(s) in the applicable electronic registry system.
  • Non-acceptable types of documentation to establish relationship:
    • Pedigrees, Lineage charts, Family trees.
  • The applicant submits a signed application.
  • The applicant provides valid, government-issued identification which contains the applicant’s name and signature or notarized signature on the application.
  • The applicant submits the appropriate fee for each noncertified copy requested.

Note: The genealogist may obtain a copy of a birth certificate or death certificate on the Arizona Department of Health Services’ website http://genealogy.az.gov/ for registered birth certificates that are seventy-five (75) years after the person’s birth or a registered death certificate that is fifty years (50) after the person’s death.

Next...Apply for the Certified Copies

  • Complete and sign the Application
  • Make a photocopy (Front and Back) of your current, valid, signed, photo ID
  • Attach or photocopy any factual documentation or additional forms required
  • Pay the appropriate Fee

Note: All documents submitted will be reviewed and verified prior to fulfillment of the request.