Other Family Issues Article


How to Get a Certified Copy of a Death Certificate

A certified copy of a death certificate can be used to obtain beneficiary death benefits, claim beneficiary insurance proceeds, notify social security, and other legal purposes.

In Arizona only the following people can get a certified copy of a death certificate.

  • Funeral director,
  • Spouse,
  • Parent,
  • Grandparent,
  • Adult Child,
  • Grandchild,
  • Brother or sister,
  • Person designated as Power of Attorney,
  • Person responsible for final disposition,
  • Person names as executor or beneficiary of the deceased’s individual estate,
  • Beneficiary of the deceased’s life insurance policy,
  • Person named in a court order,
  • Person authorized by an eligible person,
  • Insurance company or financial institution,
  • Hospital or healthcare institution,
  • Person with a court order having a claim against the deceased’s individual estate, and
  • Attorney representing a person eligible to receive a certified copy of a death certificate.

    Only persons over 18 may obtain a certified copy of a death certificate.

    To Apply In Person:

    The Arizona Department of Health Services does not provide same day walk in service.  The local county health department Vital Records office may provide same day walk in service.  Here is a link to each Arizona county’s local health department where you can find information about how to obtain a certified copy of a birth certificate from the specific counties - http://azdhs.gov//licensing/vital-records/index.php#fees-home

    To Apply By Mail:

    To apply by mail to the Arizona Department of Health Services for a certified copy of a death certificate, one must submit the following:

  •  A completed Application for Certified Copy of Death Certificate
  •  A copy of the front and back of your valid government-issued picture identification which bears your signature or have your signature notarized.
  •  Proof of eligibility. This means you will have to submit information showing you are a person listed above eligible to get a certified copy of a death certificate eligible to
  •  A self-addressed stamped envelope with your request.
  •  Appropriate fee, according to this fee schedule. 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.


    Mail all this information to: Bureau of Vital Records, PO Box 6018, Phoenix, AZ, 85005.
    You should receive the certified death certificate within 7-10 business days after mailing the request.

    For More Information:

    Here is a link to the Arizona Department of Health Service’s web page explaining how to apply for a death certificate - http://www.azdhs.org/licensing/vital-records/index.php#death-certificates-apply

    Stillborn or fetal death certificate

    The Arizona Department of Health Services also provides copies of a stillborn or fetal death certificate. Like birth and death certificates only certain people may obtain this stillborn or fetal death certificate and there is an application process. 
    Information about getting this stillborn or fetal death certificate is here: http://www.azdhs.org/licensing/vital-records/index.php#death-certificates-who-can-obtain-stillbirth-fetal


    • Comments:

    QUESTIONS

    • I am a 16 year old girl. My father died three years ago and my mother is not around. I am currently living with my cousin,but no longer want to. What are my options?
    • My 18 year old daughter, who has been on her own for 1 1/2 years since I became disabled, just signed up for beauty school and they want my information for a loan and I receive ssi. Am I obligated to sign papers for her to get a loan?
    • I am my sisters gaurdian and She just graduated and from high school and she feels that she grown and doesn't want to put anymore strain on me. Which we had an agreement, saying once she graduated she can move out. So does she need any papers say she can make it on her own.
    • My wife and her almost 21-year-old sociopath son have made my life intolerable. I want to leave. Other than my mortgage and appliances that I am contractually responsible for, do I have to maintain a house that I am not living in?
    • My mother died and my brother owed her money. There are notorized copies of the loan agreement. Can I collect on behalf of her estate?
    • Does FMLA cover my grand-child who was placed with me by Tribal CPS? CPS is her temporary guardian but I was given authority to sign for services for her
    • Me and my child’s father made a written agreement that I have full custody between us and I want nothing from him he hasn’t been apart of my son’s life I said I don’t want no child support or anything my son is 10 years old can he give up his rights with our agreement. And can I change his last name due to the fact his dads hasn’t been in the picture for 8years
    • We have been divorce since Jul. 2009. We still lived in the house until Aug. 09 but I moved out due to her hostile. I decided to split our share, my 1/2 of the house (it was paid off by my father as a gift). I tried to get refinance-get the house-give her money 1/2 -and she was too BUT both of us fail to secure the loan we need. On 15 Oct. 09, I ask a realtor to sell our house so I can get my 1/2, her 1/2 but she repulsed to sign the sale auth and still live in it until now. What can I do to have her sign the sell, get my 1/2 and give her 1/2 so I move on?
    • My mother recently passed away and her will states that everything is to be divided among my 2 sisters and I. She has a house with a loan on it, a vehicle that is paid for(that my oldest sister now has), property that my other sister and her husband say is now theirs and I have only small things. The house is to go to the three of us but I can't get any info from my older sisters about it. And now my nephew and his girlfriend and son are living in the house and paying my older sister. What can I do ??
    • I WAS MARRIED IN AZ IN 2006 AND BECAME LEGALLY SEPARATED IN 2011. OUR FINANCES ARE SEPARATE AND WE ARE NOT ON EACH OTHERS CREDIT CARDS, CHECKING ACCOUNTS OR ANY OTHER LEGAL DOCUMENTS. IF HE PASSES AWAY AM I RESPONSIBLE FOR HALF THE DEBT HE INCURRED DURING THE FIRST 5 YEARS OF OUR MARRIAGE EVEN THOUGH HIS DEBT HAS NEVER BEEN IN MY NAME?

    STORIES

    LegalLEARN

    FIND LEGAL HELP

    • Please select your county of residence below.

      County:
       

    OTHER LEGAL RESOURCES

    • State Bar of Arizona
      www.azbar.org
    • Maricopa County Bar
      www.maricopabar.org
      Referral number 602-257-4434
    • Pima County Bar
      www.pimacountybar.org
      Referral number 520-623-4625
    • National Domestic Violence Hotline
      800-799-7233
    • Bankruptcy Court Self Help Center
      866-553-0893
    • Certified Legal Document Preparer Program
      Link

    ORGANIZATIONS

    Documents

    .pdf  Order of Protection Flowchart ReadSpeaker

    .pdf  Divorce/Legal Separation Flowchart ReadSpeaker

    .pdf  Arizona Orden de Proteccion Diagrama de flujo ReadSpeaker

    .pdf  Divorcio y Separacion Legal de Arizona Diagrama de flujo ReadSpeaker

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    LINKS

    Maricopa County Judicial Branch

    Maricopa County Judicial Branch Self-Service Center Online

    Arizona Housing Information

    Arizona Supreme Court Programs Unit

    DES Division of Child Support Enforcement

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