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 recently purchased a car with my boyfriend and put his name on the car loan with but his credit had no part of the loan , I did it too let him know that I'm including him in my life but now is there any way I can get my name off the title or his
    • I am currently going through a divorce, where there is no custody established, and am pregnant. I have been put on strict bedrest. I am trying to move to Nevada where I will have more help from my older children's father and be able to be on bedrest like I'm supposed to. Would I be able to file a petition for relocation with a minor, and temporarily move before the 60 days, without getting in trouble for it. And will it effect how they decide custody. Also, I have a PO against the other parent, and there has been domestic violence toward me and the children during our marriage.
    • I am looking for the legal term used in court to have the other party speak for themselves and not the attorney.
    • My father has dementia- he is 76 yrs old and his current wife wants to put him in the VA in long term care- we are 100% against this as his Children. She won’t allow us any say with his care. I have medical power of attorney from several years back. Is there anything I can do and does that ever expire? She doesn’t know that I have this.
    • My daughter's father bought a new car fo her 17th birthday but it is registered in my(mother) name Now she moved to boyfriends house and there are many problems. Do I have to sign title over to her?
    • When my dad gets remarried will she be my stepmother even if iam a adult of 21 yares old or is this just a term
    • My grandfather passed away & all his children also passed all the family he had are his 3grandchildren. He died at 2:00am & his stepson had a quit claim deed signed & notorized on the same day he died. his stepson took over all his property house, car, bank accounts. what can I do in this situation? I really don't think my grandfather was able to sign a quit claim deed if he died at 2am. also my grandfather suffered from dementia.
    • Me my husband and our daughter live with my mom and my aunt, my mom evicted my husband and she's telling me I can pack my things and go is there any place that helps family's have a place to go and help us get back on our feet? We are also unemployed but we have been applying everywhere.
    • Does ahcccs provide counseling services for minor children? I feel that my children are having a difficult time with their father being incarcerated.
    • I currently have joint custody of my children in which I have them 50% of the time. My ex-wife and I do not agree on which schools our children should attend, and our paperwork states that neither of us can make the final decision. An attorney had told me that if we have tried mediation with conciliation services (which we have tried), then the next step would be to file a motion for school determination. My question is: how do you go about doing that? I do not see forms that seem to pertain to this. Thanks!

    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

    RELATED ARTICLES

    Adoption and Child Welfare

    Where to Find an Attorney for Specific Legal Advice

    Arizona's Booster Seat Laws

    How to Represent Yourself in Maricopa County Part 1: Initial Filings

    How to Represent Yourself in Maricopa Family Court Part 2: Default Through Discovery

    Services Offered by Arizona Department of Child Support Services (DCSS)

    Child Support and Disabled Children Becoming Adults

    Federal and State Tax Exemptions for Dependent Children: Who gets to claim them?

    Spousal Maintenance Enforcement

    LINKS

    Arizona Housing Information

    Arizona Supreme Court Programs Unit

    DES Division of Child Support Enforcement

    Maricopa County Judicial Branch

    Maricopa County Judicial Branch Self-Service Center Online

    See More...