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

    • My boyfriend and I are of legal age, and my Parents filed a restraining Order. What are my Rights and can they do that?
    • My Mom is disabled, she should be doing physical therapy but she refuses to help herself and wont let us help her, she ignores her health completely and sits around all day drinking and taking her prescription pills and is in and out of the hospital, she's becoming a danger to herself and refuses to see it. what are the laws to putting her into a rehab or nursing home.
    • My exhusband and his girlfriend purchased a home together. I have been refused their new address and I feel that I have the right to know where they live, in case of an emergency. What are the legal ramifications of the primary custodial parent not knowing where the children live every other weekend? Do I have that right to know?
    • My mother passed away in 2012, she will the family home to my 2 sisters and I. 1 sister signed off on estate not wanting any of it. My oldest sister moved her son and girlfriend into mothers house. My mother has a mortgage on home and I think my sister is wrong for keeping account open under my mothers name. She tells me to not worry about it. What can I do about it. I want to sell the home. Any help would be appreciated.
    • Where do i go to get signed up for the parenting class?
    • i am 15, almost 16, and I get in constant fights with my parents, some leading to abuse, and would like to live with a friend of mine that lives in California. could there be a penalty for doing so? do i have to get emancipated to do this? what do i have to do in general to do this. my family knows this family very well and they would take great care of me. they would also have no issue in taking me in and they would treat me as their own.
    • If a couple lives together for 7 years in Arizona are they legally married?
    • I have Durable Power of Attorney for my mother who is in a nursing home. Does this obligate me for her debts?
    • Me and my husband separated almost 4 years ago but not signed official separation agreement and if I buy real estate now with money send from my sister,will it be considered as my separate property or community property? Thank You
    • How long am I held responsible for keeping my son's abandoned tools & personal property, before I can either sell, donate or otherwise dispose of it? I desperately need to be able to clean up my patio and back yard.

    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

    See More...