Vital records are pieces of documentation essential for any legal process. It is a requirement that you must fulfill in order to demonstrate life events like the moment of birth or death. But not all states have the same process; you have to understand how you can get death records if your relative passed away in Arizona.
You need at least some confirmation of the deceased if you want to file life insurance or there is a will you have to retrieve. If you possess some death records, you can proceed easily on these matters.
For that reason, we will tell you how you can obtain death records in Arizona, as well as some other details of your interest.
Knowing about death records
Do not think that getting this document is a hard process; nowadays, there are a lot of options on how you can get one. But before we get into that, let’s mention what you can find inside the death records:
- The location and cause of death
- The declared time of death
- Personal data like age, sex, height, and nationality
- Occupation of the deceased (if any)
- If the deceased was married or not
- Even the burial or cremation place
List of people that can retrieve Arizona death records
According to the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS), any of the vital records available can be obtained if the person is over 18 years old and meets certain criteria.
Another thing to keep in mind is that Arizona is a closed record state; in other words, your records are not public. So, if you are a relative of the deceased, you have to provide certified documentation for these private records.
People that can retrieve Arizona death records are parents, grandparents, spouses, brothers or sisters, someone with a power of attorney, a hospital, or anyone that can provide certification of relationship with the deceased.
In this state, you must provide valid government-issued identification and a signed application. You will be asked for these documents because they are a big priority.
Requirements if you are the Spouse
According to the ADHS website, you must complete these:
Requirements if you are an Adult Child
Requirements if you are a Parent
Requirements if you are another relative
Visit the ADHS website for more information
Process of requesting
Now that you know who can request death records in Arizona, it is time to present the different procedures available. There are two ways that you can request it:
A classic option that you can use is to send your application by mail. You must get the right paperwork for the request to be accepted, if you do not provide it correctly, the process will be delayed or even denied. You must submit the next documents:
- Proof of eligibility
- Copy of your government-issued picture identification
- A self-addressed stamped envelope with the request
- An application for a certified copy of death certificate
The last one must be filled in entirely, and you can download it from the ADHS website or by clicking here. On the second page, you will find the different offices where you can send the documents, as well as the payment options.
Online
Another way you can find Arizona death records is by going to the VitalChek portal. This is a website where you can request any type of vital records from the state where your relative passed away.
If you need to apply for death records, you just have to choose the state of Arizona, then the city you are in, and provide information about yourself and the deceased. You also have to clarify the reason why you want to retrieve this document.
Then, you will have to select the delivery option you trust the most and wait for the document to arrive. For example, it normally takes between 3 to 5 business days if you choose UPS.
Finally, for both options (mail and online), the fee for the death records is $20 for the first copy and $20 for additional ones. Keep in mind that VitalChek also has a processing fee of $12.95 per order.