Find Flagstaff Death Records

Flagstaff death records come from Coconino County Health and Human Services, not from the City of Flagstaff. Arizona cities do not issue vital records like death certificates under state law. All death certificates for Flagstaff residents are handled at the county or state level. Coconino County runs a vital records office at 2625 North King Street in Flagstaff. This office can provide certified death certificates for any death that occurred in Arizona. If you need a death record for someone who died in Flagstaff, contact Coconino County or the Arizona Department of Health Services Bureau of Vital Records. The Flagstaff City Clerk at 211 West Aspen Avenue does not handle vital records and will refer you to the county office.

Coconino County Handles Death Records

The City of Flagstaff does not issue death certificates. Arizona state law assigns vital records to county public health departments and the state health agency. Cities have no role in issuing or maintaining death records. The Flagstaff City Clerk's office at 211 West Aspen Avenue handles city documents like council agendas, meeting minutes, public records requests for city business, and local permits. When it comes to birth certificates, death certificates, or other vital records, you must go to the county or state level.

Coconino County Health and Human Services operates the vital records office for Flagstaff and the rest of Coconino County. The main office is at 2625 North King Street in Flagstaff. This location is currently undergoing a building remodel to provide more convenient access to services. The remodel project started in 2025 and should be completed in early June 2026. During construction, vital records services remain available, but there are some temporary changes to service delivery. You can still apply for death certificates at the King Street office, but you should call ahead at (928) 679-7272 to confirm current procedures and wait times.

Coconino County can provide death certificates for any death that occurred in Arizona, not just Coconino County deaths. The office has access to the statewide vital records database maintained by the Arizona Department of Health Services. This means you can get a death certificate in Flagstaff even if the death occurred in Phoenix, Tucson, or any other Arizona location. The fee is $20 per certified copy, and corrections or amendments cost $30 for the first copy.

The Coconino County death records page has complete details on fees, processing times, and what documents you need to apply. You can also visit the Coconino County death certificates website to check current information and download application forms.

Flagstaff City Clerk Office

The Flagstaff City Clerk is at 211 West Aspen Avenue in downtown Flagstaff. Office hours run from 8 in the morning to 4:30 in the afternoon on weekdays. The main phone number is 928-213-2000, and you can also reach the clerk's office directly at 928-213-2077. The City Clerk handles public records requests for city documents. This includes city council minutes, ordinances, resolutions, permits, and other official city paperwork. You can get copies of meeting agendas, zoning documents, business licenses, and similar records from this office.

The City Clerk does not handle vital records. If you call or visit asking for a death certificate, staff will refer you to Coconino County Health and Human Services. The county office is just a few blocks away at 2625 North King Street. It is the only place in Flagstaff where you can get certified death certificates. The City Clerk has no access to the state vital records database and cannot print or issue death certificates under Arizona law.

The Flagstaff City Clerk website lists the types of public records available from the city. These include council packets, contracts, bids, development applications, and other city business records. For vital records like birth certificates and death certificates, the city website directs you to the Arizona Department of Health Services vital records page or to Coconino County. This saves you a trip if you know in advance to go to the county office instead of the city.

Requesting Death Certificates in Flagstaff

Flagstaff residents have three ways to get death certificates. The first is to apply by mail. Download the death certificate application form from the Arizona Department of Health Services website. This is form VS-159. Fill in all the required information about the person who died. Include a copy of your government photo ID and any documents that prove your relationship to the deceased. Mail the application with a check or money order for $20 per copy to the Coconino County office at 2625 North King Street, Flagstaff, AZ 86004. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope so they can mail the certificate back to you. Processing time for mail applications is normally up to 10 business days from the date they receive your complete application and documents.

The second option is to drop off your application in person at the Flagstaff county office. You can fill out the form ahead of time or complete it at the office. Bring your photo ID and proof of relationship documents. Pay the $20 fee with cash, credit card, debit card, or money order. Cash is only accepted for applications dropped off in person at the front desk. Credit and debit cards are accepted, but Coconino County may charge a small convenience fee for card transactions. In-person applications are usually processed faster than mail requests, but same-day service is not guaranteed. Call ahead to check current wait times, especially during the building remodel.

The third way is to order online through VitalChek. VitalChek is the authorized online ordering service for Arizona vital records. You fill out the application on their website and upload photos of your ID and supporting documents. Choose your shipping speed. Standard delivery takes 7 to 10 business days. Expedited options cost extra but can get the death certificate to you faster. VitalChek charges service fees in addition to the $20 state fee. However, online ordering is convenient if you cannot visit the county office during business hours or if you live far from Flagstaff.

All three methods require you to prove eligibility. Arizona is a closed record state for vital records. You must be at least 18 years old to request a death certificate. You must also be a family member, legal representative, or person with a legal interest in the record. Eligible persons include the spouse, parents, adult children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, attorneys, funeral directors, insurance companies, banks, and government agencies. If you do not fit one of these categories, you may need written authorization from an eligible family member.

Fees and Processing Times

A certified death certificate costs $20 in Arizona. This fee is set by state law under Arizona Revised Statutes § 36-341. Each copy you order costs $20. There is no discount for ordering multiple copies. If you need five copies, you pay $100. Corrections or amendments to a death certificate cost $30 for the first corrected copy, plus $20 for each additional copy of the amended record.

Coconino County can only process corrections for death certificates from 2008 to the present year. If you need to correct a death certificate for a death that occurred before 2008, you must contact the Bureau of Vital Records at PO Box 6018, Phoenix, AZ 85005, or call (602) 364-1300. The state office handles all amendments to older death records. The county cannot make changes to pre-2008 records under state rules.

Mail applications to Coconino County take up to 10 business days to process from the date they receive your complete application. This time frame includes the time to review your documents, verify eligibility, print the certificate, and mail it back to you. In-person drop-off applications are usually processed faster, though same-day service is not guaranteed. The building remodel at the King Street office may cause some delays, so call ahead at (928) 679-7272 to check current processing times before you visit or mail an application.

VitalChek online orders arrive in 7 to 10 business days for standard shipping. Expedited shipping options are available at extra cost and can reduce the delivery time to 3 to 5 days. VitalChek charges service fees and shipping fees on top of the $20 state certificate fee. The total cost for an online order is higher than ordering by mail, but the convenience and faster processing may be worth it if you need the death certificate quickly.

Note: A death certificate may not be ready for several days after the death occurs because funeral homes have up to seven days to file the certificate under Arizona law.

Arizona State Vital Records Office

The Arizona Department of Health Services Bureau of Vital Records is the state agency that maintains all Arizona death records. The office is at 150 North 18th Avenue, Suite 120, in Phoenix. The bureau keeps records for all Arizona deaths from 1909 to the present, plus some older records from county sources dating back to 1877. You can contact them by phone at (602) 364-1300 or toll-free at (888) 816-5907 with questions about death certificates, fees, or eligibility requirements.

The state office no longer offers walk-in service. That ended during the COVID-19 pandemic and has not resumed. If you want in-person service, you need to go to a county vital records office like the Coconino County office in Flagstaff. The state office only processes requests that come by mail or through VitalChek online ordering. Mail your death certificate application to PO Box 6018, Phoenix, AZ 85005. Include the $20 fee, a copy of your photo ID, proof of relationship, and a self-addressed stamped envelope.

The state office handles special requests that county offices cannot process. This includes corrections to death certificates from before 2008, delayed death certificates, and presumptive death certificates ordered by a court. The state also runs the genealogy records database for historical death records more than 50 years old. If your request involves one of these special situations, contact the state office directly instead of the county.

Arizona Death Certificate Privacy Laws

Arizona is a closed record state for vital records. Death certificates are not public records that anyone can request. State law restricts access to protect confidentiality and prevent identity theft and fraud. Arizona Revised Statutes § 36-342 is the main confidentiality law. It says that vital records registrars and their employees cannot permit inspection of a vital record or disclose information from a vital record except as authorized by law.

Arizona Administrative Code R9-19-314 and R9-19-315 spell out who can get death certificates and what documents are needed to prove eligibility. These regulations apply statewide. The same rules apply whether you request a death certificate from Coconino County, the state office, or any other county in Arizona. Common eligible persons include the spouse, parents, adult children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, attorneys, funeral directors, estate executors, insurance companies, banks, and government agencies. Each category has specific document requirements to prove your status and relationship.

For example, if you are an adult child requesting your parent's death certificate, you need to provide a copy of your birth certificate showing the deceased person as your mother or father. If you are the spouse, you need a copy of your marriage certificate. If you are an attorney, you need documentation of your legal representation. If you are a funeral director, you need proof of your professional status. These rules ensure that only authorized persons can access death records and use them for proper legal purposes.

ARS § 36-325 sets the timeline for death certificate registration. A funeral home or responsible person must complete the death certificate within seven days of taking possession of human remains. The state or local registrar then has 72 hours to register the certificate if it is accurate and complete. This registration process must happen before copies can be issued. So if a death occurred very recently, the certificate might not be ready yet even if you go to the county office right away.

Historical Death Records for Genealogy

If you need an old Flagstaff death record for genealogy research and the death occurred more than 50 years ago, you can use the Arizona Genealogy Record Search. This is a free online database run by the state health department. It covers deaths from 1870 through 1970. You can search by name, date, and location to find historical death records without proving a family relationship or legal interest.

The genealogy search tool is at genealogyapp.azdhs.gov. Enter the name of the person who died and any other details you know. The system will show a list of matching records. Click on a result to view an image of the original death certificate. These images are not certified copies and do not have the official seal. They cannot be used for legal purposes like settling estates or claiming insurance benefits. But they are useful for building family trees and tracing your Flagstaff ancestors.

Under ARS § 36-351, the state makes these old records available to the public for genealogy purposes. The law allows the health department to release vital records that are more than 50 years old to anyone who wants them for historical or genealogical research. If you find an error in the genealogy database or have a confidentiality concern, you can contact the Bureau of Vital Records at 602-364-1300 or send an email to the address listed on the genealogy website.

Other Vital Records in Flagstaff

Just like death certificates, all other vital records in Flagstaff come from the county or state level. The City of Flagstaff does not issue birth certificates, marriage records, or divorce records. Birth certificates are issued by Coconino County Health and Human Services and the Arizona Department of Health Services. The same office at 2625 North King Street in Flagstaff that handles death certificates also handles birth certificates. Fees and eligibility requirements are similar for both types of records.

Marriage licenses and marriage certificates come from the Coconino County Clerk of the Superior Court, not the city and not the health department. The court clerk's office handles marriage records, divorce records, and other family court documents. These are court records, not vital records, and have different rules and fees. The Superior Court for Coconino County is at 200 North San Francisco Street in Flagstaff. Contact the clerk's office for information on how to request marriage or divorce records.

Coconino County also has a Medical Examiner's office that investigates certain deaths. If a death occurred under suspicious circumstances, was sudden and unexpected, or involved violence, accident, or unknown causes, the case may go through the medical examiner. The Coconino County Medical Examiner can provide autopsy reports and investigation records for cases they handled. These are separate from death certificates, though the medical examiner's findings may be included in the death certificate filed with the state.