Find Tucson Death Records

Death certificates for Tucson residents are handled by Pima County, not the City of Tucson. The Tucson City Clerk does not issue vital records. All Arizona cities refer vital record requests to county health departments or the state vital records office. If you need a death certificate for someone who passed away in Tucson, you must contact the Pima County Office of Vital Records or the Arizona Department of Health Services Bureau of Vital Records. Pima County operates two locations in the Tucson area where you can apply for certified death certificates in person.

Pima County Handles Tucson Death Records

The City of Tucson does not issue death certificates. No Arizona city has that authority. State law gives vital records responsibility to county public health departments and the state health agency. The Tucson City Clerk's office at 255 West Alameda handles city documents like council agendas, resolutions, ordinances, and business licenses. But for birth certificates, death certificates, and other vital records, you need to contact Pima County or the state office.

For Tucson residents, that means the Pima County Office of Vital Records. Pima County runs two offices in the Tucson area. The main location is at the Abrams Public Health Center at 3950 South Country Club Road. This office is open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 8 in the morning to 3:30 in the afternoon. The office closes daily from 1 to 2 for lunch. A second location opened at the Northwest Service Center at 1010 West Miracle Mile. This office is open Tuesday and Thursday from 8:15 in the morning to 4:15 in the afternoon, with the same lunch break from 1 to 2.

Both Pima County offices can access the statewide vital records database and print certified death certificates while you wait. Same-day service is usually available if the death record is in the system and you bring all required documents. Call ahead at 520-724-7932 if you have questions about what to bring or want to check if a recent death certificate is ready. You can also email the office at pchd.vitalrecords@pima.gov.

The Pima County death records page has complete details on both office locations, hours, fees, and eligibility rules. You can also visit the Pima County Vital Records website for updated information on processing times and any temporary service changes.

Tucson City Clerk Office

The Tucson City Clerk is at City Hall, 255 West Alameda. You can also mail requests to PO Box 27210, Tucson, AZ 85726-7210. The City Clerk handles public records requests for city documents but does not handle vital records. You can get copies of city council minutes, ordinances, resolutions, and other city business records. The City Clerk also processes business licenses and maintains the city's official records. Phone number is (520) 791-4213. Email is cityclerk@tucsonaz.gov.

When Tucson residents call the City Clerk asking about death certificates, staff refer them to the Pima County Office of Vital Records. The city does not have access to the state vital records database. City employees cannot print or issue death certificates. Knowing this in advance saves you a trip to the wrong office. If you need a death certificate in Tucson, go straight to one of the two Pima County offices instead of the City Clerk.

The Tucson City Clerk's office does handle other types of public records. You can request copies of city council agendas and meeting videos. You can look up city ordinances and resolutions. The clerk maintains records of city contracts, real estate transactions, and business licenses. But for vital records like birth certificates, death certificates, and marriage records, you must go to the county or state level. Arizona law makes this separation clear across all cities in the state.

Getting Death Certificates as a Tucson Resident

Tucson residents have three main options for obtaining death certificates. The first is to visit a Pima County vital records office in person. Bring a government photo ID like a driver's license or passport. You need proof of your relationship to the deceased person. This could be a birth certificate showing you are a child or parent, a marriage certificate if you are the spouse, or other documents proving you are an eligible family member under Arizona law. Fill out the application form at the office. Pay the $20 fee per copy. Most in-person requests are processed the same day if the death certificate is in the database and you meet all eligibility requirements.

The second option is ordering by mail. Download the death certificate application form from the Arizona Department of Health Services website. This form is called VS-159 and was updated in December 2025. Fill out all sections with details about the person who died. Make sure to include your contact information and relationship to the deceased. Include a copy of your photo ID and any proof of relationship documents like birth or marriage certificates. Send a check or money order for $20 per copy made payable to Bureau of Vital Records. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope for the return mailing. Mail everything to PO Box 6018, Phoenix, AZ 85005. This is the state vital records office. Mail processing takes 10 to 15 business days from when they receive your complete application.

The third way is through VitalChek, the official online ordering service for Arizona vital records. You fill out the application on the VitalChek website and upload a photo of your government ID. The system guides you through the required information and document uploads. You can choose standard or expedited shipping. Standard shipping takes 7 to 10 business days. Expedited shipping costs more but delivers in 3 to 5 days. VitalChek charges service fees on top of the $20 state fee. This option works well if you cannot visit an office during business hours or need a certificate mailed to you quickly.

Arizona is a closed record state. You must be at least 18 years old to request a death certificate. You must also meet eligibility requirements set by Arizona Revised Statutes § 36-342 and Arizona Administrative Code R9-19-314 and R9-19-315. Eligible persons include the spouse, parents, adult children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, attorneys, funeral directors, government agencies, insurance companies, banks, and anyone who can prove a legal or vital interest in the record. If you do not fall into one of these categories, you may need written authorization from an eligible family member.

Note: Applications missing required documents or incorrect fees will be delayed or returned unprocessed.

Costs and Processing Times for Death Certificates

The fee for a certified death certificate in Arizona is $20. This fee is set by state law under ARS § 36-341. Each certified copy costs $20 with no bulk discount. If you order four copies, you pay $80. Corrections or amendments to a death certificate cost $30 for the first corrected copy and $20 for each additional copy of the amended record.

Processing times vary by method. Same-day service is available at both Pima County offices in Tucson if you apply in person. The office can print your death certificate while you wait as long as the record is in the state database and you have all required eligibility documents. But recent deaths may not be in the system yet. Funeral homes have up to seven days after taking possession of human remains to file a death certificate under ARS § 36-325. The state registrar then has 72 hours to register the certificate. So a death that occurred just a few days ago may not be available for another week or so.

Mail requests to the state office in Phoenix take 10 to 15 business days. Pima County is currently experiencing high volumes of birth certificate requests due to REAL ID requirements. This has pushed mail processing times for death certificates to 4 to 6 weeks in some cases. The county processes requests in the order received. If you need a death certificate urgently, visit one of the two Tucson offices in person rather than mailing your request.

VitalChek online orders arrive in 7 to 10 business days with standard shipping. Expedited shipping cuts that to 3 to 5 days but costs extra. VitalChek adds service fees to the $20 state fee, so online orders cost more than applying by mail or in person. Call the Pima County office at 520-724-7932 before you visit to confirm hours and ask if there are any current delays.

Arizona State Vital Records Office

The Arizona Department of Health Services Bureau of Vital Records is the main state agency for vital records. This office is at 150 North 18th Avenue, Suite 120, in Phoenix. The bureau keeps records for all Arizona deaths from 1909 to the present. Some older records from county sources date back to 1877. You can call the state office at (602) 364-1300 or toll-free at (888) 816-5907. These numbers reach recorded messages with information about fees, processing times, and how to order certificates.

The state office no longer offers walk-in service. That ended during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now the only ways to get death certificates from the state office are by mail or online through VitalChek. For same-day service, you must go to a county vital records office instead. Pima County is the right choice for Tucson residents because both county offices are local and can print certificates while you wait.

The state office handles certain requests that counties cannot. If you need to correct a death certificate for a death that occurred before 2008, you must work with the state office. County offices can only amend records from February 2008 forward. The state also handles genealogy research requests, delayed death certificates, and presumptive death certificates ordered by courts under ARS § 36-325. Mail these special requests to PO Box 6018, Phoenix, AZ 85005.

Laws Governing Arizona Death Certificates

Arizona vital records are governed by state statutes, not city or county laws. The main laws are in Arizona Revised Statutes Title 36, Chapter 3. These statutes define what a death certificate is, who can issue them, and who can get copies. State law puts vital records under the control of the state registrar and local county registrars. Cities have no role in vital records under Arizona law.

ARS § 36-301 defines key terms. A "certificate" is a record that documents a birth or death. A "certified copy" is a written reproduction of a registered certificate that a local registrar or state registrar has authenticated as a true and exact copy. A "vital record" means a registered birth certificate or registered death certificate. The statute also defines "presumptive death" as a court determination that a death occurred even though human remains were not recovered.

ARS § 36-325 sets the death certificate registration process. A funeral home or responsible person must complete the death certificate within seven days of receiving possession of human remains. They must get medical information from a physician or medical examiner, fill in personal details, and submit the certificate to a local or state registrar. The registrar has 72 hours to register the certificate if it is accurate and complete. This timeline ensures families can get copies quickly for insurance claims, funeral arrangements, and estate matters.

ARS § 36-342 is the confidentiality statute. It says that vital records are not public records in Arizona. Local registrars, deputy registrars, the state registrar, and their staff cannot permit inspection of a vital record or disclose information from it except as authorized by law. This makes Arizona a closed record state for vital records. You cannot request any death certificate without proving you are eligible under the law.

Arizona Administrative Code R9-19-314 and R9-19-315 provide detailed eligibility rules. These regulations list who can apply for death certificates and what proof they must provide. The rules apply statewide. The same requirements apply whether you request a death certificate from Pima County, Maricopa County, the state office, or any other county in Arizona.

Genealogy Research for Historic Tucson Deaths

If you need a death record for family history research and the death happened 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 old Tucson death records without proving a family relationship or paying a fee.

The search tool is at genealogyapp.azdhs.gov. Enter the name of the deceased person and any other details you know. The system returns 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. You cannot use them for legal purposes like settling estates or claiming insurance. But they work fine for building family trees and researching your Tucson ancestors.

Under ARS § 36-351, the state makes these historic records available to the public for genealogy purposes. If you find an error in the database or have a confidentiality concern, you can contact the Bureau of Vital Records at 602-364-1300. The state continues to scan and index older records, so the database grows over time.

Other Vital Records for Tucson Residents

Just like death certificates, other vital records in Tucson come from the county or state. Birth certificates are issued by Pima County Office of Vital Records and the Arizona Department of Health Services. Marriage licenses and marriage certificates come from the Pima County Clerk of the Superior Court. Divorce records are court records kept by the Clerk of the Superior Court. The Tucson City Clerk does not handle any of these vital records.

Pima County Office of Vital Records handles both birth and death certificates at the same two Tucson locations. If you need a birth certificate and a death certificate, you can get both in one trip to the Abrams office or the Northwest office. The eligibility rules and fees are similar for both types of records. Both require proof of relationship and a $20 fee per certified copy.

For marriage and divorce records, contact the Pima County Superior Court. The court has a records department that processes requests for marriage licenses, marriage certificates, divorce decrees, and other family court records. These are court records, not vital records, and have different fees and procedures than death certificates. The courthouse is at 110 West Congress Street in downtown Tucson.

Arizona does not centralize vital records at the city level like some other states do. Cities focus on city government records like council minutes, ordinances, permits, and business licenses. Vital records are handled at the county and state level across all 15 Arizona counties. This system has been in place since the state began keeping vital records in 1909.