Coconino County Death Certificates

Death certificates in Coconino County are issued through the Health and Human Services department in Flagstaff. The office handles death records for all Arizona events, not just those in Coconino County. You can request copies in person at the Southern Region Office on North King Street or by mail. The building is going through a remodel until early June 2026, but all services are still up and running during the work.

Coconino County Health and Human Services

Coconino County Health and Human Services can give you death certificates for deaths that took place anywhere in Arizona. You do not have to live in Coconino County to use this office. The Southern Region Office at 2625 North King Street in Flagstaff is where you go for death certificate services. The building is going through changes right now to make it more convenient for people who come in. The work started in late 2025 and will go until early June 2026. Even with the remodel happening, the office is still open for death certificate requests in Coconino County.

The office uses the statewide vital records database. This means staff can look up any death that was registered in Arizona. If you need a death certificate from another county, you can still get it from Coconino County. The system makes it simple to find the record no matter where the death happened. Most requests are filled within a few days if you come in person and the death record is in the database.

The Coconino County death certificates page has all the forms and information you need to request a copy. You can print the application form before you go to the office or ask for one when you arrive. The website also explains what ID you need to bring and what proof of relationship is required.

Getting Death Certificates in Coconino County

You have two ways to get a death certificate in Coconino County. You can go in person to the office in Flagstaff or send your request by mail. For in-person service, bring a valid ID and fill out the death certificate application. You can get the form from the website before you go, or the staff will give you one at the front desk. Payment can be made with a credit card or money order. If you come in person, you can also pay with cash at the front desk.

Mail requests take longer to process. The normal time is up to 10 business days from when they get your complete application and all required documents. This is longer than some other counties, so plan ahead if you need the death certificate by a certain date. To send a request by mail, fill out the death certificate application and include a copy of your ID. Send a money order or include your credit card info on the form. Mail everything to 2625 N. King St., Flagstaff, AZ 86004.

During the building remodel, some service delivery changes are in place. Call the office at (928) 679-7272 before you visit to make sure you know where to go and what the current hours are. The toll free number is (877) 679-7272 if you are calling from outside the Flagstaff area. The staff can tell you the best time to come in and what to bring with you.

Note: Same-day service may not always be possible during the building remodel period.

Who Can Request a Death Certificate

Arizona is a closed record state for vital records. This means not everyone can get a death certificate. You must be 18 years old or older and meet one of the legal requirements set by state law. Family members are the main group who can request death records. This includes the spouse, parents, adult children, brothers, and sisters of the person who died. You need to prove your relationship with documents like a birth certificate or marriage certificate in Coconino County.

Other people and organizations can also request death certificates if they have a legal reason. Lawyers who represent the estate can get copies. Funeral homes need death certificates to settle final arrangements. Insurance companies and banks can request copies if the deceased person had an account or policy with them. Government agencies can get death records for official purposes. If you are not a family member but need the death certificate, you may need a letter from an eligible family member giving you permission to request it in Coconino County.

Genealogists can access old death records for research. Arizona has a special genealogy database for deaths that are more than 50 years old. You can search deaths from 1870 to 1970 for free at the Arizona Genealogy Record Search website. These are not certified copies, but they can help you trace your family tree.

Death Certificate Fees in Coconino County

A certified death certificate costs $20 per copy. Each copy you request costs the same amount. There are no bulk discounts in Coconino County. If you need to correct or change information on a death certificate, the fee is $30 for the first corrected copy. Each additional corrected copy is $20. This covers changes to names, dates, or other facts on the death record.

Payment methods include credit cards and money orders. Cash is only accepted if you bring your application in person to the Health and Human Services front desk in Flagstaff. Personal checks are not accepted. If you pay by mail, send a money order made out to Coconino County Health and Human Services. You can also fill in your credit card information on the application form, but do not send cash through the mail.

For faster service, you can order online through VitalChek. This is a third-party service that works with the Arizona Department of Health Services. VitalChek adds extra fees for processing and shipping, but you can get your death certificate in a few days instead of waiting weeks. This option is good if you are in a rush or live far from Coconino County.

Correcting Death Certificates in Coconino County

Coconino County Health and Human Services can only make corrections or amendments to deaths that occurred from 2008 to the present year. If the death took place before 2008, you have to go through the state office. The Bureau of Vital Records in Phoenix handles all older death records. Their address is PO Box 6018, Phoenix, AZ 85005. You can call them at (602) 364-1300 to ask about the process for correcting an old death certificate.

To correct a death certificate from 2008 or later, you need to show proof of the correct information. This can be other official documents, medical records, or sworn statements. The fee is $30 for the first corrected copy and $20 for each additional copy. The vital records staff will review your request and decide if the change can be made under Arizona law. Some corrections take longer to process than others, depending on what needs to be changed in Coconino County.

Common corrections include fixing a misspelled name, correcting a birth date, or updating the place of death. More complex changes may require extra documentation. Call the office at (928) 679-7272 before you submit your correction request to find out exactly what proof you need to bring. This can save you time and avoid having your request sent back for more information.

Coconino County Medical Examiner

Some deaths in Coconino County go through the Medical Examiner's Office. This happens when the cause of death is unclear, sudden, or suspicious. The medical examiner investigates these deaths and determines the cause and manner of death. Once the investigation is done, the medical examiner signs the death certificate. Then it gets filed with the vital records office and you can request a copy.

The Coconino County Medical Examiner office is separate from the vital records office. If you have questions about a death investigation or the cause of death listed on the certificate, you need to contact the medical examiner directly. They can explain their findings and provide additional information about the case. The medical examiner's office can also help families understand the autopsy process and what happens during an investigation in Coconino County.

For deaths that do not require medical examiner involvement, the death certificate is usually completed by the attending physician or the hospital. These deaths are registered faster because there is no investigation. Most natural deaths from illness or old age do not go through the medical examiner. The funeral home will know if the medical examiner needs to be involved in a specific case.

Arizona State Vital Records Office

For deaths that occurred before 2008 or if you need a death certificate while outside of Arizona, you can contact the state office. The Arizona Department of Health Services Bureau of Vital Records in Phoenix has records going back to 1903. Some older deaths from before 1903 are also in the state archives. The state office is the main source for all historic death records in Arizona.

The state vital records office is at 150 North 18th Ave., Suite 120, Phoenix, AZ 85007. You can mail requests to PO Box 6018, Phoenix, AZ 85005. The phone number is (602) 364-1300. The state office does not offer same-day walk-in service. All requests must be sent by mail or through the VitalChek online service. Processing time is usually one to two weeks for mail orders in Arizona.

The state charges the same fee as Coconino County for death certificates. A certified copy costs $20. Corrections or amendments are $30 for the first copy. The state office follows the same eligibility rules, so you need to prove your relationship or legal interest just like you would at the county level. You can download the death certificate application form from the state website or call to have one mailed to you.

Arizona Death Certificate Law

Arizona statutes set the rules for how death certificates are filed and issued. Under ARS 36-325, a funeral home or other responsible person must file the death certificate within seven calendar days after taking possession of the human remains. The local registrar or state registrar then has 72 hours to register the death certificate if it is complete and accurate. Once registered, the death record goes into the state database and certified copies can be issued in Coconino County.

ARS 36-341 gives counties the authority to set fees for death certificates. The law allows both the state and local registrars to charge for searches, certified copies, and amendments. Each death certificate in Arizona includes an extra one dollar surcharge that goes to a special state fund. The total fee in Coconino County is $20, which includes this surcharge. Counties can also charge different fees if they choose, but most counties use the same fee structure across the state.

ARS 36-342 protects the confidentiality of vital records. This law says that registrars and their staff cannot show vital records or share information from them except as allowed by law. Only eligible people can get certified copies or view the records. This makes Arizona a closed record state for death certificates. The law is designed to protect the privacy rights of families and prevent unauthorized access to sensitive information in Coconino County.

ARS 36-301 defines key terms used in Arizona vital records law. The statute explains what a certificate is, what a certified copy means, and what counts as a vital record. The law also covers fetal death certificates and stillbirth records, which are handled differently from regular death certificates. If you need a fetal death or stillbirth certificate in Coconino County, contact the vital records office for specific instructions on how to request these special records.

Other Vital Records Services

Coconino County Health and Human Services also handles birth certificates. If you need both a birth and death certificate, you can request them at the same time. Each type of record has its own fee and application form. Birth certificates cost $20 per copy, the same as death certificates. You must prove your eligibility for birth certificates just like you do for death records under Arizona law in Coconino County.

The office can help with amendments and corrections to birth records as well. If you were born in Arizona and need to change your name, correct your birth date, or add a parent to your birth certificate, the vital records staff can help you start the process. These changes require court orders or other legal documents in most cases. The staff can explain what you need to bring and how long the process takes in Coconino County.

For questions about specific death records or to check if a death certificate is available, call the office before you visit or mail your request. Staff can search the database over the phone and tell you if the record is in the system. This can save you a trip to Flagstaff if the death certificate is not ready yet or if you need to contact a different office for older records.

Cities in Coconino County

Coconino County includes Flagstaff, the county seat and largest city. Flagstaff is home to Northern Arizona University and serves as the main hub for services in the county. The Health and Human Services office in Flagstaff handles all death certificate requests for the entire county.

Other communities in Coconino County include Sedona, Williams, and Page. These towns do not have their own vital records offices. All death certificate requests for these areas go through the main office in Flagstaff. If you live in one of these communities and need a death certificate, you can visit the Flagstaff office in person or send your request by mail to 2625 N. King St., Flagstaff, AZ 86004.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Coconino County. If you need a death certificate for someone who lived near a county line, make sure you know which county the death occurred in. The vital records office can search the statewide database for any Arizona death, but knowing the correct county helps speed up the search process.