Search La Paz County Death Records

Death records in La Paz County are handled by the Office of Vital Records in Parker. The county office provides certified copies of death certificates for any death that occurred in Arizona. You can get death records in person at the office on Joshua Avenue or send your request through the mail to La Paz County.

La Paz County Office of Vital Records

The La Paz County Office of Vital Records can issue death records for all deaths that occur in Arizona. This is not just for deaths in La Paz County. If someone died in Phoenix, Tucson, or any other part of the state, the Parker office can get you a certified copy from the statewide database. The office is on Joshua Avenue in Suite 206 in Parker. Hours are Monday through Thursday from 7 in the morning until 5 in the afternoon.

One thing to know about La Paz County is the payment policy. The office only takes checks or money orders. They do not accept credit cards or debit cards at all. This is different from most other counties in Arizona. If you plan to visit in person, bring a check or money order made out to La Paz County. Cash is also not accepted. This is a firm rule, so make sure you have the right form of payment before you go to La Paz County.

Same day printing is not always possible in La Paz County. The office asks you to call ahead at 928-669-1100 if you have an urgent order and need the death certificate right away. This lets staff check if they can process your request the same day you come in. If you do not call first, you may need to wait a few days or come back later in La Paz County.

The La Paz County Vital Records page has basic info about fees and hours. You can also check the La Paz County Health Department Vital Records site for more details on what you need to bring when you apply for a death certificate in La Paz County.

Getting Death Certificates in La Paz County

You can get a death certificate in person or by mail in La Paz County. For in-person requests, go to the office at 1112 Joshua Ave in Parker during business hours. Bring your ID and be ready to fill out an application form. The form asks for basic facts about the person who died, like their full name, date of death, and place of death. You also need to show proof of your relationship to the person or explain why you need the death record.

Payment must be by check or money order. Make it out to La Paz County for $20 per copy. If you need three copies, the check should be for $60. Remember, no credit cards and no debit cards. If you do not have a check or money order when you arrive, you will need to come back another day in La Paz County.

For mail requests, print the death certificate application form from the county website or call to ask them to mail you one. Fill it out with all the required information. Send it to the vital records office at 1112 Joshua Ave, Suite 206, Parker, AZ 85344. Include a check or money order for $20 per copy. Send a photocopy of your government ID as well. The office will process your request and mail the certified death certificate back to you. Processing time for mail orders can take two to four weeks depending on how busy they are in La Paz County.

If same day service is important to you, call ahead at 928-669-1100. Ask if they can have your death certificate ready the day you come in. This is especially important if you are driving from another county or from out of state. The staff will tell you if same day printing is available or if you should plan to wait a few days.

Note: Arizona is a closed record state, which means only certain people can request death certificates.

Eligibility to Request Death Records

Arizona law restricts who can get a death certificate. You must be at least 18 years old and have a legal right to the record. Family members are the most common group allowed to request death records in La Paz County. This includes the surviving spouse, parents of the person who died, adult children, and siblings. You need to prove your relationship with documents like a marriage certificate, birth certificate, or other official records that show the family link.

Other people can also get death records if they have a legal interest. Attorneys who represent the estate of the person who died can request death certificates in La Paz County. Funeral directors need death records to handle burial and cremation arrangements. Banks, insurance companies, and other businesses can get copies if they show the person had an account or policy with them. Government agencies can request death records for official purposes.

If you do not fit into one of these categories, you may still be able to get a death certificate with a letter from an eligible family member. The letter should state that the family member gives you permission to get the death record on their behalf. The letter must be signed and include contact information for the family member. The vital records staff will review this and decide if it meets the legal requirements in La Paz County.

Genealogists and researchers can access old death records that are more than 50 years old. Arizona keeps historical vital records in a genealogy database. Deaths from 1870 to 1970 are available for free search at the Arizona Genealogy Record Search site. These are not certified copies, but they work for family tree research and historical projects.

Fees and Payment Methods

A certified death certificate costs $20 in La Paz County. Each additional copy is another $20. There is no discount for ordering multiple copies at the same time. If you need to make a correction to a death certificate, the fee is $35 per corrected copy. This is higher than the standard $30 correction fee in most Arizona counties. The extra cost may reflect the additional work needed to process amendments in La Paz County.

Payment options are very limited in La Paz County. You can only pay with a check or money order. Credit cards, debit cards, and cash are not accepted. This applies to both in-person and mail requests. Make your check or money order payable to La Paz County. If you send a check made out to the wrong name, it may be rejected and your request will be delayed in La Paz County.

For people who want to pay with a credit card, you can use VitalChek to order an Arizona death certificate online. VitalChek is an authorized service that works with the state vital records office. You can pay with a credit card through their website. There are extra fees for processing and shipping, usually around $15 to $30 on top of the state fee. VitalChek orders go through the state office in Phoenix, not through La Paz County directly, so processing times may differ.

Arizona State Vital Records for Older Deaths

La Paz County only has death records from February 2008 to the present in their local database. For deaths that took place before 2008, you must contact the state vital records office in Phoenix. The Arizona Department of Health Services Bureau of Vital Records has records going back to 1903. Some older records from before that time are also available if they were registered with the state.

The state office is at 150 North 18th Ave., Suite 120, in Phoenix. You can call them at (602) 364-1300 for information. The mailing address is PO Box 6018, Phoenix, AZ 85005. The state charges $20 for a certified death certificate, the same as the county fee. A $1 surcharge is added for all death certificates under ARS 36-341, but this is already included in the $20 price.

The state vital records office does not offer walk-in service. All requests must be made by mail or through VitalChek online. Processing time for mail orders is usually one to two weeks. If you need the death certificate faster, use the VitalChek online service. They offer expedited shipping options that can deliver in three to five business days for an additional fee.

If you are not sure whether the death happened before or after 2008, you can apply at La Paz County first. The staff can search the statewide database for you. If the death record is not in the system because it is too old, they will tell you to contact the state office in Phoenix instead.

Arizona Death Certificate Statutes

Arizona law sets the rules for death certificates. Under ARS 36-325, a funeral home or responsible person has seven calendar days to file the death certificate after taking possession of the human remains. The local 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 statewide database and can be issued as a certified copy in La Paz County.

The fee structure comes from ARS 36-341. This statute allows the state health director and each county to set fees for certified copies, searches, and corrections. The law also adds a $1 surcharge on all death certificates. This money goes into a special state registration and statistical revenue account. The total fee in La Paz County is $20, which includes the surcharge.

Confidentiality rules are in ARS 36-342. This statute prohibits vital records staff from showing or giving out death records except as allowed by law. Only eligible people can get certified copies. This makes Arizona a closed record state for vital records. Birth and death certificates are not open to the general public like most other government records.

ARS 36-301 defines what a certificate is and what terms like certified copy and vital record mean under state law. The statute also covers fetal death and stillbirth records. These are different from regular death certificates and have their own application process. If you need a fetal death or stillbirth certificate in La Paz County, call the vital records office for instructions.

Other Vital Records Services

The La Paz County Office of Vital Records also handles birth certificates for all Arizona births. 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. A birth certificate costs $20, the same as a death certificate. You need to fill out separate application forms for each record type in La Paz County.

Corrections and amendments to death certificates cost $35 for the first corrected copy in La Paz County. Additional copies of the same corrected certificate are $20 each if you order them at the same time. You must show proof that the correction is accurate. This can include hospital records, court orders, or other official documents that show the correct information. The vital records office will review your request and decide if the change can be approved. Some corrections take longer to process than others depending on what needs to be fixed in La Paz County.

For deaths that involve a medical examiner or coroner, there may be delays in getting the death certificate. The medical examiner must determine the cause of death and sign the death certificate before it can be filed. Once the death certificate is registered in the state database, you can request a certified copy from La Paz County. If you have questions about a medical examiner case, contact the vital records office for the current status of the death record.

Communities in La Paz County

La Paz County does not have any cities with a population over 50,000. Parker is the county seat and the largest town, with about 3,000 people. Other communities in La Paz County include Quartzsite, Blythe, and Salome. Many residents live along the Colorado River or in unincorporated areas. The county is one of the least populated in Arizona.

No matter where you live in La Paz County, the vital records office in Parker is where you go to get death certificates. The office serves the whole county and can also issue records for deaths that happened anywhere else in Arizona. If you live far from Parker and cannot make the trip, you can send your request by mail instead.

Nearby Arizona Counties

These counties border La Paz County. If you need a death certificate for someone who lived near the county line, check which county the death occurred in before you apply. The vital records office can search the statewide database for any Arizona death, but knowing the right county can help speed up the search process.