Death Records in Scottsdale

Scottsdale death records come from Maricopa County vital records offices. The county operates five locations across the valley. The main Phoenix office at 1645 E. Roosevelt St. is closest to Scottsdale. You can also visit offices in Mesa, Peoria, Glendale, or Goodyear. All provide identical services. Each certified copy costs $20. Most complete applications process within one week according to county estimates.

Maricopa County Vital Records

Scottsdale sits in Maricopa County. Death certificates come from county offices, not the city. Maricopa County Office of Vital Registration handles all requests. They issue certificates for any Arizona death. The statewide index connects all 15 county offices.

The Phoenix office at 1645 E. Roosevelt St. serves Scottsdale well. It is the main county location with the most staff. Hours run Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday hours start at 9:00 a.m. for staff training. Walk-ins are welcome during posted hours. Same-day certificates may be available if the record is complete. Call 602-506-6805 with questions before you visit.

Four satellite offices operate in other valley areas. Mesa has an office at 331 E. Coury Ave. for East Valley residents. Peoria serves northwest at 8088 W. Whitney Dr., Suite 2A. Glendale operates at 5141 W. Lamar Rd. Goodyear opened at 14130 W. McDowell Rd. for West Valley growth. All five locations offer identical services and charge the same fees. Choose whichever is most convenient based on where you live or work.

Note: All Maricopa County offices access the same statewide death index database.

Requesting Death Certificates

You need form VS-159 to request death certificates. Get it from the Arizona Department of Health Services website. Or pick one up at any county office. Fill in the deceased person's full legal name as it appears on the certificate. Add their date of death if you know it. An approximate year works if you lack exact dates. More details help staff locate records faster.

Sign the application. Your signature must be original. Check the box showing your relationship to the deceased. Write how many copies you need. Each costs $20. Include payment for the total amount. Attach a photocopy of your government ID showing both front and back. Driver licenses, state IDs, and passports all work. Some requests need proof of relationship like birth or marriage certificates.

Walk-in applicants submit forms at the counter. Staff review them and search the database. If the record is registered, you may get copies the same day. Very recent deaths take longer because medical certifiers need time to complete registration. Mail requests go to PO Box 2111, Phoenix, AZ 85001. Include a stamped return envelope. Processing typically takes one week for complete applications.

Who Qualifies for Records

Arizona law limits death certificate access. You must be 18 or older and prove your legal connection. Arizona Administrative Code R9-19-314 defines eligibility. Immediate family qualifies. This includes spouses, parents, adult children, siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren.

Executors named in wills can request records. Attorneys representing eligible persons may apply for them. Anyone with valid power of attorney has access. Court orders grant access to people judges name in orders. Bring signed court orders when applying.

Funeral directors who handled arrangements get certificates for 12 months after death. Insurance companies with policies qualify. Banks with accounts need certificates to close them. Hospitals billing estates may request copies. Anyone with documented financial claims qualifies. Government agencies access records for official purposes under separate state law.

Certificate Fees and Payment

Certified copies cost $20 each. This is the uniform Arizona price. Corrections and amendments run $30 per request. Non-certified genealogy copies cost $5. These lack the seal and work only for family history. Offices accept cash, money orders, and all major credit cards. Debit cards work too. Small processing fees may apply.

Mail orders need money orders or credit card information. Do not mail cash. If paying by card, fill out the payment section on your application. Sign to authorize the charge. VitalChek offers expedited online ordering for extra fees. Call 888-816-5907 or visit their site. They charge convenience fees but deliver faster than regular mail. This helps when you need records quickly for legal or insurance matters.

Old Scottsdale Death Records

Deaths over 50 years old are public records under Arizona Revised Statutes Section 36-351. Anyone can access them without proving relationship. The state genealogy database at genealogy.az.gov offers free searches. It covers Scottsdale deaths from 1870 forward to 50 years ago.

The Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records maintains historical vital records in Phoenix. Visit to research in person. Some records are digitized. Ancestry.com has Arizona death records from 1881 to 1971. Arizona residents get free Ancestry access through the state library system. Contact your local Scottsdale library for login credentials.

Very old Scottsdale records may have gaps. Death registration started in 1909. Compliance improved after statehood in 1912. By the 1920s, most deaths were properly registered. Earlier records are rare. Information may be limited. Handwriting can be hard to read. Despite these limits, old records provide valuable information about Scottsdale families and history.

Other Death Information Sources

The Maricopa County Medical Examiner investigates certain deaths. Homicides, suicides, accidents, and suspicious deaths trigger investigations. The medical examiner determines cause and manner of death. These reports are separate from death certificates. Contact the medical examiner's office at 701 W. Jefferson St. in Phoenix for investigation records.

Social Security Death Index lists deaths from the 1960s forward. The federal database shows name, birth date, death date, and last residence. Several free websites offer SSDI searches. Use it to verify dates before ordering official certificates. The Social Security index does not replace state death certificates for legal purposes like probate or insurance.

Death Records Near Scottsdale

Phoenix borders Scottsdale on the west. Tempe lies south. Mesa extends southeast. All are in Maricopa County and use the same vital records system.

Glendale sits west of Phoenix. Peoria extends northwest. Surprise lies farther northwest. Chandler and Gilbert anchor the East Valley. All Maricopa County cities share one vital records system. You can use any office for death certificates.

Scottsdale residents can choose whichever office is most convenient. The Phoenix location serves north valley well. The Mesa office works for those in east Scottsdale. All locations access the same database and provide identical services.