Apache County Death Records

The Apache County Office of Vital Records in St. Johns handles death certificate requests for deaths that occurred anywhere in Arizona. Located on the second floor of the county building at 75 W. Cleveland Street, the office serves northeastern Arizona residents with walk-in and mail services. Staff process applications for certified copies of state death records following Arizona law. You can request copies in person during counter hours or mail your application with the required fee. The office charges $20 per certified copy and accepts credit cards, debit cards, or money orders. Cash and personal checks are not accepted. Processing typically completes within one week for complete applications.

Apache County Vital Records Office

The Apache County Office of Vital Records issues certified copies of birth and death certificates for events occurring in the state of Arizona. The office operates from the second floor of the county government building in St. Johns. This is the only vital records office in the county. All walk-in requests and mail applications process through this location.

You will find the office at 75 W. Cleveland Street, Second Floor, St. Johns, AZ 85936. Mail requests should go to P.O. Box 697, St. Johns, AZ 85936. Do not send mail to the street address. The mailing address ensures your application reaches the vital records staff quickly. Call 928-337-7668 or 928-337-7525 with questions about applications or to verify office hours. Staff answer phones during counter hours Monday through Thursday.

Counter hours run from 8:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The office closes from noon to 1:00 p.m. for lunch. These hours apply Monday through Thursday only. The office is closed all day Friday. Plan your visit for earlier in the week if you need same-day service. The office also closes the second Tuesday and Wednesday of each month for community outreach services. Call ahead during the second week of any month to confirm the office is open before making the trip to St. Johns.

Getting Death Certificates in Apache County

Apache County processes death certificate requests in person or by mail. Walk-in applicants should bring a valid government-issued photo ID. You must show proof of your relationship to the deceased person. Arizona restricts who can obtain death certificates under Arizona Administrative Code R9-19-314. Eligible persons include the surviving spouse, parents, adult children, siblings, executors, beneficiaries, and others with legal interest in the record.

Fill out the death certificate application form completely. You need to provide the full name of the deceased, date of death, place of death, and your relationship to the person. Incomplete forms delay processing. Staff may ask additional questions to verify your eligibility. Original signatures are required on all applications. Electronic signatures do not meet state requirements.

Mail requests follow the same rules as walk-in applications. Include a clear photocopy of the front and back of your valid government-issued photo ID. You can skip the ID copy if you have your signature notarized instead. Send proof of your relationship along with the completed application. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope if you want the certificate returned by mail. Processing normally takes five to ten business days from when the office receives your complete application.

Note: Death records less than thirty days old may not yet be entered into the state database.

Apache County Death Index Fees

Each certified death certificate costs $20. Amendment requests cost $30. These fees match the standard Arizona rates set by Arizona Revised Statutes Section 36-341. Non-certified copies for genealogy research cost $5 per copy. Genealogy copies work for family history but cannot be used for legal purposes or official business.

Apache County accepts debit cards, credit cards, and money orders. The office does not accept cash. Personal checks are also not accepted. If paying by mail, use a money order or fill out credit card information on the application form. Include your card number, expiration date, CVV code, and signature authorizing the charge. Do not send debit or credit card information through email or fax for security reasons.

Death Record Laws

Arizona law requires funeral establishments to submit death certificates within seven days of receiving possession of human remains. This rule appears in Arizona Revised Statutes Section 36-325. The funeral director obtains information from the family and submits it to medical certifiers. Doctors, medical examiners, or coroners complete the cause of death section. The state registrar then registers the certificate.

Death records remain closed to the public. Arizona is a closed record state. Only eligible persons listed in administrative code can obtain certified copies. Arizona Revised Statutes Section 36-342 prohibits vital records staff from disclosing information to unauthorized persons. This protects personal and medical information from public release. Genealogy records become available fifty years after the date of death under Arizona Revised Statutes Section 36-351.

The state registrar maintains all death records filed in Arizona. Local offices like Apache County serve as deputy registrars. They can issue certified copies for any Arizona death, not just deaths in their county. This gives residents flexibility in choosing where to apply for copies.

Other Arizona Death Record Sources

The Arizona Department of Health Services Bureau of Vital Records in Phoenix handles all state vital records. The state office does not provide walk-in service. You can order through VitalChek for expedited processing with additional fees. Call 602-364-1300 for state office assistance or 888-816-5907 for VitalChek orders. The state office location is 150 North 18th Avenue, Suite 120, Phoenix, AZ 85007.

Historical death records appear in the Arizona genealogy database at genealogy.az.gov. This database covers deaths from 1870 through fifty years ago. Records become public fifty years after death. You can search by name, date, or location. The database shows index information but you still need to order certified copies through a vital records office. Genealogy research copies cost less than certified copies but lack the state seal needed for legal use.

Arizona residents can access additional historical records through Ancestry if visiting the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records. Free access is available for in-state residents. The collection includes Arizona County Coroner and Death Records from 1881 to 1971. These records provide historical context not found in modern certificates.

Nearby Counties

Apache County borders Navajo County to the south, Greenlee County to the southeast, and Coconino County to the west. It also borders New Mexico to the east and Utah to the north. Each Arizona county operates its own vital records office. You can request death certificates at any county office regardless of where the death occurred in the state.