Coconino County Death Certificates

Coconino County Vital Records processes death certificate requests by appointment and mail only. The office in Flagstaff does not assist walk-in visitors with death certificates during regular hours. You must schedule an appointment or send your request by mail. Staff handle applications for any Arizona death record under state authority. Each certified copy costs $20. The office accepts cash, money orders, personal checks, and credit cards. Appointment slots run Monday and Tuesday mornings from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and Wednesday and Thursday afternoons from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Mail processing takes up to ten business days from when staff receive your complete application with all required documents and payment.

Vital Records Office Location

Coconino County Vital Records operates from 2625 N. King Street in Flagstaff, AZ 86004. This office handles vital records for northern Arizona residents but can issue certificates for deaths anywhere in the state. The appointment-only system helps staff manage workload and reduce wait times. Walk-in visitors seeking death certificates will not receive assistance during general business hours.

Call 928-679-7272 to schedule an appointment. Toll-free callers use 877-679-7272. Appointments run on Monday and Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday and Thursday afternoon slots are 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. These are the only times death certificate appointments are available. Bring your ID, proof of relationship, and payment to your appointment. Staff process requests during your visit if you have everything required.

Mail applications work for people who cannot visit during appointment hours. Send completed forms with ID copies to the King Street address. Include payment and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Mail processing normally takes up to ten business days. Very recent deaths may not be available immediately.

Note: Deaths within the last thirty to ninety days may not yet be entered into the state database.

Death Certificate Application Process

Arizona restricts access to death certificates. Only certain people can obtain copies under Arizona Administrative Code R9-19-314. Eligible applicants include surviving spouses, parents, adult children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, executors, estate beneficiaries, insurance beneficiaries, attorneys representing eligible persons, and others with legal claims. You must prove your relationship to the deceased.

Bring valid photo identification when you visit. Driver licenses, state ID cards, passports, and military IDs all work. The ID must be current and government-issued. Mail applicants send clear photocopies of both sides of their ID. You can skip the ID copy if you have your signature notarized instead. Relationship proof includes birth certificates, marriage certificates, court documents, insurance policies, or wills naming you.

The application asks for specific details. Provide the deceased person's full legal name as it appears on the death certificate. Include first, middle, and last names. Spell everything correctly. Give the exact date of death and the city or county where death occurred. Social security numbers help staff locate records faster. State your relationship to the person. Sign the application using your original signature.

Processing speed depends on how complete your application is. Missing information causes delays. Wrong names or dates make it hard to find records. Very recent deaths take time to register. The funeral home must submit information to medical certifiers. Doctors or coroners add cause of death. The state registrar reviews everything before registration. This whole process can take several weeks for new deaths. Old deaths process quickly once staff locate them in the system.

Coconino Death Index Fees

Each certified death certificate costs $20. This matches the standard fee set by Arizona Revised Statutes Section 36-341. Corrections and amendments run $30 per request. Non-certified genealogy copies cost $5. Genealogy copies work for family history but not official business or legal matters.

Coconino County accepts multiple payment methods. Cash works for in-person appointments. Money orders are accepted for walk-in and mail requests. Personal checks are allowed in Coconino County unlike many other counties. Credit cards process with possible service fees. Include card information on the application form for mail requests. Write your card number, expiration date, CVV code, and sign the authorization.

Arizona Death Registration Laws

Funeral establishments in Arizona have seven days to submit death certificates. Arizona Revised Statutes Section 36-325 sets this timeline. The funeral director takes possession of the body and gathers personal information from family. This includes name, birth date, residence, occupation, parents' names, and other demographic data. Medical certifiers receive notification and must complete cause of death information. All parts combine into a complete death certificate.

Arizona maintains closed death records. Arizona Revised Statutes Section 36-342 prohibits vital records staff from releasing information to the general public. Only eligible persons with proper ID and relationship proof can obtain copies. This law protects medical privacy and personal information. Government agencies can access records for official purposes under special rules.

Historical death records open to the public after fifty years. Arizona Revised Statutes Section 36-351 requires transferring copies to state archives at the fifty-year mark. These old records appear in genealogy databases. Anyone can search them. You still need to order certified copies through vital records offices for legal use.

Other Death Record Sources

The state central office for vital records operates in Phoenix. The Arizona Department of Health Services Bureau of Vital Records sits at 150 North 18th Avenue, Suite 120, Phoenix, AZ 85007. The state does not provide walk-in service. Order by mail to PO Box 6018, Phoenix, AZ 85005. Call 602-364-1300 for assistance. VitalChek offers expedited online ordering at 888-816-5907 with extra fees.

The Arizona genealogy database contains historical death records. Search free at genealogy.az.gov for deaths from 1870 through fifty years ago. The database shows index information and images of old death certificates. These work for family history research. Certified copies still require ordering through a county or state vital records office. Non-certified genealogy copies cost less but lack legal authority.

Arizona State Library provides Ancestry access to state residents. Free use of premium databases includes Arizona County Coroner and Death Records from 1881 to 1971. Visit the library in Phoenix to search. You cannot use this free access from home. Home access requires paying for your own Ancestry subscription.

Coconino County Cities

Coconino County includes Flagstaff as its largest city and county seat. Other communities spread across northern Arizona include Sedona, Williams, Page, and many smaller towns. All county residents use the Flagstaff office for vital records services.

Nearby Counties

Coconino County is Arizona's largest county by area. It borders Mohave County to the west, Yavapai County to the south, Navajo County and Apache County to the east, and Gila County to the southeast. It also touches Utah to the north. Each county operates its own vital records office that can issue death certificates for any Arizona death.