Greenlee County Death Records

Greenlee County Health and County Services handles death certificate requests from offices in Clifton and Duncan. These two locations serve Arizona's smallest county by population in the state's eastern mountains. Staff process applications for Arizona death records under the county's deputy registrar authority. Walk-in and mail services are available at both offices. Each certified death certificate costs $20. Payment must be cash or money order only. Greenlee County does not accept credit cards, debit cards, or personal checks for vital records fees. The main office in Clifton operates Monday through Thursday from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Duncan maintains similar hours at its location. Processing times vary based on workload but typically complete within one to two weeks for complete applications with all required documents.

Health Services Office Locations

Greenlee County operates vital records services from two offices. The main location sits at 253 Fifth Street in Clifton, AZ 85533. This is the county seat and serves most residents. Mail applications to P.O. Box 936, Clifton, AZ 85533. Do not send mail to the street address. The post office box ensures your application reaches staff quickly. Call 928-865-2601 for questions about death certificates or vital records. Fax number is 928-865-1929 if you need to send documents.

The Duncan office provides services to residents in the valley. Located at 1684 Fairgrounds Road, Duncan, AZ 85534, this satellite office handles the same vital records requests as Clifton. Call 928-359-2866 for the Duncan location. Either office can process death certificate applications for any Arizona death. You do not need to visit the office closest to where the death occurred.

Normal business hours run Monday through Thursday from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The county operates on a four-day work week. Offices are closed on Fridays, weekends, and county holidays. Plan your visit for Monday through Thursday if you need in-person service. This schedule helps the small county provide services efficiently across two locations with limited staff.

How to Request Death Certificates

Visit either Greenlee County office with valid photo identification. Driver licenses, state ID cards, passports, and military IDs qualify. The ID must be current and government-issued. Staff need to verify your identity and copy your ID for the file. You also must prove your relationship to the deceased person. Arizona Administrative Code R9-19-314 defines who can obtain death certificates in Arizona.

Eligible applicants include surviving spouses, parents, adult children, siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren. Executors named in wills qualify. Beneficiaries of estates or life insurance policies can request copies. Attorneys representing eligible persons may apply. Banks, credit unions, mortgage lenders, and other financial institutions holding accounts for the deceased have access. Insurance companies with policies on the person can obtain certificates. Hospitals processing claims against the estate qualify. Anyone with a documented claim against the estate may apply. Government agencies get access for official purposes.

Bring proof of your status. Birth certificates show parent or child relationships. Marriage certificates prove spouse status. Death certificates of parents demonstrate heir status. Wills or probate court documents establish executor or beneficiary authority. Insurance policy documents work for beneficiaries. Bank statements or loan documents show financial institution interest. Court orders establish legal claims.

Complete the death certificate application form accurately. Write the deceased person's full legal name as it appears on the certificate. Include first, middle, and last names. Provide the date of death and location. Add the social security number if known. State your relationship to the deceased clearly. Sign the application with your original handwritten signature. Electronic signatures do not meet Arizona requirements.

Mail requests need photocopies of both sides of your ID or a notarized signature. Include relationship proof and payment. Use money orders for mailed payments since credit cards are not accepted. Processing takes one to two weeks typically. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope for return of certificates. Very recent deaths may not be available yet. Deaths within thirty to ninety days might still be processing through medical certification and state registration.

Note: Greenlee County accepts only cash or money orders for vital records fees.

Fees and Payment Methods

Certified death certificates cost $20 per copy. This matches the state fee set by Arizona Revised Statutes Section 36-341. Amendments and corrections run $30 each. Non-certified genealogy copies cost $5. Order as many certified copies as you need. Different agencies typically require original certified copies for official business. Photocopies of certified copies usually do not work.

Greenlee County accepts cash or money orders only. No credit cards, debit cards, or personal checks. This payment restriction is stricter than most Arizona counties. Bring exact cash or purchase a money order before visiting or mailing your application. Many post offices, banks, and convenience stores sell money orders. Keep your receipt as proof of payment.

The cash and money order requirement helps the small county avoid credit card processing fees and check handling costs. It ensures payments clear immediately. Budget for exact fees when requesting certificates. A single copy costs $20. Multiple copies add up quickly. Calculate your total before visiting or mailing your request.

Arizona Death Certificate Laws

Arizona requires funeral establishments to file death certificates within seven days of receiving human remains. Arizona Revised Statutes Section 36-325 sets this deadline. Funeral directors gather demographic information from families. They complete personal details on the certificate including name, birth date, birthplace, residence, occupation, parents' names, marital status, and other facts. This information goes to medical certifiers for completion.

Doctors who treated the deceased sign natural death certifications. Medical examiners or coroners handle sudden, unexpected, or suspicious deaths. They investigate cause and manner of death. All sections must be finished before the state registrar accepts the certificate. The registration process takes time. Allow thirty to ninety days for very recent deaths to complete all steps and enter the database.

Death records remain closed to the public in Arizona. Arizona Revised Statutes Section 36-342 prohibits vital records staff from releasing information to unauthorized persons. Only eligible individuals with proper ID and relationship proof can obtain copies. This protects personal privacy and medical information. Government agencies receive separate access for official business under specific rules.

Historical death records become public fifty years after death. Arizona Revised Statutes Section 36-351 requires the Bureau of Vital Records to transfer certificates to state archives at this point. Old records appear in genealogy databases. Anyone can search them without restriction. Certified copies still require ordering through vital records offices even for historical deaths.

Other Death Record Sources

The Arizona Department of Health Services Bureau of Vital Records maintains the state central office for vital records. Located at 150 North 18th Avenue, Suite 120, Phoenix, AZ 85007, the state office handles mail orders but not walk-ins. Send applications to PO Box 6018, Phoenix, AZ 85005. Call 602-364-1300 for state office assistance. VitalChek provides expedited online ordering at 888-816-5907 with additional processing fees for faster service.

The Arizona genealogy database contains historical death records from 1870 through fifty years ago. Search free online for old death records. The database shows names, dates, places, and images of certificates. These work for family history research. Order certified copies through vital records offices if you need legal documents. The genealogy database offers search capability only without issuing copies.

Arizona State Library gives state residents free Ancestry access. Collections include Arizona County Coroner and Death Records from 1881 to 1971. Visit the library in Phoenix to search premium genealogy databases. Free access works only on library computers during library hours. You cannot access these databases from home without paying for your own Ancestry subscription.

Nearby Counties

Greenlee County sits in Arizona's eastern mountains. It borders Graham County to the west, Cochise County to the south, and Apache County to the north. The county also borders New Mexico to the east. Each Arizona county operates vital records offices that can issue death certificates for any death in the state.