La Paz County Death Certificates

The La Paz County Office of Vital Records in Parker issues death certificates for deaths occurring anywhere in Arizona. Located on the second floor at 1112 Joshua Avenue, Suite 206, the office serves western Arizona residents along the Colorado River. Staff process walk-in and mail applications for certified copies of state death records. Each certificate costs $20. The office accepts checks or money orders only. Credit cards and debit cards are not accepted for vital records fees. Operating hours run Monday through Thursday from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The office is closed on Fridays. Call 928-669-1100 for information about applications or to verify processing times. Standard processing completes within one to two weeks for complete applications with proper identification and relationship proof.

Vital Records Office in Parker

La Paz County Office of Vital Records operates from Parker on Joshua Avenue. The office sits on the second floor of the county building at 1112 Joshua Ave., Suite 206, Parker, AZ 85344. This is the only vital records location in La Paz County. All walk-in and mail requests process through this office. Staff handle death certificates for any Arizona death under the county's authority as a deputy state registrar.

Call 928-669-1100 to speak with vital records staff during business hours. Ask about required documents, verify office hours, or check on application status. The office maintains a four-day work week. Open Monday through Thursday from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Closed Friday, weekends, and county holidays. Plan your visit for earlier in the week if you need in-person service. The extended daily hours on the four operating days help make up for the Friday closure.

Walk-in applicants should arrive at least one hour before closing. This gives staff time to process your request before the end of the business day. Bring all required documents with you. Missing paperwork means delays or a need to return later. Mail applications receive the same processing as walk-in requests. Standard turnaround takes one to two weeks from when staff receive complete applications.

Note: La Paz County accepts checks or money orders only for vital records fees.

Death Certificate Application Requirements

Arizona restricts who can obtain death certificates. Arizona Administrative Code R9-19-314 lists eligible persons. Immediate family members qualify including surviving spouses, parents, adult children, siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren. Executors named in wills can request copies. Estate and life insurance beneficiaries have access. Attorneys representing eligible persons may apply on their behalf.

Financial institutions with accounts for the deceased can obtain certificates. Insurance companies holding policies on the person qualify. Hospitals and health care providers processing claims against the estate have access. Anyone with a legal claim against the estate may apply. Government agencies get records for official purposes. Funeral directors representing families can order within twelve months of death. You must prove you fit one of these categories to receive a certified copy.

Bring valid government-issued photo identification when applying in person. Driver licenses, state ID cards, passports, and military IDs all work. The ID must be current and show your photo clearly. Staff make copies for the application file. You also need proof of your relationship or legal interest. Birth certificates demonstrate parent or child relationships. Marriage certificates prove spouse status. Wills or probate documents show executor or beneficiary authority. Insurance policies work for beneficiaries. Bank statements or loan papers establish financial institution interest. Court orders demonstrate legal claims.

Fill out the death certificate application form completely. Provide the deceased person's full legal name exactly as it appears on the certificate. Include first, middle, and last names spelled correctly. Give the date of death and place of death with as much detail as possible. Add the social security number if you know it. This helps staff search the database faster. State your relationship to the deceased clearly. Sign the form with your original handwritten signature. Electronic signatures do not meet state requirements.

Mail applicants send clear photocopies of both sides of their ID. You can use a notarized signature instead of ID copies. Include proof of your relationship or legal interest. Add payment by check or money order made payable to La Paz County Vital Records. Provide a self-addressed stamped envelope for return of certificates. Processing normally takes one to two weeks from receipt of complete applications. Very recent deaths may not be available. Allow thirty to ninety days for new deaths to complete medical certification and state registration.

Death Record Fees

Certified death certificates cost $20 per copy. This is the standard Arizona fee set by Arizona Revised Statutes Section 36-341. La Paz County charges $35 for corrections and amendments to existing certificates. This is higher than the $30 fee in most other Arizona counties. Non-certified genealogy copies run $5 each. Genealogy copies work for family history research but lack legal authority for official use.

Order as many certified copies as you need when applying. Different agencies typically require original certified copies. Social Security, banks, insurance companies, pension funds, and estate courts all need original certifications. Photocopies of certified copies usually do not work for official business. Getting multiple copies at once saves time and additional application fees.

Payment is due when you submit your application. La Paz County accepts checks or money orders only. No credit cards or debit cards accepted. Write checks payable to La Paz County Vital Records or La Paz County. Money orders work for applicants without checking accounts. Keep your payment receipt as proof. The check and money order requirement helps the county avoid credit card processing fees.

Arizona Death Registration Law

Funeral establishments must file death certificates within seven days of receiving human remains. Arizona Revised Statutes Section 36-325 establishes this timeline. Funeral directors gather personal information from family members. They complete demographic sections including name, dates, places, parents, occupation, marital status, and other details. Medical certifiers then add cause of death information.

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

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

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. Historical records appear in genealogy databases where anyone can search them. Certified copies still require ordering through vital records offices even for old public records.

Additional Death Record Options

The Arizona Department of Health Services Bureau of Vital Records serves as the state central office for vital records. Located at 150 North 18th Avenue, Suite 120, Phoenix, AZ 85007, the state office processes mail orders only. No walk-in service available. Send applications to PO Box 6018, Phoenix, AZ 85005. Call 602-364-1300 for state office assistance. VitalChek offers 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 provides names, dates, places, and images of historical certificates. These work for family history and genealogy research. Order certified copies through vital records offices if you need legal documents. The genealogy database offers search and viewing capability without issuing copies.

Arizona State Library provides free Ancestry access to state residents. 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 your own paid Ancestry subscription.

Nearby Counties

La Paz County sits in western Arizona along the Colorado River. It borders Yuma County to the south, Maricopa County to the east, Yavapai County to the northeast, and Mohave County to the north. The county also borders California across the Colorado River to the west. Each Arizona county operates vital records offices that can issue death certificates for any death in the state.