Mohave County Death Index

Mohave County Public Health Vital Records in Kingman processes death certificate applications for Arizona deaths. The office serves northwestern Arizona from its location on West Beale Street in the county seat. Staff handle walk-in and mail requests for certified copies of state death records. Same-day service is not available. Processing can take up to two weeks from receipt of complete applications. Each certified death certificate costs $20. The office charges $30 for amendments and $5 for non-certified genealogy copies. Payment methods include cash, money orders, cashier checks, credit cards, and debit cards. Personal checks are not accepted. Office hours run Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Friday from 8:00 a.m. to noon. Call 928-753-0748 for questions about vital records or application status. Fax number is 928-716-5547.

Vital Records Office Location

Mohave County Public Health Vital Records operates from 700 West Beale Street in Kingman, AZ 86401. This is the county's only vital records office. All death certificate requests process through this Kingman location. The office can issue certificates for any Arizona death under its authority as a deputy state registrar. You do not need to visit the county where the death occurred.

Mail applications to ATTN: VITAL RECORDS, 700 W. Beale St., Kingman, AZ 86409. Use this mailing address instead of the physical street address. The separate mailing designation helps vital records staff receive and process applications faster. Call 928-753-0748 to speak with staff during business hours. Ask about required documents, verify processing times, or check application status. Fax documents to 928-716-5547 if needed.

Office hours run Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Friday hours are shorter at 8:00 a.m. to noon only. The office closes at noon on Fridays. Plan your visit for Monday through Thursday if you need assistance later in the day. Arrive at least one hour before closing to allow time for processing. The office closes on weekends and county holidays.

How to Request Death Certificates

Arizona limits access to death certificates. Arizona Administrative Code R9-19-314 defines eligible applicants. Surviving spouses can request copies. Parents, adult children, siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren qualify as immediate family. Executors named in wills have access. Estate beneficiaries and life insurance beneficiaries can obtain certificates. Attorneys representing eligible persons may apply on their behalf.

Other authorized applicants include banks, credit unions, mortgage lenders, and financial institutions with accounts for the deceased. Insurance companies holding policies on the person qualify. Hospitals and health care providers processing claims against the estate can request copies. Anyone with a documented legal claim against the estate may apply. Government agencies receive access for official purposes. Funeral directors representing families can order within twelve months of the death.

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

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

Processing takes up to two weeks. Same-day service is not available at Mohave County. Mail requests follow the same timeline. Send photocopies of both sides of your ID or use a notarized signature. Include relationship proof and payment. Provide a self-addressed stamped envelope for return of certificates. Very recent deaths may not be available immediately. Deaths within thirty to ninety days might still be processing through medical certification and state registration.

Note: Mohave County does not provide same-day death certificate service.

Death Certificate Fees

Certified death certificates cost $20 per copy under Arizona Revised Statutes Section 36-341. This fee applies statewide. Mohave County charges $30 for amendments and corrections to existing certificates. Non-certified genealogy copies run $5 each. Genealogy copies work for family history research but lack legal authority for official purposes.

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

Payment is due when you submit your application. Mohave County accepts cash, money orders, cashier checks, credit cards, and debit cards. Personal checks are not accepted for vital records fees. Pay with cash or money orders to avoid processing fees. Credit card payments may include service charges. Staff can tell you the exact total when you apply.

Arizona Death Certificate Laws

Funeral establishments in Arizona must file death certificates within seven days. Arizona Revised Statutes Section 36-325 sets this requirement. Funeral directors take possession of human remains and gather personal information from families. They complete demographic details including name, birth date, birthplace, residence, occupation, parents' names, marital status, and other facts. Medical certifiers then add cause of death information.

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

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

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.

Other Death Record Sources

The Arizona Department of Health Services Bureau of Vital Records serves as the state central office. Located at 150 North 18th Avenue, Suite 120, Phoenix, AZ 85007, the state office handles mail orders but does not provide walk-in service. 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.

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 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 provides search capability 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 your own paid Ancestry subscription.

Mohave County Cities

Mohave County includes Lake Havasu City as its largest municipality. Other communities include Kingman, Bullhead City, and smaller towns across northwestern Arizona. All county residents use the Kingman office for vital records services.

Nearby Counties

Mohave County sits in northwestern Arizona. It borders Coconino County to the east, Yavapai County to the southeast, and La Paz County to the south. The county also borders Nevada to the northwest, California across the Colorado River to the west, and Utah to the north. Each Arizona county operates vital records offices that can issue death certificates for any state death.