Pima County Death Index

Pima County Vital Records operates two offices in Tucson that process death certificate applications for Arizona deaths. The Abrams Public Health Center on South Country Club Road and the Northwest Service Center on West Miracle Mile both provide walk-in service for certified copies. Same-day certificates are available for in-person requests with complete documentation. Certificates are not issued the same day you order by mail. Mail processing takes four to six weeks currently. Each certified death certificate costs $20. Payment methods include cash, money orders, personal checks, credit cards, and debit cards. Office hours run Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with a lunch closure from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Call 520-724-7932 for assistance or email vitalrecords@pima.gov with questions.

Vital Records Office Locations

Pima County Vital Records operates from two Tucson locations. The Abrams Public Health Center serves as the main office at 3950 S. Country Club Rd., Tucson, AZ 85714. This is the primary location for most vital records business. The Northwest Service Center provides services to residents in northwest Tucson at 1010 W. Miracle Mile, Tucson, AZ 85705. Either office can process death certificate requests for any Arizona death.

Both offices maintain the same operating hours. They open at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. Closing time is 3:30 p.m. on those days. The offices close from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. for lunch. Come before 1:00 p.m. or after 2:00 p.m. if you need service. Both locations are closed on Thursdays. This differs from most Arizona counties. Plan your visit for Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Friday only.

Call 520-724-7932 to speak with vital records staff. Ask about required documents, check application status, or verify office hours. Email vitalrecords@pima.gov with questions if you prefer written communication. Staff respond to emails during business hours. Same-day service is available for walk-in applicants. Bring all required documents and payment with you. Incomplete applications cannot receive same-day processing.

Note: Certificates are not issued the same day you order, even for walk-in service with all documents.

How to Request Death Certificates

Arizona limits who can obtain 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 may apply. Attorneys representing eligible persons can request copies on their behalf.

Other authorized applicants include banks, credit unions, mortgage lenders, and financial institutions holding accounts for the deceased. Insurance companies with policies on the person can obtain certificates. Hospitals and health care providers processing claims against the estate qualify. 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 either Pima County 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 clearly. Sign the form with your original handwritten signature. Electronic signatures do not meet Arizona requirements.

Mail requests take significantly longer than walk-in service. Current processing time for mail orders runs four to six weeks. This extended timeline reflects high mail volume. 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. Deaths within thirty to ninety days might still be processing through medical certification and state registration.

Death Certificate Fees

Certified death certificates cost $20 per copy under Arizona Revised Statutes Section 36-341. This fee applies statewide. Pima County charges $30 for corrections and amendments 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 avoids multiple applications.

Payment is due when you submit your application. Pima County accepts cash, money orders, personal checks, credit cards, and debit cards. This gives applicants flexibility in payment methods. Pay with cash or checks to avoid processing fees. Credit and debit 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.

Pima County Cities

Pima County includes Tucson as its largest city and county seat. Other communities include Marana, Oro Valley, Sahuarita, and smaller towns. All county residents use the two Tucson vital records offices for death certificate services.

Nearby Counties

Pima County sits in southern Arizona. It borders Maricopa County to the north, Pinal County to the northwest, Graham County to the northeast, Cochise County to the east, and Santa Cruz County to the south. The county also borders Mexico to the south. Each Arizona county operates vital records offices that can issue death certificates for any state death.