Arizona Deaths - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
The collection consists of images and an index to Arizona death certificates for the years 1870 to 1951. The certificates are arranged in chronological order within each county. Each death certificate was created on a pre-printed form.

Image Visibility
Whenever possible, FamilySearch makes images available for all users. However, rights to view images on our website are granted by the record custodians. These images can be viewed online by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint, at a Family History Center near you, or the Family History Library.

For additional information about image restrictions, please see the Restrictions for Viewing Images in FamilySearch Historical Record Collections page.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:
 * Name of deceased
 * Date of death
 * Place of death
 * Cause of death
 * Birth date of deceased
 * Birthplace of deceased
 * Parents' names and their birthplace
 * Physician's statement
 * Cemetery and burial place
 * Death certificate number

Collection Content
Statewide registration of vital statistics began in 1909 and the state achieved 90 percent compliance 1926. Some earlier records for 1887 to 1909 consist of deaths recorded by the individual counties where the death occurred. The counties that participated sent copies to the Arizona Department of Health Services, and the records are available at both places. The Office of Vital Records is responsible for maintaining and issuing certified copies of vital records, including death certificates for deaths that occurred in Arizona. The Office of Vital Records officially began recording birth and death events in July, 1909. However, it maintains a sampling of death records, from 1877, from other sources.

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of your ancestor
 * The approximate date of death
 * The place where the death occurred
 * The names of other family members and their relationships

View the Images
View images in this collection by visiting the :
 * 1) Select First two letters of surname
 * 2) Select Surname, Given Name with Death Year to view the images.

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

What Do I Do Next?

 * Whenever possible, view the original records to verify the information and to find additional information that might not be reported. These pieces of information can lead you to additional records and family members

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Use the birth date and place on the death certificate to search for a birth record
 * Search for the family in census records
 * Use the residence to locate church and land records
 * Search for land, probate and military records

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * Remember that there may be more than one person in the records with the same name
 * Collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This list can help you identify possible relations that can be verified by records
 * If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they lived, then try searching records of a nearby locality
 * Standard spelling of names typically did not exist. Try variations of your ancestor’s name while searching the index or browsing through images
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names. Try searching for these names as well

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the state of Arizona.
 * Arizona Guided Research
 * Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research: 1850-1910 &#124; 1900-Present

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.


 * Collection Citation:"Arizona Deaths, 1870-1951." Database with images. FamilySearch. http://FamilySearch.org : 14 June 2016. Citing Arizona Department of Health Services. Department of Library and Archives, Phoenix, Arizona.

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