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.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records: • 2

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

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?

 * Add any new information to your records
 * 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.
 * How to Find Arizona Death Records
 * United States Death Records
 * How to Find United States Death Records
 * United States, How to Use Death Records
 * Arizona Guided Research
 * Arizona Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research: 1850-1910 &#124; 1900-Present

FamilySearch Catalog

 * Death certificates, ca. 1870-1959
 * Birth and death records for various Arizona counties, 1887-1912

FamilySearch Historical Records

 * Arizona Deaths and Burials, 1910-1911; 1933-1994
 * Arizona Obituary Index to Arizona Newspapers, 1993-1994

FamilySearch Digital Library

 * prepared by the Arizona statewide archival and records project, Division of community service programs, Work projects administration.  Guide to public vital statistics records in Arizona. Phoenix Arizona : s. n., 1941

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.

Arizona, defunciónes (Registros históricos de FamilySearch)