Utah Death Certificates - FamilySearch Historical Records

Collection Time Period
Utah assumed responsibility for recording deaths in late 1904.

Record Description
Each death was recorded on a one-page pre-printed form.

Record Content
Important genealogical facts in death entries:


 * Dates of death and burial
 * Frequently, birth date of the deceased
 * City, county, and state of death
 * Name and location of the cemetery where buried
 * Frequently, the country or state and sometimes the town and county of birth for the deceased
 * Frequently, the country or state and sometimes the town and county of birth for the parents
 * Name of the deceased, married name of spouse, names of parents, often with maiden surname of the mother
 * Name of the informant, who is often a child or other family member
 * Age of the deceased usually in years, months, and days
 * Sex of the deceased
 * Residence or address of the deceased, often including length of residence at that place or in the United States, if foreign-born
 * Whether the deceased was single, married, widowed, or divorced at the time of death
 * Occupation of the deceased

How to Use the Record
Death certificates are the best source of death information. The certificates contain clues for further research: the birth date and birthplace of the individual; the name of the spouse; the names of parents; the place of residence; the name of the informant who may be a child of the deceased.

Record History
Local Board of Health registrars sent certificates monthly to the state registrar of the Department of Vital Statistics, which is a division of the state Board of Health. All counties began reporting deaths to the state in 1905 when the Department of Health created the division of Vital Statistics. A death certificate was required for burial in Utah, so compliance was high.

Why This Record Was Created
These were recorded to better serve public health needs. They were also used in connection with the probate of wills and the administration of estates.

Record Reliability
Information pertaining to death is reliable; including cause of death, name of the attending physician or medical professional, name and address of the funeral home used, and the exact date and place of burial. Other information is dependent upon the reliability of the informant.

Related Web Sites
Utah Genealogy at Access Genealogy.com

Utah History and Genealogy

The Utah State Archives and Records Service, a division within the Dept. of Administrative Services, manages records created by state and local governmental entities in Utah, and provides access to historical government records.

Related Wiki Articles
Utah Vital Records

Citing FamilySearch Historical Collections
When you copy information from a record, you should also list where you found the information. This will help you or others to find the record again. It is also good to keep track of records where you did not find information, including the names of the people you looked for in the records

A suggested format for keeping track of records that you have searched is found in the wiki Article: How_to_Cite_FamilySearch_Collections

Examples of Source Citations for a Record in This Collection:
"Utah Death Certificates, 1904-1956." index and images, FamilySearch: (https://www.familysearch.org: accessed 8 April 2011). entry for Helen M. Richards, died 2 December 1909; citing Death Certificates, FHL microfilm 2,229,322; Utah State Departmant of Health, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Sources of This Collection
Utah Death Certificates, 1904-1956, index and images, FamilySearch;(www.familysearch.org); from Utah State Department of Health. "Utah death certificates, 1904-1956." Utah State Department of Health, Salt Lake City.