Arizona Vital Records

Vital records, as their name suggests, are connected with central life events: birth, marriage, and death. Maintained by civil authorities, they are prime sources of genealogical information; but, unfortunately, official vital records are available only for relatively recent periods. These records, despite their recent creation in the United States, are critically important in genealogical research, often supplying details on family members well back into the nineteenth century. The Source: A Guidebook of American Genealogy, by Loretto Szucs and Sandra Luebking.

*While we try and keep our pages as current as possible, there are instances when policies change before we find out about them. It is highly recommended that you call the record offices BEFORE sending money in to purchase a vital record.

Office of Vital Records
1818 West Adams
Phoenix, AZ 85007

By Mail
Bureau of Vital Records,
P.O. Box 3887
Phoenix, AZ 85030-3887

Arizona is a "closed record" state. That means that vital records are not public record. However, a family member, or relative of the registrant engaged in research for genealogical purposes who provides proof of relationship to the registrant may request a copy of a certificate.

The Bureau of Vital Records is responsible for issuing certified copies of vital records, including birth and death certificates for events that occurred in Arizona. The Bureau began recording birth and events in July, 1909. However, it maintains a sampling of delayed birth records of Arizona citizens from 1855 and death records from 1877 from other sources.

By Arizona law, all births that occurred in Arizona over seventy-five years ago or deaths that occurred over fifty years ago are available. Non-certified copies may be obtained from the Bureau of Vital Records by providing an individual's name and place of birth or death at a cost of $15.00 each.

You may also obtain non-certified copies of these birth and death records at the Arizona State History and Archives Division of the Arizona State Library. It is located on the third floor of the State Capitol Building,

1700 West Washington,
Phoenix, Arizona 85007
Telephone: (602) 542-4159
Arizona: 1-800-228-4710

Applicants must submit a copy of picture identification or have their request notarized and provide a family tree sketch to illustrate the family connection and possibly provide proof of family connection such as a birth certificate. Only the registrant or an immediate family member may receive copies of Birth Records.

Birth
Certified copies of births which occurred from 1990 to the present cost $10.00 each.
Certified copies of births which occurred before 1990 cost $15.00 each.

Application Information for ordering by mail.

• Priority Online Service - Birth, Marriage, Divorce & Death Certificates!

Also abstracts of records filed in counties before 1909

Death
Certified copies of death certificates cost $10.00 each. Specific information that should be provided can be found here:

Application Information for ordering by mail.

• Priority Online Service - Birth, Marriage, Divorce & Death Certificates!

Marriage and Divorce

Available from Clerk of Superior Court in county where marriage license was obtained or divorce granted.

• Priority Online Service - Birth, Marriage, Divorce & Death Certificates!

The Mesa Family History Center at 41 South Hobson in Mesa, Arizona is also an important genealogical resource. Their telephone number is 480-964-1200.

Ancestry.com Arizona State Database
A large collection of databases of births, deaths, marriages, census, obituaries, directories, estate records, and service records. (Requires Ancestry.com Membership) Get 14 Days Free Access!!!

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