Chandler Obituary Records

Chandler obituary records can be found through several local and county resources. The Chandler Public Library offers genealogy databases and historical newspaper access that help locate death notices and obituaries. For official death certificates, Chandler residents work with Maricopa County since Arizona cities do not maintain vital records. The East Valley Tribune covers Chandler and publishes local obituaries. Whether you need a certified death certificate or want to trace family history, this guide shows you where to look in Chandler and the surrounding area.

Chandler Public Library Obituary Resources

The Chandler Public Library is your best local spot for obituary research. The library has genealogy databases you can use for free in the building. Staff can help you get started if you are new to this kind of search. The library sits at 22 S Delaware St in downtown Chandler. Call them at 480-782-2800 with questions.

The Chandler Public Library genealogy page lists all the tools they offer. Ancestry Library Edition is one of the main resources. This database has millions of records including death indexes, obituaries, cemetery records, and more. You can only use Ancestry Library at the library. It does not work from home. The library also has Heritage Quest, which you can access from home with your library card.

Heritage Quest has census records, books, and some vital records. It is a good tool for building family trees and finding when ancestors died. The library website also links to the Arizona Genealogy Birth and Death Certificates database. This state database has free death records that are 50 years old or more.

Note: Ancestry Library Edition requires in-person use at the library.

East Valley Tribune Obituaries for Chandler

The East Valley Tribune is the main local paper for Chandler and nearby cities. It covers Mesa, Tempe, Gilbert, Scottsdale, and Queen Creek too. The paper has an obituary section where families can post death notices. The Tribune offers free death notice placement as a community service. This makes it a good place to find recent Chandler obituaries.

You can browse current obituaries at the East Valley Tribune obituary portal. The site lets you search by name or browse recent listings. Older obituaries may not be online. For historical Tribune obituaries, check with the Chandler Public Library. They may have archives on microfilm or can point you to other sources.

Families who want to place an obituary in the Tribune can fax information to (480) 898-5606. Basic death notices run at no charge. Paid obituaries with more detail and photos are also an option. The paper reaches most of the East Valley, so many Chandler families choose to publish there.

How to Get Chandler Death Certificates

Arizona cities do not issue death certificates. Chandler is in Maricopa County, so you get death certificates from the Maricopa County Office of Vital Registration. The county has five locations across the valley. The closest one to Chandler is the East Valley office in Mesa at 331 E. Coury Ave., Mesa, AZ 85210.

Each certified copy costs $20. You must show proof of your identity and relationship to the deceased. Arizona is a closed record state. Only certain people can get recent death certificates. These include the spouse, parents, adult children, siblings, and grandparents of the person who died. Legal representatives and those with court orders can also request copies.

Here is what you need to request a Chandler area death certificate:

• Full name of the deceased
• Date of death
• Place of death
• Your relationship to the deceased
• Valid photo ID
• $20 payment per copy

The main Maricopa County office is in Phoenix at 1645 E. Roosevelt St. You can also mail your request to PO Box 2111, Phoenix, AZ 85001. Call 602-506-6805 for questions about hours or wait times. Most county offices can process same-day requests if you visit in person.

Note: Maricopa County does not accept personal checks for vital records.

Finding Older Chandler Obituary Records

Chandler was founded in 1912. That same year, Arizona became a state. The town grew slowly at first. Early death records may be harder to find than modern ones. For deaths in Chandler before 1970, try the state genealogy database. The Arizona Genealogy Database has death certificate images from 1870 to 1970. These records are free to view.

Old Chandler obituaries may appear in several papers. The Arizona Republic in Phoenix has covered the entire state since the 1890s. Search their archives at Legacy.com for recent listings or check azcentral.newspapers.com for historical pages. The Republic has over three million digitized pages going back to territorial days.

The Arizona Memory Project at azmemory.azlibrary.gov is another source for old records. This digital archive has historic photos, documents, and newspapers. The Arizona State Library maintains the collection. They have newspapers dating back to 1859. Staff will do free obituary lookups if you give them a name, paper, and death date.

Arizona Death Record Laws

Arizona law controls who can get death certificates. A.R.S. § 36-324 says the state or local registrar can issue certified copies to eligible people. The rules name specific family members and legal parties who qualify. A certified copy has the same legal standing as the original record.

Death records stay private for 50 years. After that, anyone can request non-certified copies for genealogy. A.R.S. § 36-351(B) allows the state to release these older records. This is why the Arizona Genealogy Database has free death certificates from 1870 to 1970. Records from 1971 forward are still restricted.

A.R.S. § 36-325 sets the rules for death certificate registration. A funeral home must complete the certificate within seven days of taking the body. The registrar then has 72 hours to record it. These timelines make sure deaths are logged fast.

Other Chandler Obituary Resources

Funeral homes are a good source for recent obituaries. They often post full obituaries with photos and guest books on their websites. Search for Chandler funeral homes online to find local listings. Many families also share death notices on social media now.

The Arizona Historical Society has archives that may include Chandler records. Their main museum is in Tucson, but they serve the whole state. For Chandler specifically, the Chandler Museum focuses on local history. They may have old newspapers, photos, or family records that mention deaths.

If you cannot find what you need locally, try the state resources. The Arizona Bureau of Vital Records in Phoenix has death records from 1909 to now. Visit their site at azdhs.gov for forms and instructions. The office is at 150 North 18th Ave., Suite 120, Phoenix, AZ 85007. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Note: The state office charges $20 per certified death certificate copy.

Nearby Cities with Obituary Resources

Chandler sits in the heart of the East Valley. Several nearby cities have their own obituary resources. You may find obituaries for Chandler residents in papers or archives from these cities, especially if they lived near the border or had ties to other areas.

Gilbert is right next to Chandler on the east side. The two cities share many of the same resources since both are in Maricopa County. Mesa is just north of Chandler. The Mesa Public Library offers obituary search services for $15 per request. They cover Arizona Republic obituaries from 1890 to 2009.

Tempe borders Chandler to the northwest. Arizona State University in Tempe has special collections that may include regional death records. Phoenix is the state capital and has the most resources. The Arizona Bureau of Vital Records, state archives, and main newspaper archives are all in Phoenix.