Search Glendale Obituary Records
Glendale obituary records help families find death notices and honor those who have passed in this west Phoenix suburb. You can search for Glendale obituaries through local newspapers, the Glendale Arizona Historical Society, and funeral home websites. Death certificates for Glendale residents come from Maricopa County, which has a convenient office right in the city. The historical society keeps archives that go back to the early days of the community. Local libraries offer access to newspaper databases and genealogy tools. Whether you need an official death certificate or want to locate a published obituary, Glendale provides several paths to find these important records.
Glendale Obituary Records Quick Facts
Glendale Arizona Historical Society Archives
The Glendale Arizona Historical Society keeps archives that can help you find obituary records and family history information. Their research collection includes old photos, documents, and local records from the early days of Glendale. The society focuses on preserving the history of this community that dates back to 1892. If your family has roots in Glendale going back many years, this is a good place to start your search.
You can learn about their research services at the Glendale Arizona Historical Society website. They may have obituary clippings, family papers, and other documents that are not found elsewhere. Local historical societies often have unique items that did not make it into larger archives. A visit or inquiry to the Glendale Historical Society could turn up records you would not find through other sources.
The society runs programs and events that connect people to local history. These can be good chances to meet others who research Glendale families. Fellow researchers sometimes share tips and leads.
Glendale Death Certificates from Maricopa County
Glendale is part of Maricopa County. The city does not issue death certificates on its own. All death records for Glendale residents come from the Maricopa County Office of Vital Registration. The good news is that Maricopa County has an office right in Glendale. You do not have to drive to Phoenix to get a death certificate.
The Glendale office is at 5141 W. Lamar Rd., Glendale, AZ 85301. This location offers the same services as the main Phoenix office. You can request certified copies of death certificates for any death that occurred in Arizona. The fee is $20 per certified copy. Bring a valid photo ID and proof of your relationship to the deceased. Most requests are processed the same day.
The main phone number for Maricopa County Vital Records is 602-506-6805. Office hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday hours start at 9 a.m. You can also visit the Maricopa County Vital Records website for forms and more details.
Note: Personal checks are not accepted for death certificate fees. Bring cash, a debit card, or a money order.
Who Can Request Glendale Death Records
Arizona is a closed record state. This means death certificates are not public records. Only certain people can get a certified copy of a death certificate in Glendale or anywhere in Arizona. The law protects privacy by limiting who can access these records. After 50 years, death records become open to anyone for genealogy research.
People who can request a Glendale death certificate include the spouse of the deceased, parents, adult children, grandparents, grandchildren, and siblings. Funeral directors can request copies for families they serve. Legal representatives like attorneys and those with power of attorney also qualify. Others who may get copies include executors of estates, life insurance beneficiaries, and people named in court orders. The Maricopa County death certificate page has the full list of eligible requesters.
For older deaths, you have more options. The Arizona Genealogy Database at genealogy.az.gov has death records from 1870 to 1970. These are free to search and view. The images are not certified copies but contain useful information for family research.
Glendale Obituaries in Local Newspapers
The Arizona Republic is the main newspaper for Glendale and the entire Phoenix metro area. Most Glendale families publish obituaries in this paper. You can search recent obituaries through Legacy.com. The site has a searchable database that goes back many years. Type in a name and see what comes up.
Death notices and full obituaries serve different purposes. A death notice is short. It gives basic facts like the name, date of death, and funeral details. A full obituary tells the story of a person's life. It lists survivors, accomplishments, and memories. Families pay for these listings, so not everyone has a published obituary. Some families choose to share obituaries only through funeral homes or social media instead of newspapers.
For historical Glendale obituaries, check library archives. The Arizona State Library has the largest collection of historic Arizona newspapers. Their newspaper research guide explains how to access these records. Staff will even do free obituary lookups if you provide a name and approximate date of death. The Arizona Memory Project at azmemory.azlibrary.gov also has digitized newspaper pages from early Arizona publications.
Glendale Library Obituary Resources
The Glendale Public Library system offers resources for obituary research and genealogy. Library cardholders can access databases that help trace family history. Ancestry Library Edition is available for in-library use at most Arizona public libraries. This database has millions of records including obituaries, death indexes, and cemetery records.
The library can help you search for Glendale obituaries in several ways. Reference staff know how to navigate newspaper archives and genealogy databases. They can point you to the right resources for your search. Some libraries have newspaper microfilm collections that cover local publications going back decades.
HeritageQuest is another database often available through Arizona libraries. It includes the U.S. Social Security Death Index, which lists deaths reported to Social Security since about 1960. This can confirm a death date even when you cannot find an obituary. Census records in these databases also help build family trees and find other relatives who might have more information about your Glendale ancestors.
Note: Database access rules vary by library. Check with your local Glendale branch for current offerings.
Glendale Funeral Home Obituaries
Funeral homes in Glendale post obituaries on their websites. This is often the first place an obituary appears. Some families publish only through the funeral home and skip the newspaper entirely. If you cannot find an obituary in the Arizona Republic, check funeral home sites in the Glendale area.
Funeral home obituaries often include more details than newspaper listings. They may have multiple photos, full life stories, and online guest books where friends share memories. These sites let families control the content and update information as needed. Many keep obituaries online for years after the death.
To find Glendale funeral homes, search online or check the yellow pages. The larger funeral home chains like Dignity Memorial and SCI have multiple locations in the Phoenix metro area. Smaller family-owned funeral homes also serve Glendale. If you know which funeral home handled services, start your search there.
Arizona Death Record Laws
Arizona law governs how death records are created, stored, and released. These rules apply to all deaths in Glendale and throughout the state. Understanding the law helps you know what records you can access and how to request them properly.
A.R.S. 36-325 sets the timeline for death certificate registration. A funeral home or responsible person must complete the death certificate within seven days of taking possession of the body. The registrar then has 72 hours to register the certificate if it is accurate and complete. This process ensures deaths are recorded quickly in official records.
A.R.S. 36-324 covers who can get copies of death certificates. The state registrar, local registrar, or deputy registrar can issue certified copies to eligible persons. A certified copy has the same legal status as the original registered certificate. You need a certified copy for legal matters like settling an estate or claiming insurance benefits.
How to Get Glendale Death Certificates
You have three options to request a death certificate for a Glendale resident. In person is the fastest. By mail takes longer but works if you cannot visit an office. Online ordering through VitalChek adds fees but lets you order any time.
For in-person requests at the Glendale office, bring these items:
- Valid government photo ID
- Full name of the deceased
- Date of death
- Place of death
- Your relationship to the deceased
- Payment of $20 per copy
Mail requests go to Maricopa County Vital Records at PO Box 2111, Phoenix, AZ 85001. Download the application form from the county website. Fill it out completely. Include a copy of your photo ID. Make your payment by money order or cashier's check. Personal checks are not accepted. Allow about one week for processing.
Online ordering is available through VitalChek. This official service lets you order from home. Extra processing fees apply. You still need to prove eligibility and provide identification. Choose your shipping speed based on how fast you need the certificate.
Nearby Arizona Cities
Glendale borders several other cities in the west Phoenix area. If you are searching for obituary records and are not sure where someone lived, check nearby cities too. A person might have died in a different city than where they had their home. Hospital locations also affect which city is listed on a death certificate.
These nearby cities also have obituary research resources:
All of these cities are in Maricopa County. They use the same county vital records office for death certificates. The Arizona Republic newspaper covers the entire metro area, so Glendale obituaries often appear alongside notices from Phoenix, Peoria, and other nearby communities. When searching Legacy.com or newspaper archives, try searching without a specific city filter to catch notices that might list a different location.
Arizona State Obituary Resources
Beyond local sources, Arizona offers statewide resources for obituary research. The Arizona Department of Health Services runs the Bureau of Vital Records in Phoenix. This office has death records going back to 1909. You can learn about their services on the Arizona Vital Records website. The office is at 150 North 18th Ave., Suite 120, Phoenix, AZ 85007.
The state genealogy database is free for older records. It includes deaths from 1870 to 1970. Under A.R.S. 36-351(B), non-certified copies of death records become available for genealogy research 50 years after the date of death. This makes Arizona a good state for family history work on ancestors who died before 1974.
The Arizona State Library at azsos.libguides.com has guides for researching vital records and obituaries. Arizona residents can access Ancestry database records from the State Archives for free through a partnership with the library. Visit a branch library or use the online portal to take advantage of this free access.