Phoenix Obituary Records

Phoenix obituary records help families find death notices and honor loved ones who have passed. As Arizona's capital and largest city, Phoenix has rich resources for obituary research. The Arizona Republic newspaper has published death notices since the late 1800s. The Phoenix Public Library holds vast genealogy collections. Maricopa County handles all death certificates for Phoenix residents. Whether you need to locate an old obituary or request an official death record, this guide covers your options. You can search newspaper archives online, visit the library in person, or order certified death certificates from the county health office.

Phoenix Public Library Obituary Resources

The Phoenix Public Library is your best local resource for obituary research. The Burton Barr Central Library sits at 1221 N. Central Ave. in downtown Phoenix. This main branch has the largest genealogy collection in the city. Staff can help you search for death notices and obituaries. The library phone number is 602-262-4636.

The library offers free access to Ancestry database for in-library use. This is huge. Ancestry has millions of death records, obituaries, and family trees. You cannot use this at home for free, but any Phoenix resident can walk in and search at no cost. The library also holds census microfilms that help trace family lines. The Arizona history collection includes old city directories, maps, and local records that mention deaths and burials. These can fill gaps when you cannot find a formal obituary.

Note: Call ahead to check hours, as they change during holidays.

Arizona Republic Obituary Archives

The Arizona Republic is the main newspaper for Phoenix. It has run death notices since May 28, 1890. Families in the Phoenix area have used this paper to announce deaths for over 130 years. The paper now partners with Legacy.com to publish obituaries online. You can search current and recent Phoenix obituaries on the Arizona Republic obituary page at Legacy.com.

For older obituaries, you need the newspaper archives. The Arizona Republic archive on Newspapers.com has over 3 million pages of the paper. The archive dates back to the 1890s. A subscription is needed for full access, but the Phoenix library may offer free access through its databases. You can also search for free and just pay for the specific pages you need.

The Legacy.com Phoenix area page shows recent obituaries from multiple sources. This includes funeral homes and other local papers. It is a good starting point for recent deaths in Phoenix.

Legacy.com lets you search by name and date. You can also browse by date if you know when someone died but not their exact name spelling. The site is free to search, but some funeral homes charge to view full obituaries.

Phoenix Death Certificates from Maricopa County

Phoenix does not issue death certificates. The city is part of Maricopa County, and all death records go through the county health department. The Maricopa County Office of Vital Registration handles death certificates for all Phoenix residents. This office can issue certified copies for deaths that occurred anywhere in Arizona.

Maricopa County has several locations where you can request death certificates in person. The main Phoenix office is at 1645 E. Roosevelt St. on the west entrance. They are open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday hours start at 9 a.m. The phone number is 602-506-6805. You can also mail requests to PO Box 2111, Phoenix, AZ 85001.

A certified death certificate costs $20 per copy. You must show valid ID. Arizona is a closed record state, so only certain people can get certified copies. Eligible persons include:

• Spouse of the deceased
• Parents of the deceased
• Adult children
• Grandparents or grandchildren
• Brothers or sisters
• Legal representatives or executors
• Insurance beneficiaries with documentation

The Maricopa County death certificate page has application forms and full details. You can download the application, fill it out, and bring it with your ID to any county location. Same-day service is often possible for in-person requests.

Note: The county does not accept personal checks for vital records.

Historical Phoenix Obituary Research

Finding older Phoenix obituaries takes more work. The state has a free genealogy database at genealogy.az.gov with death records from 1870 to 1970. These are non-certified copies, but they show names, dates, and causes of death. This database is great for tracing Phoenix ancestors from the early days of the city.

The Arizona Memory Project holds digitized photos, documents, and newspapers. You can search for Phoenix residents in old newspaper clippings and find obituaries that way. The Arizona State Library has the largest collection of historic Arizona newspapers. Staff will even do free obituary lookups if you give them a name, paper title, and exact death date.

Phoenix grew fast in the 20th century. Many people who died here came from other states. If you cannot find an obituary in Phoenix papers, check papers from where the person was born or lived before. Out-of-state families often published death notices in their hometown papers too.

Phoenix Funeral Homes and Online Obituaries

Today, most Phoenix obituaries appear online before they hit print. Funeral homes post obituaries on their websites, often with guest books where friends can share memories. These online notices are free to view in most cases.

Phoenix has dozens of funeral homes and mortuaries. The largest chains include Dignity Memorial and SCI. Local funeral homes also serve specific communities and neighborhoods. When looking for a recent death, check the funeral home website first. You can often find service details, photos, and full obituary text there. If you do not know which funeral home handled the arrangements, try searching the person's name along with "Phoenix obituary" or "Phoenix funeral."

Social media has changed how families share news of deaths. Many people now post tributes on Facebook and other platforms. These posts can help you find information, but they are not official records. For legal purposes, you still need a death certificate from Maricopa County.

Arizona State Obituary Resources for Phoenix Residents

Phoenix residents can tap into several state resources beyond local options. The Arizona Bureau of Vital Records is located right here in Phoenix at 150 N. 18th Avenue, Suite 120. This office has death records for all of Arizona going back to 1909. You can request copies here instead of going to the county office if that works better for you.

The state office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The phone number is 602-364-1300. Fees are the same as at the county level. A certified death certificate costs $20. For deaths more than 50 years ago, you can get non-certified genealogy copies for just $5.

Under Arizona law, specifically A.R.S. 36-324, the state registrar can issue certified copies to eligible persons. The same eligibility rules apply at the state office as at the county level. You must prove your relationship to the deceased and show valid ID.

Obituary Records in Cities Near Phoenix

The Phoenix metro area includes many cities that share resources and newspapers. If someone lived in the Phoenix area but you are not sure which city, check these nearby locations. Death notices often ran in the Arizona Republic regardless of exact city within the metro.

All of these cities are in Maricopa County. Death certificates for any of them come from the same county office in Phoenix. The East Valley Tribune also covers obituaries for Mesa, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, Scottsdale, and Queen Creek.