Search Cochise County Obituary Records

Cochise County obituary records can be found through the county Health and Social Services department and local newspapers like the Sierra Vista Herald. This southeastern Arizona county has five locations where you can request death certificates in person. Same day service is available at all offices in Douglas, Bisbee, Sierra Vista, Benson, and Willcox. Whether you need a certified death certificate for legal matters or want to find an obituary for a loved one, Cochise County makes access simple for residents and family members who qualify under state law.

Cochise County Vital Records Locations

Cochise County offers vital records services at five different locations across the county. This is helpful for residents in this large, rural area. You do not have to drive far to get a death certificate. Each office can help you the same day in most cases.

The Cochise County Vital Records page has full details about all locations and services. Birth and death certificates are available at any Health and Social Services office. The fee is $20 per certified copy. You can pay with cash, money order, or credit card. Personal checks are not accepted at any location.

The Bisbee Clinic is the main location. It sits at 1415 Melody Lane, Building A, Bisbee, AZ 85603. Call them at 520-432-9400. The Sierra Vista Clinic is at 4115 E Foothills Drive, Sierra Vista, AZ 85635. This is the busiest location since Sierra Vista has the largest population in the county. The Douglas Clinic is at 1012 N G Avenue Suite 101, Douglas, AZ 85607. Two more offices in Benson and Willcox also offer these services.

Note: Email questions to vitalrecords@cochise.az.gov for general inquiries about Cochise County death records.

Who Can Get Cochise County Death Certificates

Arizona is a closed record state. This means death certificates are not public records. You cannot just walk in and get a copy of anyone's death certificate. The state restricts access to protect personal privacy. Only specific people can receive certified copies of recent death records.

State law under A.R.S. 36-324 and Arizona Administrative Code R9-19-314 and R9-19-315 spell out who can apply. Eligible people include the spouse of the person who died. Parents can get their child's death certificate. Adult children can request their parent's record. Grandparents and grandchildren also qualify. Brothers and sisters of the deceased can apply too.

Beyond family, certain legal parties can get copies. This includes funeral directors handling the case. Attorneys who represent an eligible family member qualify. Executors of the estate can request copies. So can life insurance beneficiaries named in a policy. People with a valid court order can get access. Insurance companies and hospitals may also qualify for certain uses.

If you want an older death record for genealogy work, the rules change. Death records that are 50 years old or older are open to the public. You can search these free at genealogy.az.gov. The database shows non-certified copies of historic death certificates from 1870 to 1974.

How to Request Cochise County Death Certificates

You have three ways to get a death certificate in Cochise County. Walk in to any office. Send a mail request. Or order online through a state service. Each method has its own steps and timing.

For in-person requests, go to any of the five Cochise County Health and Social Services locations. Bring a valid photo ID like a driver's license or passport. Know the full name of the deceased and the date of death. You will fill out an application form at the office. Pay the $20 fee. Most in-person requests get processed the same day. This is the fastest way to get a certified copy.

Mail requests take longer. Write a letter with the full name of the deceased, date of death, and place of death in Cochise County. Include your name and how you are related to the deceased. Add a copy of your photo ID. Send a money order or cashier's check for $20 made out to Cochise County Health. Mail to the Bisbee Clinic at 1415 Melody Lane, Building A, Bisbee, AZ 85603. Expect a wait of 2 to 3 weeks for mail orders.

Here is what you need to provide:

• Full legal name of the deceased
• Date of death
• Place of death in Cochise County
• Your name and relationship
• Copy of your valid photo ID
• $20 payment per copy

Online orders go through VitalChek. This is the official online partner for Arizona vital records. Extra service fees apply. You still need to prove you are eligible. Upload your ID and fill out the online form.

Cochise County Death Certificate Fees

Death certificates cost $20 each. This is the standard fee set by Arizona law. It applies to certified copies you need for legal use. If you need more than one copy, each additional copy is also $20. There is no discount for ordering in bulk.

Corrections to death certificates cost $30. If there is an error on a death certificate, the family can request a fix. Common corrections include spelling mistakes in names or wrong dates. You must provide proof of the correct information. The county will file an amended certificate once they approve the change.

Fetal death certificates also cost $20. Non-certified copies for government agencies are $5. These special copies are not available to the general public. Only government offices can request them for official use.

Note: No personal checks are accepted at Cochise County vital records offices.

Where to Find Cochise County Obituaries

Obituaries are different from death certificates. A death certificate is an official government record. An obituary is a notice published in a newspaper or posted by a funeral home. Obituaries are not restricted like death certificates. Anyone can read them.

The Sierra Vista Herald publishes obituaries for Cochise County residents. This is the main newspaper for the county. It covers Sierra Vista, Fort Huachuca, Bisbee, Douglas, and other towns. The paper has an online obituary section where you can search recent deaths. You can also find obituaries in their print edition.

Local funeral homes post obituaries on their websites. Jensen's Mortuary in Sierra Vista publishes many local obituaries online. Other funeral homes in Douglas and Bisbee do the same. If you know which funeral home handled the services, check their site first. Many families only publish through the funeral home and not in the newspaper.

For historical obituaries going back many decades, check the Arizona Memory Project. The Arizona Memory Project has digitized newspapers from across the state. The Arizona State Library also has microfilm of old Cochise County newspapers. Staff can help you search for obituaries from specific dates if you contact them.

Arizona State Obituary and Death Records

The Arizona Department of Health Services runs the state Bureau of Vital Records. They handle death certificates for the entire state. You can order from them if the county office is not convenient. The state office is in Phoenix at 150 North 18th Ave., Suite 120, Phoenix, AZ 85007. Call 602-364-1300 for help.

Arizona began recording deaths statewide in July 1909. The state office has records from that date forward. Some county records exist from before 1909. The state also has abstracts of older records filed with counties before the state system started. Death certificates from 50 or more years ago are open to anyone for genealogy research.

Under A.R.S. 36-325, funeral homes must complete death certificate information within seven days of taking possession of remains. The local registrar then has 72 hours to register the death certificate once they receive it. This process ensures deaths are recorded quickly in the official system.

Cochise County Genealogy Resources

Family history research in Cochise County can start with death records. The Arizona State Library genealogy guide explains how to find vital records. For death records older than 50 years, you can access non-certified copies free online. Birth records open after 75 years.

Ancestry.com has Arizona death records from 1881 to 1971 through their Arizona County Coroner and Death Records collection. If you are an Arizona resident, you can access Ancestry records free through the Arizona State Library partnership. Visit a public library in the state to use this service at no cost.

Census records can also help track family in Cochise County. The county formed in 1881 from Pima County. Early census records may list residents under Pima County before that date. Check both county names when searching federal census data. Old newspaper archives can fill in gaps that official records miss. They often have more personal details about the deceased and their family.

Nearby Arizona Counties

Cochise County sits in the southeast corner of Arizona. It borders three other Arizona counties. If you are searching for death records and are not sure where the death occurred, check nearby counties too. People sometimes die in a different county than where they lived.

Pima County is to the west. It includes Tucson, the second largest city in Arizona. Many Cochise County residents travel to Tucson for medical care. Deaths at Tucson hospitals are filed in Pima County. Graham County borders Cochise to the north. It is a smaller, rural county with its seat in Safford. Santa Cruz County is to the southwest. The city of Nogales on the Mexican border is there.

Each county has its own vital records office. The fee for death certificates is $20 statewide. Processing times and office hours vary by county. Contact the specific county office for their current procedures.

Cities and Towns in Cochise County

Cochise County has no cities with populations over 50,000. Sierra Vista is the largest community with around 45,000 people. Bisbee is the county seat. It was once a major copper mining town. Douglas sits on the Mexican border and has about 16,000 residents. Benson is known for the Kartchner Caverns nearby. Willcox in the northern part of the county is famous for wine country.

All these communities are served by the same county vital records offices. City governments do not issue death certificates in Arizona. You must go through the county or state to get these records. Local funeral homes in each town can help families file death certificates and obtain copies. Libraries in each community may have local newspaper archives with obituaries from past years.