La Paz County Obituary Search

La Paz County obituary records are available through the county vital records office in Parker. This western Arizona county sits along the Colorado River and borders California. The vital records office can issue death certificates for any death that occurred in Arizona. Whether you need a certified death certificate for legal matters or want to search for an obituary to learn about a loved one, La Paz County has resources to help. The Parker Pioneer newspaper also publishes local obituaries, making it a good source for death notices in this area.

La Paz County Vital Records Office

The La Paz County Office of Vital Records is your main source for death certificates in this area. The office is located in Parker, the county seat. Staff can issue death records for all deaths that occur anywhere in Arizona, not just La Paz County. This is helpful if someone passed away in another part of the state but you live here.

Contact the La Paz County Vital Records office by phone at 928-669-1100. The office can answer questions about fees, processing times, and what documents you need to bring. They handle both recent death certificates and older records.

One thing to know about La Paz County is that they only accept checks or money orders for payment. The office does not take credit cards or debit cards. Bring exact payment or a check made out to La Paz County. This is different from some larger Arizona counties that accept cards.

Note: Processing times may vary, so call ahead if you need a death certificate by a certain date.

La Paz County Death Certificate Fees

The fee for a certified death certificate in La Paz County is $20 per copy. This matches the standard fee charged across Arizona counties. If you need more than one copy, each additional copy also costs $20. Many people order multiple copies because banks, insurance companies, and government agencies often require original certified copies rather than photocopies.

If there is an error on a death certificate, you can request a correction. Corrections cost $35 in La Paz County. This is slightly higher than the $30 fee in some other Arizona counties. Corrections might be needed if a name is spelled wrong, a date is incorrect, or other information needs to be fixed. The vital records staff can explain what documentation you need for a correction request.

Remember, only checks and money orders are accepted. Cash may work in person, but call first to confirm. No plastic of any kind.

Who Can Get La Paz County Death Records

Arizona law controls who can get a certified death certificate. The state is what they call a closed record state. This means not everyone can walk in and get a death certificate. Only people with a valid reason and a connection to the deceased can get certified copies.

The following people can request a La Paz County death certificate:

• Spouse of the deceased
• Parents of the deceased
• Adult children of the deceased
• Siblings of the deceased
• Grandparents or grandchildren
• Funeral directors handling the arrangements
• Attorneys representing eligible family members

Other people who may qualify include executors of estates, insurance beneficiaries, and anyone named in a court order. If you are not sure whether you qualify, call the vital records office and ask. Staff can review your situation and tell you what documents you need to show. Proof of relationship is always required. Bring a valid photo ID plus something that shows how you are connected to the person who died.

Note: Arizona law A.R.S. 36-324 sets the rules for who can access vital records and what copies they can receive.

Historical Obituary Records in La Paz County

If you are doing family history research, older death records are easier to get. Arizona releases death certificates to the public after 50 years. This means anyone can access death records from 1974 and earlier without proving a relationship. These older records are great for genealogy.

The Arizona Genealogy Database has searchable death records going back to 1870. You can search by name, date, or county. The site shows non-certified copies of death certificates that you can view online for free. While these cannot be used for legal purposes, they work well for family tree research.

The Arizona State Library also has genealogy guides and resources. Their staff can help you find death records, newspaper obituaries, and other documents about ancestors who lived in La Paz County or elsewhere in Arizona. Arizona residents get free access to some Ancestry records through the state library partnership.

Parker Pioneer Obituaries

The Parker Pioneer is the local newspaper for La Paz County. It covers Parker and the surrounding communities along the Colorado River. The paper publishes obituaries for local residents, making it a key source for death notices in this area.

You can find Parker Pioneer obituaries on their website. The online archive lets you search recent obituaries by name. For older obituaries not available online, you may need to contact the newspaper directly or visit a library that keeps back issues.

Obituaries and death certificates serve different purposes. An obituary tells the story of a person's life. It lists family members, achievements, and funeral details. A death certificate is a legal document that records the date, place, and cause of death. When researching a death, you might want both. The obituary gives you personal details while the certificate provides official facts.

How to Request La Paz County Death Certificates

Getting a death certificate from La Paz County takes a few steps. First, make sure you are eligible under Arizona law. Then gather the information you need about the deceased. Finally, submit your request with payment.

To request a La Paz County death certificate, you will need the full legal name of the deceased person. Have the date of death ready, or at least a close estimate. The place of death helps narrow down the search, so know the city or hospital if possible. You must also provide your own name, address, and explain your relationship to the deceased.

Bring a valid government photo ID when you apply. This could be a driver's license, state ID, or passport. The ID must be current and match the name on your application. If you are applying for someone else, like an elderly parent, you need documents showing your legal authority to act for them.

Here is what to include in a mail request:

• Completed application form
• Copy of your photo ID
• Check or money order for $20 per copy
• Self-addressed stamped envelope
• Your phone number in case of questions

For faster service, you can also order Arizona death certificates online through VitalChek. This service accepts credit cards but charges extra processing fees. It may be worth it if you need the certificate quickly or cannot get to the La Paz County office in person.

Arizona State Death Records

If you prefer, you can request a La Paz County death certificate from the state instead of the county. The Arizona Department of Health Services Bureau of Vital Records in Phoenix handles death certificates for the entire state. They have records from July 1909 to the present.

The state office is at 150 North 18th Avenue, Suite 120, Phoenix, AZ 85007. You can call them at 602-364-1300 or the toll-free line at 888-816-5907. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Arizona Bureau of Vital Records website has forms and instructions for ordering by mail.

The state charges the same $20 fee as the county. However, they do not accept personal checks. You must pay with a money order or cashier's check made payable to Bureau of Vital Records. Whether you go through the county or state depends on what is more convenient for you. Both offices can issue valid certified copies.

Nearby Arizona Counties

La Paz County shares borders with several other Arizona counties. If you are searching for obituary records and are not sure where someone died, check the neighboring areas too. People often receive medical care or pass away in a different county than where they lived.

Mohave County is to the north. It includes Kingman, Lake Havasu City, and Bullhead City. Many La Paz County residents travel there for shopping and medical care. Yavapai County sits to the northeast, home to Prescott and other communities.

To the east is Maricopa County, which contains Phoenix and most of the state's population. If a La Paz County resident was transferred to a Phoenix hospital, the death would be recorded in Maricopa County. To the south, Yuma County borders La Paz along the Colorado River. Yuma is a larger city with more medical facilities.

Each county has its own vital records office that can issue death certificates. The fees are similar across all Arizona counties, usually $20 per certified copy. If you find that a death occurred in a neighboring county, you can contact that county's office or go through the state.

More La Paz County Obituary Resources

Beyond official death certificates, there are other ways to find obituary information for La Paz County. Funeral homes often post obituaries on their websites. If you know which funeral home handled the arrangements, check their site first. Some families only publish obituaries through the funeral home and skip the newspaper.

Online memorial sites like Legacy.com aggregate obituaries from newspapers across the country. You can search by name and location. The Arizona Memory Project is another resource for historical research. It has digitized photos, documents, and newspaper pages from libraries and museums across the state.

For deaths that were investigated by authorities, the county medical examiner may have records. La Paz County partners with regional medical examiner services for death investigations. These records are separate from vital records but may contain useful information about cause and circumstances of death. Contact the county for details on how to request medical examiner reports.

Note: Cemetery records are another source for death dates and family connections if other records are hard to find.