Pima County Obituary Lookup
Pima County obituary records help families trace deaths and honor loved ones in the Tucson area. This is the second largest county in Arizona by population, home to over one million residents. The county health department keeps death certificates at two locations. Obituaries appear in the Arizona Daily Star and other local papers. The Pima County Public Library has genealogy resources that go back to the 1800s. Whether you need a certified death certificate or want to search old obituaries for family research, Pima County has many options.
Pima County Quick Facts
Pima County Vital Records Office
The Pima County Health Department runs the vital records office that handles death certificates in this area. They issue certified copies for any death that took place in Arizona. You do not need to live in Pima County to get a certificate from this office. The staff can help you with applications, fees, and any questions about the process. They also handle corrections to death certificates if there are errors.
You can learn more about death certificate services at the Pima County vital records order page. The phone number is 520-724-7932. You can also reach them by email at vitalrecords@pima.gov. Same day service is available if you visit in person. Mail orders take 4 to 6 weeks to process. The county cannot speed up mail processing, but you can include a prepaid express mail envelope from USPS, UPS, or FedEx to get your certificate faster once it is ready.
The main office location is at the Abrams Public Health Center, 3950 S. Country Club Rd., Tucson. It is open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The second location is the Northwest Service Center at 1010 W. Miracle Mile. That office is open Tuesday and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Below is the Pima County vital records ordering page where you can find forms and current fees.
The page shows all the steps needed to request a certified copy of a death certificate in Pima County.
Who Can Get Pima County Death Certificates
Arizona law restricts who can get a certified copy of a death certificate. This is because Arizona is a closed record state. Not just anyone can walk in and request these records. The rules exist to protect the privacy of families and prevent fraud. You must prove you have a right to the record before the office will give you a copy.
People who can request death certificates include the spouse of the person who died. Parents and adult children qualify too. Grandparents, grandchildren, and siblings can also request copies. Funeral directors handle requests on behalf of families they serve. Attorneys who represent eligible people can apply. Executors of estates and insurance beneficiaries are also on the list. If a court order names you as someone who needs the record, you can request it.
You will need valid photo ID. Bring a driver's license, state ID, or passport. The ID must be current. Expired, cracked, or taped IDs are not accepted. You also need to state your relationship to the deceased when you apply.
Note: Genealogists can access death records that are 50 years old or more through the Arizona state genealogy database at no charge.
Pima County Death Certificate Fees
A certified copy of a death certificate costs $20 in Pima County. This is the same fee charged across Arizona. Each copy costs $20, so if you need three copies, you pay $60. Corrections to a death certificate cost $30. The county accepts cash, money orders, cashier's checks, and credit or debit cards. Personal checks are not accepted at most vital records offices in Arizona.
When you order by mail, send your payment as a money order or cashier's check made out to Pima County Health Department. Include it with your application and a copy of your photo ID. Mail everything to Pima County Vital Records, 3950 S. Country Club Rd., Tucson, AZ 85714. Keep in mind that mail orders can take 4 to 6 weeks.
You can also order through VitalChek online. They charge extra service fees on top of the $20 certificate fee. The benefit is faster processing and delivery options.
Pima County Library Genealogy Resources
The Pima County Public Library offers great resources for finding obituaries and doing genealogy research. They have databases, newspaper archives, and indexes that can help you locate information about deaths in the Tucson area. The library is a free resource for Pima County residents. Some databases are available online, while others require an in-person visit.
Visit the Pima County Library genealogy and obituary page to see what they offer. The library has access to the U.S. Social Security Death Index, which covers records from 1900 to the present, with most records from 1960 or newer. They also have an Arizona Biography and Obituary Index that spans 1865 to 1986. This is a valuable tool for finding historical obituaries in Pima County.
Below is the library's genealogy resources page showing the databases and newspaper archives available.
Library staff can help you navigate these resources if you visit in person. Call the Library's Infoline at 520-791-4010 for assistance.
Pima County Newspaper Obituaries
The Arizona Daily Star is the main newspaper for obituaries in Pima County. It serves Tucson and the surrounding communities. Families publish death notices and full obituaries in this paper. The newspaper has an online archive and a searchable obituary section at tucson.com obituaries. You can search recent obituaries by name or browse by date.
For historical obituaries, the library has significant resources. The Arizona Daily Star archives go back to 1991 in digital form. They also have microfilm copies that go back to 1880. The Tucson Citizen newspaper is available on microfilm from 1879 to May 16, 2009, when it stopped publishing. These archives are helpful for family history research and finding obituaries from decades past.
The library staff will look up obituaries for you if you can provide the name of the person, the newspaper title, and the exact date of death. There is no charge for this service. It is a good option if you cannot visit the library in person to search microfilm yourself.
Note: Newspapers may charge fees to publish obituaries, so not every death has a published obituary.
How to Request Pima County Death Certificates
You have three ways to request a death certificate in Pima County. You can visit an office in person, send a request by mail, or order online through VitalChek. Each method has different wait times and requirements. Choose the one that fits your needs.
For in-person requests, go to either office location during business hours. Bring your photo ID and know the details about the deceased. You will fill out an application form at the counter. Pay the $20 fee. Same day service is available at both locations. This is the fastest way to get a certificate.
Mail requests require you to send a completed application form, a copy of your photo ID, and payment. Use a money order or cashier's check. Mail everything to Pima County Vital Records, 3950 S. Country Club Rd., Tucson, AZ 85714. Processing takes 4 to 6 weeks. Include a prepaid express shipping envelope if you want faster delivery after processing.
Here is what you need to include with any request:
- Full name of the deceased
- Date of death or approximate date
- Place of death if known
- Your relationship to the deceased
- A copy of your valid photo ID
- Payment of $20 per certified copy
The Pima County vital records main page has more details and links to application forms.
This page provides an overview of all vital records services in Pima County.
Arizona State Genealogy Database
For older death records, the Arizona Department of Health Services has a free online genealogy database. This is a great resource for Pima County researchers looking for deaths that happened 50 or more years ago. Under A.R.S. 36-351(B), death records become public after 50 years. You can view and download non-certified copies of these historic certificates.
Search the database at genealogy.az.gov. The death records cover from 1870 to 1970 in the current database. Arizona residents can also access state archives records on Ancestry for free through a partnership with the Arizona State Library. Ask at your local library about how to get free Ancestry access.
Major Cities in Pima County
Pima County includes Tucson and several other communities. Cities do not maintain vital records in Arizona. All death certificates come from the county or state. However, city libraries and local funeral homes can be good sources for obituary information. The main city in Pima County with a population over 50,000 is Tucson.
Tucson is the county seat and the largest city. Most Pima County obituaries appear in Tucson newspapers and funeral home websites.
Nearby Arizona Counties
Pima County shares borders with several other Arizona counties. If you are searching for obituary records and cannot find what you need, check nearby counties too. Someone may have died in a neighboring county even if they lived in Pima County. Each county has its own vital records office.
Counties near Pima include Pinal County to the north, Cochise County to the east, Santa Cruz County to the south, and Maricopa County to the northwest. You can request death certificates from any of these county offices.