How to Get Arizona Vital Records (Start Here)

Vital records in Arizona — birth certificates, death certificates, marriage records, and divorce records — are handled at the state level by Arizona Department of Health Services. Marriage licenses are issued locally by the Clerk of the Superior Court.

What this page covers: Arizona vital record ordering, eligibility requirements, and related databases. What it does not cover: Genealogy records older than the state vital records system (check the Genealogy Resources page for historical records).

Where to start: For certified copies of birth or death certificates, contact Arizona Department of Health Services. For marriage licenses, contact the Clerk of the Superior Court in the county where the ceremony will occur. For divorce records, contact the court that granted the decree.

Common mistake: Birth and death certificates, marriage licenses, and divorce decrees come from different offices. Do not assume one office handles all vital records.

Statewide vital-records agency
Office of Vital Records
Parent agency
Bureau of Vital Records
Records back to
Arizona Vital Records • FamilySearch
Online ordering
Find out how to order a copy of a birth or death certificate
Marriage license issued by
Marriage Licenses | Maricopa County Clerk of Superior Court
Local intake
Arizona: Local History & Genealogy Resource Guide
Population
7,582,384
Households
2,841,186
Median Income
$74,568
Median Home Value
$321,400
SearchSystems Editorial
Edited by — Editor & Owner, SearchSystems.net. Public records professional since 1999. NAPBS founding member. Full bio & credentials.
Last reviewed: June 04, 2026 · Methodology: Arizona vital records URL verified against the official state publisher at azdhs.gov on the review date. 7 primary .gov sources cited below.

Arizona Vital Records — Key Facts (2026)

Birth, death, marriage, and divorce records for Arizona — who can request, how to order, and what 2026 changed.
State-only
Issuing authority
Not federal
Restricted
Birth/death access
Usually self + family
75-125 yr
When records become public
Genealogy threshold
VitalChek
3rd-party portal
Used by many states
CDC NVSS
National statistics
Data only, no certificates
Who can request an Arizona vital record
The person named
100%
Parent of subject
100%
Spouse of subject
90%
Adult child
90%
Legal representative
80%
General public (recent)
10%
General public (historical 75+yr)
95%
Unit: % likely to receive a certified copy.

What Changed in 2026 — Arizona Vital Records

2026
Arizona vital records portal active
The official Arizona portal at azdhs.gov continues to serve as the canonical entry point for vital records in 2026.
2026
Latest federal complement for vital records
The CDC National Vital Statistics System at www.cdc.gov provides federal-level context that complements Arizona state records.
2026
Arizona access in 2026
For 2026, Arizona continues to publish vital records information through state-authorized portals; check azdhs.gov for current fees and processing times.
2026
Federal records framework refresh
Federal record types (federal liens, federal land, federal vital statistics) continue to live OUTSIDE Arizona's state portal — see the Primary Sources below for the .gov complement.

The 4-Step Arizona Vital Records Pathway

1
Step 1 — Confirm state of event
Vital records are issued by the state where the event happened. For events in Arizona, start with the Arizona health department.
2
Step 2 — Verify eligibility
Most states restrict birth/death to self, parents, spouse, child, or legal rep.
3
Step 3 — Choose ordering method
Arizona typically allows mail, in-person, or online (often via VitalChek).
4
Step 4 — Genealogy fallback
Arizona records older than 75-125 years are usually public — try FamilySearch or NARA.

Five Things People Get Wrong About Arizona Vital Records

❌ Myth: "I can request anyone's Arizona birth certificate."
✓ Truth: False. Most states (including Arizona) restrict access to immediate family or legal representatives.
❌ Myth: "Vital records are federal."
✓ Truth: False. They are state-issued. The CDC compiles statistics but does NOT issue certificates.
❌ Myth: "VitalChek is the government."
✓ Truth: False. VitalChek is an authorized third-party vendor used by many states, NOT a federal or state agency.
❌ Myth: "Older Arizona marriage records are private."
✓ Truth: False. Marriages older than ~75 years are usually public and indexed by genealogy sites.
❌ Myth: "A Arizona death is recorded the day it happens."
✓ Truth: False. CDC NVSS data has a 1-2 year lag for final figures; provisional data takes 6+ months.

Primary Sources (All .gov / Official)

Related Vital Records Resources

Related Public Records
National view of this topic: All states: Vital records
Sample Arizona counties: Apache · Cochise · Coconino · Gila · Graham

Vital Records Databases

6 official Arizona vital records sources.

Vital Records

ADHS
Official Free
The Arizona Department of Health Services' public meeting notices and agendas are posted in the lobby of the Department and on the public meeting notices page.
🌐 genealogy.az.gov
AppellaDockets
Official Free
NOTE: Click on the case number to view the current activity in the case. Click on the column names to sort the list. This page is provided as a convenience and is scheduled to update nightly. The official case record is maintained at the courthouse. If you are sure you have an active case at ...
🌐 apps.azcourts.gov
Obtaining Records | Maricopa County Clerk of Superior Court
Official Free
In a continuing effort to promote access to justice, the Arizona Supreme Court has launched a web-based portal called e-Access. e-Access provides convenient 24 x 7 online access to case records and documents that are unrestricted and open to the public. eAccess is available to the public, attorneys, government users, the media, and litigants.
🌐 clerkofcourt.maricopa.gov
Pima County Clerk of the Superior Court
Official Free
If parents are divorced or legally separated, the legal custodial parent must consent to the issuance of the marriage license. Proof of custodial parent shall be requested. ... A Pima County marriage license may also be obtained at Ajo Justice Court, Green Valley Justice Court, Marana Municipal Court, Sahuarita Municipal Court, and Oro Valley Magistrate Court. Links to these courts' websites are available at Arizona Superior Court in Pima County - Other Legal and Community Resources.
🌐 cosc.pima.gov
Robert Wayne Vickers (1958-1999) - Find a Grave Memorial
Official Free
Instead, he went to the cell of Buster Holsinger, another death row inmate. Vickers was upset over an earlier remark Holsinger had made about Vickers' niece. Vickers doused Holsinger and his cell with some Vitalis he had been saving and then threw burning toilet paper on Holsinger, setting him ablaze. Holsinger died as a result of tracheobronchial bums suffered in the resulting flash fire. On May 5, 1999, Vickers was executed by lethal injection at the Arizona State Prison in Florence.
🌐 findagrave.com
Tempe Double Butte Cemetery | Facility Directory Table List | City of Tempe, AZ
Official Free
The approximately 7,000 persons buried in Double Butte Cemetery during the historic period of significance (1888-1958) are, each in their own respective manner, representative of Tempe’s many contributions to Arizona over the previous 130 years.
🌐 tempe.gov

Arizona Counties

All 15 Arizona counties. Click any county for local court, sheriff, recorder and assessor links.

Maricopa Pima Pinal Yavapai Mohave Yuma Coconino Cochise Navajo Apache Gila Graham Greenlee La Paz

Frequently Asked Questions

Certified birth certificates for events in Arizona are issued by the Official Arizona Vital Records at azdhs.gov. Requests can be made by mail, in person, or (in most cases) online through the state's authorized vendor. The county of registration may also be able to issue certified copies for recent local events.

Arizona death certificates are issued by the Official Arizona Vital Records; eligibility (next of kin, executor, legal representative) and ID documentation requirements are listed at azdhs.gov. For deaths within the last year, the county clerk or local registrar where the death occurred can often issue a copy more quickly.

Arizona marriage and divorce records are not generally available in a free, name-searchable online index. The Official Arizona Vital Records (azdhs.gov) handles certified copies; the underlying license/decree is filed with the county clerk or court that issued it, which is also a primary search point.

Standard Arizona vital-record processing times vary from a few business days (in-person same-day at some county clerks) to several weeks for mailed requests. The Official Arizona Vital Records publishes current turnaround times at azdhs.gov. Expedited processing is usually available for an additional fee.

The Official Arizona Vital Records requires government-issued photo identification (driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID) and proof of your relationship to the record holder, if applicable. The full list of acceptable ID and supporting documents is published at azdhs.gov.