How to Find a Cause of Death in Arizona (2026 Guide)

To find someone's cause of death in Arizona, look at the death certificate, where a doctor or the county medical examiner records the cause as the medical certification. That certificate is a closed record, so a certified copy goes only to eligible family or representatives until the record opens for genealogy 50 years after the death.

How Do You Find Someone's Cause of Death in Arizona?

You find a cause of death in Arizona on the death certificate, which carries the medical certification of cause of death signed by the certifying physician or the county medical examiner. The certificate is the primary official source.

There are several practical paths. Eligible family members can order the certificate from the Arizona Department of Health Services (AZDHS) Bureau of Vital Records. For deaths the medical examiner investigated, the autopsy report is a second source once the case is closed.

For deaths that are not recent, an obituary or newspaper account often names a cause or circumstances. Once a record is 50 years old, anyone can view it through the state genealogy system.

Up one level, see Arizona Death Records for the full access rules, and the national hub, Death Records by State.

Is the Cause of Death Public in Arizona?

No. The cause of death is not generally public in Arizona because it lives on the death certificate, and Arizona keeps death certificates confidential. Under A.R.S. 36-342, a registrar may not allow inspection of a vital record or issue a copy except as authorized by law.

Because the cause-of-death entry is part of that confidential certificate, it carries the same restriction. Only eligible requesters can obtain the document during the closed period.

This tracks Arizona's broader treatment of these records. For a national overview, see Are Cause of Death Records Public?.

There is one timing exception worth noting. The medical examiner's completed autopsy report becomes a public record once the case is closed, even though the death certificate itself stays restricted for decades.

Where the Cause of Death Is Recorded (Death Certificate vs Autopsy Report)

The cause of death is recorded in two main places in Arizona, and they serve different purposes.

The Death Certificate

The death certificate contains the medical certification of cause of death. Arizona law defines that certification as the opinion of the health care provider who signs the certificate as to the probable or presumed cause of death.

For most natural deaths, the attending physician completes this section. The certificate lists the immediate cause and any underlying conditions that led to death.

The Autopsy Report

When the county medical examiner has jurisdiction, a forensic pathologist may perform an autopsy and prepare a detailed report. This report explains the findings behind the cause and manner of death.

The medical examiner investigates deaths that are violent, sudden, unexpected, or unexplained, among others (A.R.S. 11-593). The examiner then certifies the cause and manner of death and reduces the findings to a written report (A.R.S. 11-594).

How to Request Records That Show the Cause of Death

To request records that show a cause of death in Arizona, start with the source that matches your relationship and the type of death.

If you are eligible family, order the death certificate from the AZDHS Bureau of Vital Records or a participating county office. You apply on the state form, prove your relationship, and include a copy of your photo ID. A certified copy costs $20.

If the death was investigated by the medical examiner, request the autopsy report from the county medical examiner office that handled the case. In counties such as Maricopa, legal next of kin can usually obtain a completed report at no charge once the case is closed.

Timing matters for the autopsy report. While a death is still under active investigation, the office withholds the report until the examination and any toxicology are finished. Most reports are completed within about 90 days, though complex cases take longer.

Finding the Cause of Death for Older or Historical Deaths

For older deaths, your options widen as the record ages out of the confidential period. Arizona opens death records for noncommercial genealogy research 50 years after the date of death.

You can search these records through the AZDHS genealogy system at no charge. The site currently provides death records for deaths from 1870 through the most recent year that has passed the 50-year mark. These images are not certified copies, but they show the original certificate, including the cause of death.

For deaths in the gap before that window opens, an obituary, a newspaper death notice, or a published memorial can describe the cause or circumstances. Local libraries and the Arizona State Library hold newspaper archives that help here.

The Social Security Death Index is useful for confirming the fact of death, including names and dates, but it does not list a cause of death. Use it to locate a death, then pursue the certificate or autopsy report for the cause.

Arizona Cause of Death Records at a Glance

Disclaimer: This page provides general information about Arizona records and is not legal advice. Access rules, fees, and processing times can change. Verify the current requirements with the Arizona Department of Health Services or the relevant county office before you apply.

Sources

This guide draws on the Arizona Department of Health Services Bureau of Vital Records and Arizona Revised Statutes Title 36 and Title 11, all official government sources.