Find Box Elder County Death Records
Box Elder County death records are issued by the Bear River District Health Department, which serves the county from its Logan office. Death certificates for events in Box Elder County are available from 1976 to the present at the local level. For older records, the Utah State Archives and FamilySearch both hold historical death certificates going back to 1904. This guide covers every option for searching and obtaining Box Elder County death records, whether for legal, genealogical, or personal purposes.
Box Elder County Quick Facts
Bear River District Health Department
The Bear River District Health Department is the primary office for Box Elder County death certificates. The department serves Box Elder, Cache, and Rich Counties from its Logan location. Death records from 1976 to the present are available through this office. Same-day service is offered for in-person requests. You can also request records by mail or online.
Contact Nancy Harris at (435) 792-6492 for questions about Box Elder County records. The office processes mail requests when the application is complete, identification is included, and the correct payment is enclosed. Requests missing any of these items will be returned. Overnight return service is available if you include a prepaid overnight envelope with your mail request.
The Bear River Health Department vital records page shows current fee schedules and the application process for Box Elder County death certificates.
The page includes downloadable application forms and instructions for requesting certified copies of Box Elder County death certificates.
| Office | Bear River District Health Department |
|---|---|
| Address | 170 N. Main, Logan, UT 84321 |
| Phone | (435) 792-6492 |
| Contact | Nancy Harris |
| Records Available | Death certificates from 1976 to present |
| Fee | $30 first copy; $10 each additional copy |
| Website | brhdut.gov/vital-records |
Box Elder County Death Certificate Fees and Ordering
The Bear River District Health Department charges $30 for the first certified copy of a death certificate. Each additional copy ordered at the same time costs $10. These fees apply whether you request in person or by mail. Online orders through VitalChek or the SILVER statewide database carry additional service fees on top of the base certificate cost.
Mail orders must include a completed application form, an enlarged photocopy of your valid ID (front and back), proof of your relationship to the deceased, and a check or money order payable to Bear River Health Department. Credit cards are not accepted for mail orders. In-person requests allow same-day processing and payment by more methods. Call ahead at (435) 792-6492 to confirm current hours and what to bring.
For online ordering of Box Elder County death certificates, VitalChek is the authorized partner. VitalChek accepts credit cards and ships certified copies directly to you. The Utah Office of Vital Records in Salt Lake City is another option for ordering if the local office cannot assist.
Note: Fees are subject to change. Always confirm the current amount before sending payment for a Box Elder County death certificate.
Box Elder County Historical Death Certificates
Box Elder County was founded in 1856, and Brigham City has served as the county seat since 1851. Death records from the county's earliest years are not held locally. Instead, they are preserved through the Utah State Archives and through FamilySearch's online historical collections.
Death certificates for Box Elder County from 1904 through 1966 are part of the Utah State Archives Series 81448. These records are fully digitized and searchable at FamilySearch at no cost. You can search by name, year, and county. Images of the original certificates can be viewed and downloaded. The Utah Death Index from 1905 to 1951 is also searchable by county and name, making it a useful first step before pulling a full certificate image.
Box Elder County also has death registers from 1898 to 1905 that predate the statewide certificate system. These early registers were kept at the county level and may include details not captured in later official certificates. The Box Elder County Clerk's office at the Box Elder County Courthouse may be able to direct you to these records. The clerk also holds marriage records dating from 1887, including an index to marriage licenses and certificates covering 1887 through 1966.
The Utah health departments directory provides a current listing of all local health departments in Utah, including Box Elder County's Bear River District coverage area.
The directory confirms the Bear River District Health Department as the official issuing office for Box Elder County vital records including death documents.
Box Elder County Vital Records Access Rules
Utah restricts who can request certified copies of recent death certificates. Under Utah Code Section 26-2-22, records less than 50 years old are restricted to immediate family members, legal representatives, and others with a direct legal interest. You must show proof of your relationship to the deceased. Acceptable ID is required with every request.
Box Elder County death records that are more than 50 years old are open to the public. No proof of relationship is needed for these historical records. This means records through the mid-1970s are now publicly available to anyone who requests them. Genealogists and historians often take advantage of this rule when researching Box Elder County families.
The Utah vital records access law also covers who may request information from death registers and indexes. Even when a full certificate is restricted, index information like name, date, and county of death may be available in a less restricted form. Contact the Bear River District Health Department or the Utah Office of Vital Records to ask about access to a specific record.
Box Elder County Genealogy and Death Research
Box Elder County offers a range of resources for genealogical death research beyond official certificates. Cemetery records for Brigham City Cemetery, Tremonton Cemetery, and Garland Cemetery are among the most useful starting points. Burial records often include the date of death, age at death, and names of surviving family members. These details can help you locate the right death certificate.
Local newspapers are another valuable source. The Box Elder News Journal and the Tremonton Leader both published obituaries over many decades. Obituaries often include information not found on the death certificate, such as survivors' names, church membership, and hometown details. These papers are available on microfilm at local libraries and at the Utah State Archives.
The Ancestor Hunt blog on Utah death records lists free online indexes that include Box Elder County mortality records. The site covers major genealogical databases and explains which ones include Box Elder County data. The University of Utah Population Database is another research resource that draws on Utah vital records, including Box Elder County deaths, for historical population studies.
Utah State Death Record System
Utah death registration began statewide in 1905. The CDC's guide to Utah vital records explains the statewide system and how to contact the Utah Office of Vital Records for records from all 29 counties, including Box Elder County. The state office at 288 N 1460 W, Salt Lake City, UT 84114 holds records going back to 1905 and can fulfill requests when local offices cannot.
For Box Elder County deaths before 1905, church records, family bibles, and county-level death registers are the most likely sources. Early LDS congregation records sometimes captured deaths that predated the state registration system. FamilySearch, which is operated by the LDS Church, has indexed many of these records and made them searchable online alongside the official certificate collection.
Cities in Box Elder County
Box Elder County includes Brigham City and many smaller communities. Death records for all residents are handled through the Bear River District Health Department or the Utah Office of Vital Records.
Brigham City is the county seat of Box Elder County and the largest city in the county. Death records for Brigham City are held at the Bear River District Health Department.
Nearby Counties
Box Elder County borders Cache, Rich, and Weber Counties. Death records for neighboring counties are handled by their respective local health departments or the Utah Office of Vital Records.