Emery County Death Certificates and Records
Emery County death records are available through the Southeastern Utah Health District, which manages vital records for Emery, Carbon, and Grand Counties. Located in central-eastern Utah, Emery County has its seat in Castle Dale and is known for its coal mining history. The Southeastern Utah Health District in Price handles certified death certificates for events that occurred in Emery County from 1974 to the present. For earlier records, the Utah State Archives and FamilySearch provide historical death certificates going back to 1904.
Emery County Quick Facts
Southeastern Utah Health District Records Office
The Southeastern Utah Health District is the regional authority for vital records in Emery County. The district office is located at 28 South 100 East in Price, Utah. The Price office can be reached at (435) 637-3671. This office issues certified copies of death certificates for events that occurred in Emery County from 1974 to the present. The district also serves Carbon and Grand Counties from the same Price location.
Emery County is one of Utah's less densely populated counties, covering a wide stretch of central-eastern Utah that includes the San Rafael Swell and the Book Cliffs. The county's coal mining communities, including Huntington, Orangeville, and Castle Dale, generated their own local records in the early 20th century. Many of these records were eventually incorporated into the state registration system.
| Regional Office |
Southeastern Utah Health District 28 South 100 East Price, Utah 84501 Phone: (435) 637-3671 |
|---|---|
| Fees |
Death certificates: $9.00 first copy Additional copies: $5.00 each |
| Records Available | Emery County deaths from 1974 to present |
| Counties Served | Emery, Carbon, and Grand Counties |
Note: For Emery County deaths that occurred before 1974, contact the Utah Office of Vital Records in Salt Lake City or search the historical collection on FamilySearch, which covers 1904 through 1966.
How to Get an Emery County Death Certificate
You can request a certified Emery County death certificate through several channels. The most direct method is visiting or calling the Southeastern Utah Health District office in Price. The office is located at 28 South 100 East in Price, Utah, and can be reached at (435) 637-3671. Staff can locate records for deaths that occurred in Emery County from 1974 forward and issue certified copies during your visit.
Mail requests are also accepted. Write a signed request letter that includes the full name of the deceased, date of death, your name, your relationship to the deceased, your return address, and a copy of your photo ID. Enclose a check or money order for the applicable fee. Death certificate copies cost $9.00 for the first copy and $5.00 for each additional copy of the same record. Mail your request to the Southeastern Utah Health District at 28 South 100 East, Price, UT 84501.
For statewide ordering, VitalChek provides authorized online access to Utah vital records including Emery County death certificates. VitalChek charges additional service fees and offers expedited shipping. This is a good option when visiting Price or Salt Lake City is not practical. The Utah health department directory provides updated contact information for local health offices serving Emery County.
Emery County Death Records Before 1974
Emery County deaths that occurred before 1974 are held at the state level. The Utah Office of Vital Records at 288 North 1460 West in Salt Lake City, reachable at (801) 538-6105, holds the central repository. The state has maintained death records since 1905. For deaths between 1967 and 1973, the state office is the primary source since the Southeastern Utah Health District's local records only go back to 1974.
For the period from 1904 to 1966, the most accessible resource is the Utah State Archives death certificate collection on FamilySearch. This collection includes over 260,000 death certificates from across Utah, with Emery County records included. Each certificate can be searched by name and viewed as a digital image. This free resource is invaluable for genealogical research in Emery County during the coal mining era and earlier settlement periods.
Under Utah Code Section 26-2-22, death records that are more than 50 years old are available to the general public without the access restrictions that apply to more recent records. This means historical Emery County death certificates from the first half of the 20th century are open to anyone for research purposes.
Utah Office of Vital Records and Emery County
The Utah Office of Vital Records in Salt Lake City maintains the statewide repository of death certificates, including all Emery County records. The office can issue certified copies for any death that occurred in Utah regardless of which county. This makes the state office a reliable backup option when local offices are unavailable or when you need records from multiple time periods.
The CDC guide to Utah vital records provides an overview of the state system and directs requesters to the correct office. The state charges $30 for the first certified copy of a death certificate and $10 for each additional copy. These fees differ from the Southeastern Utah Health District's local fees of $9 for the first copy. Order through the state when you need records for deaths that span multiple counties or decades.
Online ordering through VitalChek connects to the state system and can fulfill Emery County death certificate requests. This authorized service adds convenience for requesters who are not located near Price or Salt Lake City. Both the state and regional offices issue certified copies that carry the same legal authority.
Emery County Historical Mortality Records
Emery County was established in 1880 and carved from a portion of Sanpete County. Early settlement brought farming and later coal mining communities to the county. The coal towns of the early 1900s, including mines in the Castle Valley area, generated records of deaths tied to industrial accidents and occupational disease. These records are documented in the Utah State Archives and the FamilySearch death certificate collection.
The Ancestor Hunt guide to free Utah death records lists online indexes that include Emery County entries. This guide links to several free databases that can help researchers find death records before they order a certified copy. Newspaper obituaries from the Price and Emery County area papers also provide valuable detail for deaths in the early and mid-20th century.
The Utah Population Database at the University of Utah links death certificates with other vital and genealogical records. Researchers studying families from the Castle Valley, Huntington, or Ferron areas of Emery County may find this linked database more efficient than searching individual record sets.
Note: Emery County cemetery records, including those for Huntington City Cemetery and Castle Dale City Cemetery, are available through county resources and FamilySearch. These burial records can supplement official death certificates when the registration system was incomplete.
Emery County Death Certificates for Legal Purposes
Certified Emery County death certificates are the standard document required for legal and financial matters after a death. Courts, banks, and insurance companies all require certified copies. They are not the same as informational copies or printouts from online databases. A certified copy bears the official seal and signature of the issuing official and is produced on security paper.
Common uses for a certified Emery County death certificate include settling the estate of the deceased, claiming life insurance benefits, transferring or selling real property, accessing retirement accounts, and applying for Social Security survivor benefits. For Social Security purposes, refer to the SSA's program guidelines to understand what documentation is required. Most agencies require an original certified copy rather than a photocopy.
Under Utah Code Section 26-4-9, all deaths in Utah must be reported and the cause certified by the attending physician or coroner. Emery County deaths handled by the Carbon County medical examiner or a local physician follow this same requirement. The cause of death field on an Emery County death certificate is a legally certified statement.
Nearby Counties
Emery County is surrounded by several other Utah counties. Death records for neighboring counties are managed through separate regional health offices and state offices.