Salt Lake County Death Records
Salt Lake County death records are available through the Salt Lake County Health Department at three office locations across the county. Salt Lake County is the most populous county in Utah, with death records dating back to 1848 -- the earliest in the state. Whether you need a certified copy for legal purposes or want to search historical death records for genealogy research, this guide covers how to request Salt Lake County death certificates, what information to expect, and where to look for older records no longer held locally.
Salt Lake County Quick Facts
Salt Lake County Health Department Vital Records
The Salt Lake County Health Department manages death certificates for the county. Three office locations serve residents across the region. Each location offers in-person ordering with same-day service when you bring the required documents and payment. As of August 21, 2024, proof of relationship is required for all vital records requests at Salt Lake County.
The three Salt Lake County Health Department locations are:
- Salt Lake Public Health Center: 610 South 200 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84111, (385) 468-4230
- South Redwood Public Health Center: 7971 South 1825 West, West Jordan, UT 84088, (385) 468-5312
- Ellis R. Shipp Public Health Center: 4535 South 5600 West, West Valley City, UT 84120, (385) 468-3712
All three offices are open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Death records for the past 50 years are held at the county health department. For records older than 50 years, requests go to the Utah Division of Archives and Records Service. More information on ordering is at saltlakecounty.gov/health/vital-records.
Note: Same-day service is available for in-person requests when you bring a completed application, valid ID, proof of relationship, and correct payment.
How to Order Salt Lake County Death Certificates
You can request Salt Lake County death records in person, by mail, or online. In-person orders are processed the same day at any of the three health department offices. Bring your completed application, valid photo ID, proof of your relationship to the deceased, and payment. The fee is $30 for the first certified copy and $10 for each additional copy ordered at the same time.
Mail orders are also accepted. Send a completed application, a clear photocopy of your government-issued photo ID enlarged to show all four edges, and proof of relationship. Write a check or money order payable to Salt Lake County Health Department and mark the envelope ATTN: VITAL RECORDS. Credit cards are not accepted for mail orders. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope. More details on mail orders are at saltlakecounty.gov/health/vital-records/order.
Online ordering is available through VitalChek. Visit vitalchek.com to place an online order for Salt Lake County death records. Processing times for online and mail orders are longer than in-person visits.
Salt Lake County Death Record ID Requirements
Salt Lake County requires valid identification for all death certificate requests. Primary ID must be current and unexpired. Accepted forms include a government-issued photo driver license, U.S. passport, U.S. military ID, tribal ID card, permanent resident card, employment authorization card, and others. If you cannot present a primary ID, you may bring two forms of secondary identification instead.
Acceptable secondary ID documents include a voter registration card, Social Security card, utility bill, work ID or paycheck stub, W-2 form, school or university ID, motor vehicle registration, marriage license (certified copy with signatures), insurance card, property tax receipt, professional license, and similar documents. Driving privilege cards and novelty ID cards are not accepted at Salt Lake County Health Department offices.
Proof of relationship to the deceased is also required. If you are the spouse listed on the death certificate, no additional proof is needed. Children must provide their birth certificate showing the deceased as a parent. Siblings must show a birth certificate with at least one shared parent. Grandchildren and grandparents must provide a chain of birth certificates. If you are not related, you must show a direct and legitimate interest in the record.
Note: If you cannot provide acceptable ID, a spouse, parent, sibling, or adult child who can verify their relationship and present valid ID may request the record on your behalf.
Utah Death Records and the State Office
Utah began keeping official death records in 1905. The Utah Office of Vital Records and Statistics holds death records from 1904 to the present for the entire state, including Salt Lake County. The state office is at 288 North 1460 West, PO Box 141012, Salt Lake City, UT 84114. Their phone number is (801) 538-6105. Per Utah Code 26-2-22, death records more than 50 years old are considered public records and may be accessed by anyone with a valid request.
The state office charges $30 for the first certified copy of a death certificate and $10 for each additional copy. Requests sent by mail require an enlarged photocopy of a government-issued photo ID. The CDC Where to Write guide for Utah provides additional information on obtaining vital records from the state office. Salt Lake County residents may use either the county health department or the state office, though the county office often provides faster service for recent records.
Salt Lake County Historical Death Records
Salt Lake City has kept death records since 1848, making its records the oldest in Utah. The Salt Lake County death records collection from 1849 to 1949 is available through FamilySearch, indexed in partnership with the Utah Genealogical Association. Records from 1848 to 1908 appear in bound registers arranged by date. Records from 1908 to 1949 exist as individual certificates arranged by registration number and date. Both formats include rich detail about the deceased.
Death registers from the early period list the full name, gender, death date, age, place of death, race, marital status, occupation, birthplace, and names of parents. Death certificates from 1908 forward add more fields including the full name and residence of the deceased, cause of death, spouse's name, father's name and birthplace, and mother's maiden name and birthplace. Many certificates also show the attending physician and burial information. For genealogists researching Salt Lake County ancestors, these older records are a valuable primary source.
The Utah Population Database at the University of Utah also contains linked vital records that can help trace family lines through Salt Lake County. Researchers working on pioneer ancestry will find that many early Mormon settlement records passed through Salt Lake City, which served as the territorial capital and hub of LDS Church record-keeping. Local historical societies in Salt Lake County hold additional manuscript resources.
Free Online Salt Lake County Death Record Indexes
Several free databases index Salt Lake County death records for genealogy and research purposes. FamilySearch holds the largest free collection, covering 1904 through 1966 with over 120,000 records and images of actual certificates. Each record lists name, address, gender, race, date and place of birth, occupation, parents' names and birthplaces, and cause of death. The database is fully searchable by name and date at no cost.
The Ancestor Hunt maintains a guide to free Utah death records online. Visit theancestorhunt.com for a current list of indexed collections and direct links. Additional cemetery records and burial information for Salt Lake County cemeteries are available through FindAGrave and other volunteer-indexed databases. Salt Lake City Cemetery is one of the oldest and largest municipal cemeteries in the western United States and holds records reaching back to the earliest settlement period.
Note: Free online indexes are useful for finding names and dates but do not replace certified copies. Official death certificates are needed for legal, insurance, and financial matters.
Cities and Communities in Salt Lake County
Salt Lake County is home to many cities and unincorporated communities. Death records for all Salt Lake County residents are handled through the county health department offices listed above, regardless of which city the death occurred in.
Nearby Counties
Salt Lake County borders several other Utah counties. If a death occurred near a county line, verify the correct county before submitting a request.