Utah County Death Records and Certificates
Utah County death records are held by the Utah County Health Department in Provo. The county is the second most populous in Utah, and its vital records office handles certified death certificates for all events that occurred within county boundaries. Whether you are searching for a recent record or tracing family history back to the 1800s, Utah County offers several ways to find and obtain death records. This page explains how to search, what offices to contact, and where historical death records are kept.
Utah County Quick Facts
Utah County Health Department Vital Records
The Utah County Health Department is the primary office for obtaining certified death certificates for events that happened in Utah County. The office is located at 151 South University Ave, Suite 1100, in Provo. A second location is available at 100 East Center Street, also in Provo. Staff can issue certified copies with a raised seal, which are required for most legal and financial purposes. Contact Ruth Nielson at (801) 851-7526 or by fax at (801) 501-2602 with questions about your request.
Most in-person requests are processed the same day. If you cannot visit the office, you can order online through VitalChek, which is the authorized online partner for Utah County. Additional service charges apply for expedited online orders. You can also request by mail by contacting the office for procedures. The health department only issues certificates for deaths that occurred within Utah County.
| Primary Office |
Utah County Health Department 151 South University Ave, Suite 1100 Provo, UT 84601 Phone: (801) 851-7526 |
|---|---|
| Alternate Office |
100 East Center Street Provo, UT 84606 |
| Order Online | VitalChek - Utah County Health Department |
Note: The Utah County Health Department issues certificates for events occurring within county limits only. For deaths that happened elsewhere in Utah, contact the state Office of Vital Records or the local health department where the event occurred.
Utah State Death Records Office
The Utah Office of Vital Records and Statistics maintains death certificates for the entire state. This state office holds records from 1904 to the present. It is located at 288 North 1460 West, PO Box 141012, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-1012. You can reach the office by phone at (801) 538-6105. The first certified copy costs $30, and each additional copy ordered at the same time is $10.
State law makes death certificates that are more than 50 years old available to the public. Under Utah Code 26-2-22, records older than 50 years are considered open public records. For more recent death certificates, requesters must show a qualifying relationship to the deceased. The CDC Where to Write for Vital Records guide provides additional details about ordering Utah death certificates.
Online ordering through VitalChek is available for state-level records as well. Processing times vary by method. In-person visits to the state office in Salt Lake City generally allow same-day service.
Utah County Historical Death Records
Historical death records for Utah County are available through several sources. The Utah State Archives, in partnership with FamilySearch, has indexed over 260,000 death certificates from across Utah. Utah County death certificates from 1904 to 1966 are part of this collection and are available as a free searchable database with images. You can search by name, date, or community at the FamilySearch Utah death records collection.
Records go back further than 1904 in some cases. Utah County death records from 1898 to 1966 have been indexed, and county records dating back to 1850 are available in some collections. Provo City birth records from 1900 to 1905 exist, along with a Register of Births from 1898 to 1905. These early registers predate statewide registration and were kept by local governments before the state took over vital records management in 1905.
The Ancestor Hunt guide to free Utah death records is a useful starting point for genealogical research in Utah County. It lists indexes, online collections, and free tools that cover Utah County communities like Provo, Orem, Lehi, American Fork, and Springville.
Note: Utah County marriage records from 1887 to 1937 have also been indexed, and probate records from the Third Judicial Court sometimes contain death dates and estate information that can support genealogical research.
Utah Population Database and Death Data
The University of Utah Huntsman Cancer Institute maintains the Utah Population Database, known as the UPDB. This database links Utah death certificate data from 1904 to the present with other health and genealogical records. Researchers use the UPDB to study causes of death, disease patterns, and family health histories across generations. All causes of death in the database have been coded for research use.
Access to UPDB data requires formal application and approval. It is not a public search tool, but it represents one of the most comprehensive death record databases in the western United States. The UPDB vital records information page explains what the database contains and how researchers can request access.
Utah County Cemetery and Local Research Resources
Cemetery records are an important source of death information in Utah County. Provo City Cemetery records are available and searchable, as are burial records from several other cities within the county. Many early death records in Utah County can be found in cemetery sexton books and burial registers, which sometimes predate formal state death certificate registration.
BYU Special Collections on the Brigham Young University campus in Provo holds historical records relevant to Utah County research. The Provo City Library maintains historical collections for the Provo area. The Utah County Historical Society also holds materials that include death-related records and obituaries going back to the pioneer period. These local collections are especially useful for researching deaths that occurred before 1904, when statewide registration began.
Utah County Probate Records from the Third Judicial Court are another resource worth checking. Probate packets often contain details about the deceased, including death dates, heirs, and estate inventories. Historical probate records are available through the Utah State Archives.
How to Request Utah County Death Certificates
There are three main ways to request a death certificate for a Utah County death. Each method has different processing times and requirements.
In-person requests at the Utah County Health Department at 151 South University Ave in Provo are processed the same day in most cases. You will need to bring a valid government-issued photo ID and payment. Staff can search county records and issue certified copies while you wait. This is the fastest option for those who can visit the office during business hours.
Mail requests are also accepted. Contact the office at (801) 851-7526 to get the current application form and mailing instructions. Include a photocopy of your valid ID and a check or money order for the fee. Do not send cash by mail. Allow time for mailing in both directions in addition to processing time.
Online ordering through VitalChek is the most convenient option for those outside the Provo area. Additional service fees apply for online orders. VitalChek processes requests on an expedited basis and ships certified copies directly to you.
Note: All three methods require proof of qualifying relationship for records less than 50 years old. Older records are open to the public under Utah law.
Cities in Utah County
The Utah County Health Department handles death records for all communities within the county. Below are cities in Utah County with additional records information.
Nearby Counties
Utah County borders several other counties. If the death you are researching occurred near a county line, you may want to check neighboring county records as well.