How to Get a Death Certificate in Utah

1. Record is filed
2. Record is available
3. Family orders copies
4. Copies are used

Do I have to fill out the death certificate?

Usually, no. You may be asked for information that goes on it, such as the person’s full name, date and place of birth, parents’ names, and marital status. In Utah:

• The funeral director typically gathers the personal information and files the record.
• The attending physician, or in some cases the Office of the Medical Examiner, certifies the cause of death.
• The Office of Vital Records and Statistics registers the record and issues certified copies.

The death certificate must be filed within five days of the death and before burial or cremation. If a family handles the burial or cremation without a funeral director, Utah law lets the family member in charge (called a dispositioner) file it.

Certified copy or another copy?

A certified copy is an official copy issued by Utah Vital Records or a local health department. It’s the version many organizations ask for. A photocopy or scan doesn’t carry the same status, and it isn’t accepted everywhere.

“Do you need a certified copy, or will another copy work?”

How many death certificates do I need?

There isn’t one number that fits every family. List the organizations that may need proof of death, then ask each one what it requires. Some will want a certified copy; others accept a different document.

Ordering what you need at once can save money: in Utah, extra copies of the same record ordered on the same day cost less than a new first copy. You can also order more later.

Who can order a certified copy?

Utah limits certified copies to people with a “direct, tangible, and legitimate interest”:

• A member of the person’s immediate family
• The person’s guardian
• A designated legal representative, with a letter of legal need from the organization requiring the certificate

Relatives may need to prove their relationship, for example with a birth or marriage certificate. Valid ID is required: one primary ID, or two secondary IDs. Utah death records become public after 50 years.

How to order in Utah

Online orders add a $4 convenience fee and a $2 ID-verification fee ($7 for enhanced verification).

How long does it take to get a death certificate?

It varies. On June 1, 2026, Utah Vital Records reported that online and mail orders were running about six weeks behind because of high volume. Expedited options cost extra. Check vitalrecords.utah.gov for current timing.

There can also be a delay before the record is final, for example while the cause of death is being certified or during a medical examiner review. Ask the funeral home or Vital Records whether the certificate has been filed and can be ordered. If an organization is waiting, ask whether it will accept something else for now. Not every organization will.

What to have ready

• The person’s full legal name, date and place of death, and date of birth
• Your relationship to them, and proof if needed
• Your valid ID, mailing address, and contact information
• The number of copies you want

What if the death certificate has an error?

Don’t cross out or change a certificate yourself. Corrections follow a formal process:

Personal details (spelling, dates, places)

Corrected with an Affidavit to Amend, signed by two people who know the facts, one of whom is the informant listed on the record. Signatures must be notarized, and there is a $25 amendment fee.

Medical information (cause of death)

Must be corrected by the physician who certified the cause of death.

Some changes, such as disputed spouse information, may need a court order. Contact Utah Vital Records for the current process.

Common questions