Riverton Death Records
The Riverton death index covers vital records for one of Salt Lake County's southern cities. Death records for Riverton residents are maintained by Salt Lake County Health. The South Redwood Public Health Center in West Jordan is the closest office for Riverton. The death index spans from 1905 to the present. Riverton City does not maintain birth or death certificates. Residents are directed to Salt Lake County Health for all vital records requests. This guide covers every method for searching and requesting Riverton death index records.
Riverton Quick Facts
Riverton Death Index Records
The Riverton death index holds records from 1905 forward. Each death certificate typically includes the full name of the deceased, date of death, county of death, age, date of birth, cause of death, parents' names, spouse's name, occupation, and burial location. Riverton was incorporated in 1999. Deaths in the Riverton area before that date appear in Salt Lake County records under the unincorporated Salt Lake County designation. All of these records are accessible through Salt Lake County Health, which holds certified copies for all Utah deaths from 1905 to the present.
Under Utah Code 26B-8-125, death records within 50 years of the death date are restricted. Only authorized immediate family members and legal representatives may obtain certified copies during that period. After 50 years from the date of death, the record becomes public and any person can request a copy. Riverton City at rivertoncity.com confirms that residents are directed to Salt Lake County for all vital records, including death certificates.
Note: Because Riverton was not incorporated until 1999, many historical Riverton death records are listed under Salt Lake County rather than under a city name. Searching by county and date range rather than by city name may be more effective for older records.
Search Riverton Death Records
Searching the Riverton death index requires knowing the approximate date of death and the county where the death was registered. Salt Lake County Health is the primary source for recent certified records. The Utah State Archives and FamilySearch are the best options for older historical records.
Online ordering through the SILVER portal at vitalrecords.utah.gov is available 24 hours a day. You will need the decedent's name, date of death, and proof of your identity and relationship if the record is less than 50 years old. VitalChek at vitalchek.com is an authorized third-party option for Riverton residents with expedited shipping. An additional service fee applies through VitalChek on top of the $30 certificate cost.
For older Riverton death records, the FamilySearch Utah death certificate collection covers Salt Lake County from 1904 through the 1960s. These records are free to search and include index entries and scanned images of original certificates. The Utah State Archives provides free online access to Salt Lake County death index entries for records older than 50 years. Searching by county and date range is effective when the city name varies between old and new designations.
Salt Lake County Health for Riverton
The South Redwood Public Health Center is the closest Salt Lake County Health office for Riverton residents. The address is 7971 South 1825 West, West Jordan UT 84088. Phone: (385) 468-5312. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Same-day in-person service is available when you arrive with the required documents.
Salt Lake County Health also operates the Salt Lake Public Health Center at 610 South 200 East in Salt Lake City (phone: 385-468-4230) and the Ellis R. Shipp Public Health Center at 4535 South 5600 West in West Valley City (phone: 385-468-3712). All three locations serve the same records. Riverton residents can visit any of the three offices. None of the offices require that the death occurred in the same part of the county.
The fee is $30 for the first certified copy and $10 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. In-person payment accepts cash, check, money order, Visa, and Mastercard. Mail orders require a check or money order payable to Salt Lake County Health. The Salt Lake County Health vital records page provides order forms, maps, and instructions for each request method.
Note: All three Salt Lake County Health offices can issue certified copies for any Utah death from 1905 to the present, not just those within their immediate service area.
Riverton City and the Riverton Death Index
The Riverton City website directs residents seeking death certificates and vital records to Salt Lake County Health, since the city does not maintain birth or death records directly.
Riverton City's website confirms that all vital records requests, including death certificates, should go through Salt Lake County Health. The South Redwood Public Health Center in West Jordan is the closest county health office to Riverton.
Getting Riverton Death Certificates
A certified Riverton death certificate costs $30 for the first copy. Each additional copy is $10 when ordered at the same time. These fees apply at Salt Lake County Health and at the Utah Office of Vital Records.
To request a certified copy, provide the full name of the deceased, the date of death, and the county where the death was registered. For records less than 50 years old, also include a valid government-issued photo ID and proof of your relationship to the deceased. The authorized requester list includes the deceased's spouse, children, parents, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, and legal representatives. A spouse must provide a marriage certificate. A child must show their birth certificate naming the deceased as a parent. Other family members must provide documents tracing their specific connection.
Mail orders go to the Utah OVR at PO Box 141012, Salt Lake City UT 84114-1012. Phone: (801) 538-6105. Online orders are available through SILVER at vitalrecords.utah.gov or through VitalChek at vitalchek.com. VitalChek adds a service fee but processes faster than mail. For same-day service, visit the South Redwood Public Health Center in West Jordan in person.
Historical Death Records in Riverton
Riverton's formal history as an incorporated city begins in 1999, but the area was settled long before that. Deaths in the Riverton area prior to incorporation are recorded in Salt Lake County records. State death registration started in 1905. Records from before that date exist in limited form through the Utah State Archives and from church and local authority sources.
The Utah State Archives holds Salt Lake County death records older than 50 years. The archive provides free online access to index entries through its searchable database at archives.utah.gov. Many Salt Lake County historical records have been digitized. Researchers can search by name, date range, and county. Some records include scanned images of original death certificates. Records from the unincorporated Riverton area before 1999 appear under Salt Lake County designations.
The Social Security Death Index provides another cross-reference for Riverton area deaths after 1962. It does not include all deaths, but it is useful for confirming names and dates for individuals who received Social Security benefits. Combining SSDI data with the Utah death index can help resolve discrepancies in older research. FamilySearch has indexed many Utah death certificates for Salt Lake County from 1904 through the 1960s at no cost.
Riverton Death Record Access
Utah law governs access to Riverton death records. Records less than 50 years old are restricted to authorized requesters. The authorized group includes the deceased's spouse, children, parents, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, and legal representatives with documented authority. Each must provide valid government-issued photo ID and proof of their specific relationship to the deceased.
Under Utah Code 63G-2, the Government Records Access and Management Act defines what is public and what is restricted. Government agencies, courts, and law enforcement access restricted records for official purposes without the family relationship requirement. Others with a documented legal need may apply under GRAMA but must explain their purpose in writing. The records office reviews each such request individually.
Records older than 50 years from the death date are fully public. Any person can request a certified copy. Genealogists, historians, and the general public all have equal access to these older records. The 50-year threshold is calculated from the date of death. A Riverton area resident who died in 1974 has a record that became public in 2024.
Only certified copies with an official seal satisfy legal requirements from courts, insurance companies, and government agencies. Informational copies are not accepted in their place.
Note: Requests for records older than 50 years can be submitted to any of the three Salt Lake County Health offices or directly to the Utah Office of Vital Records by mail or online.
Salt Lake County Death Records
Riverton is located in Salt Lake County. Salt Lake County Health manages death records for Riverton and all surrounding communities. For full details on Salt Lake County death records, office locations, fees, and resources, visit the county page.
Nearby Utah Cities
Residents of nearby Utah cities can find death records through their local health departments. Select a city below to learn more about that area's death index and vital records.