St. George Death Records
The St. George death index covers vital records for Washington County's largest city, Utah's fastest-growing metro area. Southwest Utah Public Health (SWUPD) is the regional agency that manages death certificates for St. George and the surrounding five-county area. The main office is in St. George at 620 South 400 East, Suite 400. Records cover all Utah deaths from 1905 to the present. Death certificates for St. George residents can be requested online, in person by appointment, or by mail. This guide covers every method and the specific resources for St. George death records research.
St. George Quick Facts
St. George Death Index Overview
The St. George death index is part of the statewide Utah vital records system. Death records for St. George and Washington County are filed with Southwest Utah Public Health and then forwarded to the Utah Office of Vital Records in Salt Lake City. The index covers all deaths registered in Utah from 1905 to the present. Records older than 50 years are public under Utah Code 63G-2. More recent records are restricted to immediate family and authorized representatives under Utah Code 26B-8-125.
St. George death records typically contain the full name of the deceased, date and place of death, age, birthdate, cause of death, parents' names, spouse's name, residence, occupation, and burial information. FamilySearch notes that Washington County death records include cause of death, burial information, and parents' names, which makes St. George records particularly useful for family history research.
Southwest Utah Public Health serves a five-county region covering Washington, Iron, Garfield, Beaver, and Kane counties. This regional structure means that the St. George office at 620 South 400 East is the primary in-person location for Washington County death certificate requests. Iron County residents use the Iron County office at a separate location. All records for the region flow through the same SWUPD system and are also available through the state office in Salt Lake City.
Note: Historical St. George death certificates from 1904 to 1964 are held at the Utah State Archives and are publicly accessible to anyone, with scanned images available online for many records.
Search St. George Death Records
Searching St. George death records starts with knowing which time period and what type of record you need. For certified copies of recent records, the SILVER online ordering system at the Utah Office of Vital Records is available 24 hours a day. For historical genealogical research, free databases from FamilySearch and the Utah State Archives cover much of the 20th century.
The FamilySearch St. George genealogy page lists available databases for Washington County death research. These include the Utah Death Index for 1905 to 1951, Utah Death Certificates for 1904 to 1956 with free images, and the Social Security Death Index from 1962 onward. The Washington County Clerk at 197 East Tabernacle Street, St. George, UT 84770 holds some additional county-level historical records.
Online orders through VitalChek for Southwest Utah Health District allow St. George residents to request certified copies without a trip to the office. The SWUPD office is at 620 South 400 East, Suite 400, St. George, UT 84770. VitalChek handles expedited processing for events that occurred in Washington, Iron, Garfield, Beaver, or Kane counties. Application forms are available in both English and Spanish.
Mail requests go to SWUPD directly or to the Utah Office of Vital Records at PO Box 141012, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-1012. Include the decedent's name, date of death, your relationship, a copy of your photo ID, proof of relationship for restricted records, and payment by check or money order.
Southwest Utah Public Health Department
Southwest Utah Public Health is the regional health agency that handles vital records for St. George and the surrounding five-county area. The main office is at 620 South 400 East, Suite 400, St. George, UT 84770. The Washington County vital records phone number is (435) 986-2557. The Iron County office is reached at (435) 586-2437. The SWUPD vital records page at swuhealth.gov provides details on all ordering methods and required documents.
In-person requests at SWUPD require an appointment. Call the Washington County office at (435) 986-2557 to schedule. Online ordering is available through VitalChek or the state SILVER system. Mail requests are also accepted. SWUPD accepts requests for deaths that occurred anywhere in Utah, not just those in the five-county service area.
The cost for a certified death certificate is $30 for the first copy and $10 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. Utah law allows families to care for their deceased without a licensed funeral director. Families choosing this option must still file a death certificate and comply with all state registration requirements. SWUPD can provide guidance on this process for Washington County families.
SWUPD serves as the local public health authority for a wide area of southern Utah. Their vital records staff processes death certificates for St. George and the broader Washington County population. For deaths in other parts of the five-county service area, the same office or an applicable county office handles the request.
Southwest Utah Public Health for St. George Death Records
The Southwest Utah Public Health vital records page is the starting point for ordering St. George death index records and certified death certificates in Washington County.
The SWUPD site provides forms, instructions, fee information, and contact details for the St. George office, making it the most direct resource for Washington County residents seeking St. George death records.
Getting Death Certificates in St. George
A certified St. George death certificate costs $30 for the first copy and $10 for each additional copy. These fees apply at SWUPD, at the Utah Office of Vital Records, and through VitalChek. Third-party services like VitalChek charge an additional service fee on top of the certificate cost. The state fees are set by statute and do not vary by county or city.
To request a certificate, provide the full name of the deceased, the date of death, and the place of death. For records within the 50-year restriction window, also provide your government-issued photo ID and documentation of your relationship to the deceased. Authorized requesters include the deceased's spouse, children, parents, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, and legal representatives. Proof of relationship must be a document that clearly shows your connection, such as a birth certificate, marriage certificate, or legal court order.
Three ordering channels are available to St. George residents. In-person visits to SWUPD at 620 South 400 East require an appointment and offer direct same-session service. Online orders through SILVER at vitalrecords.utah.gov or through VitalChek are processed electronically and mailed. Mail requests to SWUPD or to the Utah OVR at PO Box 141012, SLC UT 84114-1012 are the slowest option. For urgent needs, the in-person or expedited online options are better choices.
Historical St. George Death Records
St. George was founded in 1861 and has historical death records that predate statewide registration. Before 1905, local church records and territorial records documented deaths in the St. George area. Early LDS church records are especially important for St. George history given the city's founding by Latter-day Saint settlers. These records are accessible through the Family History Library in Salt Lake City and through FamilySearch.
After 1905, St. George death records are part of the Utah statewide system. The Utah State Archives holds certified death certificates for St. George and Washington County going back to 1904. Records older than 50 years are public and searchable through the archives' online database. The archives hold records with accompanying images for many of these historical certificates. The FamilySearch collection for Utah Death Certificates from 1904 to 1956 includes Washington County deaths and is freely searchable online.
Washington County death records from 1969 onward are specifically noted in the SSA POMS database as being on file with the Health Department Southwest District. Records before 1969 at the county level may be found through the state archives or early registration sources. The Washington County Clerk at 197 East Tabernacle Street, St. George, UT 84770 also holds some historical county-level records.
Note: Many early St. George death records include information on cause of death and burial location that is not always available in modern standardized certificates, making historical records particularly valuable for genealogical research.
Death Record Access in St. George
Access rules for St. George death records follow Utah state law. Records within the past 50 years are restricted under Utah Code 26B-8-125. Only immediate family members and their authorized representatives can obtain certified copies of these records. The immediate family group includes the deceased's spouse, children, parents, siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren. Legal representatives acting on behalf of these family members must provide documentation of their legal authority.
To request a restricted St. George death record, submit the decedent's full name and date of death along with your own valid government-issued photo ID. Also include proof of your relationship. A parent requesting a record for a child provides a birth certificate. A spouse provides a marriage certificate. Attorneys provide a letter of representation or court order. All documents submitted should be copies, not originals.
Records older than 50 years are public documents under Utah Code 63G-2. Any person can request these records. No proof of relationship is required. The same request forms and ordering methods apply, but the documentation requirements are simplified. Genealogists, historians, and other researchers can order historical St. George death records freely. Out-of-state requesters follow the same rules as Utah residents and can submit requests by mail or online.
Washington County Death Records
St. George is the county seat of Washington County. Southwest Utah Public Health handles death records for St. George and all of Washington County. For more information on county-wide death records, resources, and how to access the Washington County death index, visit the county records page.
Nearby Utah Cities
Other Utah cities use their county or regional health departments for death records. Select a nearby city to find its death index information.