West Valley City Death Records
West Valley City death records are part of the Utah statewide death index maintained by the Utah Office of Vital Records. As Utah's second-largest city, West Valley City is served by Salt Lake County Health for in-person death certificate requests. The Ellis R. Shipp Public Health Center in West Valley City handles local vital records services. Records go back to 1905 for the entire state. This page explains how to search the West Valley City death index, request certified copies, and access historical records for genealogical research.
West Valley City Quick Facts
West Valley City Death Index Records
The West Valley City death index is part of the broader Utah state vital records system. Death certificates for West Valley City residents are recorded and maintained by the Utah Office of Vital Records under Utah Code 26B-8-125. The index covers deaths registered in Utah from 1905 to the present. Records created within the last 50 years are restricted. After 50 years, they become public records accessible to anyone.
Each death record in the West Valley City index may include the full name of the deceased, the date and place of death, age at death, cause of death, place of birth, parents' names, spouse's name, occupation, race, and place of burial. The amount of detail in any given record depends on when it was created and what information was submitted at the time of registration. Modern records tend to be more complete than older ones.
West Valley City is located in Salt Lake County. All death certificates for West Valley City deaths are filed with Salt Lake County Health and the state. Certified copies can be obtained through the Ellis R. Shipp Public Health Center, which is the local Salt Lake County office serving West Valley City residents. The state office and online ordering systems are also available for West Valley City residents who prefer not to visit in person.
Note: Historical death records older than 50 years are available to the public through the Utah State Archives and genealogy resources like FamilySearch, with no proof of relationship required.
How to Search West Valley City Death Records
There are several ways to search West Valley City death records. The fastest option for recent records is the SILVER online ordering portal, operated by the Utah Office of Vital Records. SILVER is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You create an account, submit the name and date of death, provide your identification, and order a certified copy electronically. For records less than 50 years old, you must also upload proof of your relationship to the deceased.
For historical West Valley City death records, the FamilySearch Utah Death Certificates collection is a free resource. It covers much of the 20th century and includes scanned images of original certificates for many records. Searches can be filtered by name, year, and county. This is a practical starting point for genealogists researching deaths in the West Valley City area before it incorporated as a city in 1980.
Mail-in requests go to the Utah Office of Vital Records at PO Box 141012, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-1012. Include the decedent's full name, date of death, your relationship, a copy of your photo ID, proof of relationship if the record is restricted, and payment by check or money order. You can also use VitalChek to submit an online order with expedited processing options.
Ellis R. Shipp Public Health Center
The Ellis R. Shipp Public Health Center is the Salt Lake County Health office that serves West Valley City residents. It is located at 4535 South 5600 West, West Valley City, UT 84120. The phone number for vital records at this location is (385) 468-3712. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
This office can issue certified copies of death records for any death registered in Utah from 1905 to the present. You do not need to request the record at the office that serves the specific area where the death occurred. Any Salt Lake County Health office can retrieve any Utah death record. Same-day service is available when you visit in person with the proper documents.
Payment options at the Ellis R. Shipp Public Health Center include cash, check, money order, Visa, and Mastercard. The cost is $30 for the first certified copy and $10 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID. If the record is less than 50 years old, also bring proof of your relationship to the deceased. The Salt Lake County vital records order page lists all three county office locations and provides additional ordering guidance.
Note: Mail orders to a Salt Lake County office must include "ATTN: VITAL RECORDS" on the envelope and can only be paid by check or money order.
Utah Office of Vital Records for West Valley City
The Utah Office of Vital Records manages the statewide death index and provides certified copies of death certificates for West Valley City and all of Utah.
West Valley City residents can use the OVR website to order death certificates online through the SILVER system, request records by mail, or find answers to questions about the Utah death index.
Getting West Valley City Death Certificates
A certified death certificate for a West Valley City resident costs $30 for the first copy. Additional copies ordered at the same time are $10 each. These fees are set by Utah law and apply regardless of where in the state the death occurred or where you request the certificate. They apply at the Ellis R. Shipp Public Health Center, the Salt Lake County Health offices, and the Utah Office of Vital Records.
To obtain a certificate, you need the full name of the person who died, the date of death, and the place of death if known. For records within the past 50 years, you must also present a valid photo ID and show that you are an authorized requester. Authorized requesters include the deceased's spouse, children, parents, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, and legal representatives. You must document your relationship with the appropriate paperwork.
Three ordering methods are available to West Valley City residents. In-person requests at the Ellis R. Shipp Public Health Center provide same-day service. Online orders through SILVER or VitalChek at vitalchek.com are processed electronically and mailed. Mail orders sent to the Utah Office of Vital Records at PO Box 141012, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-1012 typically take longer than the other two options. Call (801) 538-6105 for questions about the state office.
Historical Death Records in West Valley City
West Valley City was incorporated in 1980, but the land it occupies has been home to residents for much longer. Death records for this area before 1980 would have been recorded under unincorporated Salt Lake County or adjacent city names. Genealogists researching deaths in the West Valley City area in earlier decades should search Salt Lake County records broadly rather than by the city name alone.
Utah's statewide death index goes back to 1905. Records older than 50 years are public and available through the Utah State Archives. The archives hold death certificates with accompanying images for many historical records. Online access is available through the archives' database. FamilySearch has also indexed a large portion of Utah death records from 1904 through the mid-20th century, searchable for free by name and county.
For deaths before 1905, burial records and church records may provide information that official death certificates do not. Early settlement records from Salt Lake County document deaths going back to the pioneer era of the 1840s. These can be found through local historical societies, church archives, and genealogy repositories.
The Social Security Death Index is useful for West Valley City deaths from 1962 onward. It does not capture every death but covers many individuals who received Social Security benefits. Pairing the SSDI with the state death index can confirm identities and provide additional detail for researchers tracing family history.
Utah State Archives and West Valley City Death Records
The Utah Division of Archives and Records Service holds historical death records for West Valley City and all of Utah, including those more than 50 years old that are now publicly accessible.
Researchers can search the archives' online database for free index entries and order copies of historical Utah death certificates, including records related to the West Valley City area dating back to the earliest years of statewide registration.
Access Rules for West Valley City Death Records
Utah law governs who can access West Valley City death records that are less than 50 years old. Under Utah Code 26B-8-125, restricted records can only be obtained by immediate family members, their legal representatives, or others with a documented legal interest. This rule applies statewide and covers all death records held by Salt Lake County Health and the Utah Office of Vital Records.
Immediate family members who can request a West Valley City death record include the deceased's spouse, children, parents, siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren. Each requester must provide valid government-issued photo ID and proof of their relationship. For example, a parent requesting a child's record must show a birth certificate or adoption papers. A spouse must show a marriage certificate. Legal representatives must provide a copy of the legal document establishing their authority.
Records older than 50 years are public under Utah Code 63G-2. Anyone can request these records without proving any relationship. This makes historical genealogical research straightforward for deaths that occurred before the public threshold year. The access rules do not change based on the purpose of the request or the requester's state of residence. Out-of-state requesters follow the same rules as Utah residents.
Note: Government agencies and courts may access restricted West Valley City death records for official purposes without meeting the family relationship requirement.
Salt Lake County Death Records
West Valley City is in Salt Lake County. The county health department maintains the local death records office and issues certified death certificates for West Valley City and all of Salt Lake County. For more information on county-level death records and resources, visit the Salt Lake County death records page.
Nearby Utah Cities
Other Salt Lake County and Utah cities have their own death index resources. Select a nearby city to find death record information for that area.