Davis County Death Index
The Davis County death index covers vital records for one of Utah's most populous and fast-growing counties, located between Salt Lake City and Ogden along the Wasatch Front. Davis County death records are available through the Davis County Health Department in Farmington, the Utah Office of Vital Records and Statistics, and FamilySearch for historical records from 1904 to 1964. State registration began in 1905, and records are maintained for all deaths occurring within Davis County from that date to the present. This page explains how to search, request, and obtain Davis County death certificates through each available channel.
Davis County Quick Facts
What Davis County Death Index Records Include
Davis County death certificates follow the standard Utah format and record the full legal name of the deceased, date and place of death, certified cause of death, age at death, birthplace, occupation, and the names of surviving family members. The attending physician signs the medical certification, and the local registrar in Davis County verifies the registration. For deaths in Layton, Bountiful, Syracuse, Kaysville, Clearfield, and other Davis County communities, these documents are the primary official record of death.
The FamilySearch Utah Death Certificates collection covers 1904 to 1964 and includes Davis County deaths. This free resource at FamilySearch contains more than 260,000 indexed certificates across the state. Davis County, with its substantial population along the Wasatch Front, is well represented in this collection. Many records link to scanned images of the original certificates. This is the best starting point for anyone researching Davis County family history in the early to mid-twentieth century.
Historical death records for Davis County also appear in death registers covering 1847 to 1966 and in federal census mortality schedules from 1850 through 1880. These older sources can fill gaps for deaths that occurred before or shortly after formal state registration began. Bountiful, as one of the oldest settlements in Davis County, has particularly deep historical records in these older collections.
Note: Davis County's rapid population growth since the mid-twentieth century means the volume of death records grows substantially with each decade, giving researchers more records to work with for recent periods.
How to Search Davis County Death Records
The Davis County Health Department is the most direct local resource for Davis County death certificates. Their vital records office is at 61 South Main Street, Farmington, UT 84025. The Davis County Health Department page for vital records is at daviscountyutah.gov. You can request Davis County death certificates in person or by mail through this office.
Online search and ordering options include the Utah SILVER system and VitalChek. Both platforms let you order certified copies of Davis County death certificates without visiting an office. They are best suited to records from the mid-twentieth century onward. For historical records before 1964, FamilySearch is the most accessible free index.
The Utah Office of Vital Records and Statistics is the statewide agency for Davis County death certificates and processes both mail and online orders.
For older Davis County records, the Utah State Archives holds documents more than 50 years old at no cost. Their online catalog lets you search available collections. Pre-1905 records may be available at the Archives for Davis County. The VitalRec.com Utah counties page provides a directory of all available resources for Davis County in one place.
When searching the FamilySearch collection, try both common and alternate spellings of surnames. Davis County has many families with both Anglo and Scandinavian surname origins, and spelling variations appear frequently in historical records. Searching by county along with the name helps narrow results in the broader statewide collection.
Davis County Death Certificate Office
The Davis County Health Department handles local death certificate requests for this county. The office is at 61 South Main Street, Farmington, UT 84025. The county health department's vital records page at daviscountyutah.gov provides current contact information, hours, and the downloadable application form. Both in-person and mail requests are accepted.
Application forms for Davis County death certificates are available for download on the Davis County Health Department website. When visiting in person, bring a valid government-issued photo ID such as a driver's license or passport. Primary identification like these documents is preferred, but secondary ID may be accepted in some circumstances. The health department can advise you on what is acceptable when you call ahead.
The Utah Office of Vital Records and Statistics at 288 N 1460 W, PO Box 141012, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-1012, phone (801) 538-6105, also processes Davis County death certificate requests. The state office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Visit vitalrecords.utah.gov for all state-level ordering details. The state office is especially useful for online orders and for requests that cannot be easily handled at the local Davis County office.
Note: Same-day copies are available for in-person requests at the Davis County Health Department, which is an advantage over mail or online ordering when you need the record quickly.
Getting Davis County Death Certificates
The first certified copy of a Davis County death certificate costs $30. Each additional copy ordered at the same time costs $10. These fees apply whether you order through the Davis County Health Department, the Utah Office of Vital Records, or online through VitalChek. Payment methods accepted may vary by channel.
In-person requests at the Davis County Health Department in Farmington allow for same-day processing. This is the fastest option when you need a certified copy right away. Bring your completed application form, valid photo ID, and proof of relationship if the death occurred within the past 50 years. The office is at 61 South Main Street, Farmington, UT 84025.
Mail requests require a completed application form, a clear copy of your photo ID, and documented proof of your qualifying relationship for restricted records. Mail your packet to the Davis County Health Department or the Utah Office of Vital Records depending on which office holds the record you need. Turnaround time for mail requests is longer than for in-person visits. Online orders through VitalChek and the Utah SILVER system offer a middle ground: faster than mail, and available without an in-person visit.
Under Utah Code 26B-8-125, restricted Davis County death records are available only to the surviving spouse, children, parents, siblings, grandparents, or grandchildren of the deceased. Each requester must supply valid government-issued photo ID and a document proving the qualifying relationship. Proof of relationship may include a marriage certificate, birth certificate, or similar official document.
Historical Death Records in Davis County
The Utah State Archives holds Davis County death records older than 50 years and makes them available to the public at no charge.
Davis County has a deep historical record base rooted in its status as one of the earliest settled counties in Utah. Bountiful was among the first permanent settlements established by pioneers in the Salt Lake Valley area, and its church and community records supplement the formal death registration system. The FamilySearch Utah Death Certificates collection at FamilySearch is the primary free resource for Davis County deaths from 1904 to 1964. Most records in this period are indexed and link to scanned originals.
Federal census mortality schedules from 1850 through 1880 document Davis County deaths in the years before and shortly after formal registration began. These schedules, available through the National Archives and genealogy platforms, record name, age, sex, occupation, cause of death, and the number of days ill. They are especially valuable for deaths before 1905 and can serve as primary documentation when no certificate exists.
Death registers from 1847 to 1966 held at the Utah State Archives cover Davis County. These registers were compiled from local sources and may capture deaths not found in the FamilySearch collection. For researchers working on Bountiful, Farmington, and other early Davis County communities, these registers are worth examining alongside the indexed collection.
Pre-1905 Davis County death records at the Utah State Archives may also include church burial records, cemetery registers, and early local government documents. Checking multiple sources is the most reliable approach for deaths before the state registration system was established.
Who Can Access Davis County Death Records
Davis County death records more than 50 years old are public and can be requested by anyone without proving a family relationship. These records are available from the Davis County Health Department, the Utah Office of Vital Records, and the Utah State Archives depending on the age and format needed.
Records less than 50 years old are restricted under Utah Code 26B-8-125. Only the surviving spouse, child, parent, sibling, grandparent, or grandchild of the deceased may request restricted Davis County death records. Each request must include a valid photo ID. Primary identification (driver's license, passport) is preferred. Secondary ID may be accepted at the Davis County Health Department's discretion. Proof of your qualifying relationship to the deceased is also required.
The Government Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA) at Utah Code 63G-2 governs public records access broadly in Utah, including Davis County. GRAMA establishes a presumption that government records are open and sets out the limited categories of records that are exempt from disclosure. The privacy protection for vital records less than 50 years old falls within the GRAMA exemption framework.
Authorized legal representatives, estate executors, and attorneys acting under a signed authorization from an eligible family member may also request restricted Davis County death records. Bring all relevant documentation, including your credentials and the authorization, when submitting this type of request. The Davis County Health Department can confirm what specific paperwork is required before you visit or mail your request.
VitalRec.com lists vital records resources for Davis County and all other Utah counties in one organized directory.
Cities in Davis County
Davis County includes many cities and communities along the Wasatch Front. Layton is the largest city, followed by Bountiful, Syracuse, Kaysville, and Clearfield. The county seat is Farmington. Other communities include Centerville, North Salt Lake, Woods Cross, West Bountiful, West Point, Clinton, and Fruit Heights. All death records for Davis County residents are filed with the Utah Office of Vital Records, with local service through the Davis County Health Department in Farmington.
Nearby Counties
Davis County borders Weber County to the north, Salt Lake County to the south, Morgan County to the east, and Summit County to the southeast. If a death occurred near a county line, checking records in neighboring counties may be necessary.