Grand County Death Records
Grand County death records document the history of one of southeastern Utah's most well-known regions. The county seat is Moab, a city widely known for its red rock landscapes and outdoor tourism. Grand County was founded in 1890 and was named for the Grand River, which is now called the Colorado River. Death records for Grand County have been maintained through the Utah vital records system since 1905. Researchers and families can search the Grand County death index through the Utah Office of Vital Records, the FamilySearch historical collections, and the Utah State Archives for the earliest records.
Grand County Quick Facts
What Grand County Death Index Records Include
The Grand County death index spans records from 1905 to the present. Each Utah death certificate from the formal registration era records the full legal name of the deceased, the exact date and location of death, the cause of death as stated by the attending physician, the age of the deceased, their place of birth, and the name of the informant who provided the information. These data points are consistent across all Utah counties and make death certificates a strong source for both legal and genealogical research in Grand County.
FamilySearch includes Grand County in the Utah Death Certificates 1904-1964 collection, which has over 260,000 indexed records statewide. The Utah Death Registers 1847-1966 collection covers an even longer span and includes more than 300,000 entries that predate the state's formal certificate system. Grand County was established in 1890, so the death registers include relevant entries from the county's early years, when settlement was just beginning along the Colorado River corridor.
For deaths after 1964, you must contact the Utah Office of Vital Records. Those records are not available through any free public database and require a formal request with the appropriate documentation and fee.
Note: The Colorado River was known as the Grand River until 1921, so older Grand County death records may reference river-related locations under that former name.
How to Search Grand County Death Records
Searching Grand County death records from 1904 to 1964 is free on FamilySearch. The Utah Death Certificates FamilySearch collection allows you to search by name and filter by county. When you locate a match, you can view a scanned image of the original certificate. The Utah Death Registers 1847-1966 on the same site extend coverage back further and are also free to search. No account subscription is required to view records.
For certified copies and for deaths after 1964, the Utah Office of Vital Records is the correct office. Their address is 288 N 1460 W, PO Box 141012, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-1012, and their phone number is (801) 538-6105. Orders can be placed online through the SILVER system or through VitalChek. Mail-in requests are also accepted using the downloadable application form on the OVR website.
For records from before 1905, the Utah State Archives is the best resource. The archives hold early county materials, cemetery records, and church registers for Grand County. The VitalRec.com Utah counties directory provides a helpful overview of record availability for each Utah county.
Grand County Death Certificate Office
Grand County does not have a standalone county vital records office. Death certificates for Grand County are issued through the Utah Office of Vital Records in Salt Lake City. The state office centralizes vital record issuance for all 29 Utah counties. Residents of Moab and the broader Grand County area submit their requests to the state office by mail, online, or in person at the Salt Lake City location.
The Utah OVR accepts requests during regular business hours. Their website at vitalrecords.utah.gov lists current fees, required documents, and step-by-step ordering instructions. The SILVER online system allows requestors to track the status of a Grand County death certificate order from submission to delivery.
The Utah OVR is the single issuing authority for all Grand County death certificates from 1905 to the present day.
Note: Because Grand County is a popular tourist destination, deaths of out-of-state visitors are also registered here if they occurred within Grand County's boundaries.
Getting Grand County Death Certificates
A Grand County death certificate costs $30 for the first certified copy. Additional copies of the same record, ordered at the same time, are $10 each. The state sets these fees and they apply to all 29 Utah counties. The fee is not refunded if a search turns up no matching record.
There are three ways to order. Online ordering through the SILVER system on the Utah OVR website is the fastest method and lets you track your order. VitalChek offers online ordering with an additional service fee charged by that platform. Mail-in requests require a completed application form, a legible copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order for the correct amount payable to Utah OVR. All mail requests go to 288 N 1460 W, PO Box 141012, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-1012.
Grand County death records that are more than 50 years old are open to the public. Anyone may request them. Records from the past 50 years are restricted to immediate family members, legal representatives, and certain government agencies. Qualifying family members include a spouse, parent, child, or sibling. Each restricted-record requestor must show a government-issued photo ID and provide documentation of their relationship to the deceased.
Historical Death Records in Grand County
Grand County's history begins in the late 19th century. The county was established in 1890, and Moab grew as a center of ranching and later uranium mining. Deaths from the earliest years of the county appear in the Utah Death Registers 1847-1966, which FamilySearch has digitized and indexed. These registers predate the formal state registration system and capture deaths that might not appear in the certificate-based index. Searching both the death registers and the Utah Death Certificates 1904-1964 collection gives researchers the broadest possible view of historical Grand County deaths.
For deaths before 1905 or for records not found in any online collection, the Utah State Archives holds early Grand County materials. Church records, cemetery transcriptions, and local land office records may all provide evidence of a death in the county's earliest years. Contacting the archives directly is the most reliable way to identify what early Grand County death materials are held there.
The Utah State Archives holds primary source materials that supplement the Grand County death index for the period before reliable state registration.
Death Record Access in Grand County
Access to Grand County death records is governed by Utah Code 26B-8-125. This statute restricts death records for 50 years from the date of death. After 50 years, a record is public and anyone can request it with no special documentation required.
During the 50-year restriction period, only certain people qualify to obtain a copy. A surviving spouse, parent, child, or sibling of the deceased is eligible. Legal representatives of qualified family members also qualify. Government agencies with a documented need may also access restricted records. Every restricted-record requestor must provide a valid photo ID and proof of their relationship to the deceased, such as a birth certificate, marriage certificate, or court order.
The Government Records Access and Management Act governs public records broadly in Utah. Under Utah Code 63G-2, you can appeal any denial of a public records request. The State Records Committee hears appeals and issues decisions. This right applies to all records held by any state or local government body, including the Utah OVR and the Utah State Archives.
The CDC vital records page for Utah notes that state registration began in 1905 and that general compliance was achieved by about 1917. For Grand County, this means that some deaths occurring between 1905 and 1917 may not appear in the formal state death index, particularly for remote areas of the county far from Moab.
Note: Researchers looking for deaths in Grand County prior to 1905 should search both the FamilySearch death registers and the Utah State Archives, as coverage from those early years is uneven across the statewide death index.
Nearby Counties
Grand County is located in southeastern Utah and borders several other counties. Death records are filed in the county where the death took place, so identifying the correct county is the first step in your search.