Salt Lake County Death Index
Salt Lake County death records are maintained by the Salt Lake County Health Department through three public health center locations spread across the county. Salt Lake County is the most populous county in Utah and serves as the state capital region. The Salt Lake County death index covers records from 1905 forward, with early Salt Lake City vital records going back to 1895. If you need a death certificate or want to search the Salt Lake County death index, this page covers every step from free online searches through certified copy ordering.
Salt Lake County Quick Facts
What Salt Lake County Death Index Records Include
A Salt Lake County death certificate includes the full legal name of the deceased, the exact date and location of death, and the certified cause of death. The physician or medical examiner who made the determination is listed. The record also shows the decedent's age, date of birth, birthplace, and last known address within Salt Lake County or elsewhere in Utah.
The death index entry for Salt Lake County includes the registrant's name, the date the record was filed, and the registration number that points to the full certificate. Salt Lake County has more records in the statewide index than any other county because of its large population. The FamilySearch Utah Death Certificates collection holds over 260,000 statewide certificates from 1904 through 1964, and Salt Lake County accounts for a large share of those records.
The historical death registers covering 1847 through 1966 hold over 300,000 statewide entries. Salt Lake County deaths appear throughout this register series from the earliest settlement years. Because Salt Lake City was the center of Utah Territory, the death records here are among the most carefully kept in the state during the territorial period.
Salt Lake City began its own local vital statistics system in 1895, ten years before Utah required statewide registration. Early Salt Lake City death records from 1848 forward exist in various collections, giving researchers access to documentation not available for most other Utah counties. The Utah Deaths and Burials collection for 1888 through 1946 holds about 145,000 statewide records, with many from Salt Lake County.
Note: The Salt Lake County Health Department online ordering page is at saltlakecounty.gov, and orders placed there are handled through the county's own vital records system rather than the state SILVER system.
How to Search Salt Lake County Death Records
Searching Salt Lake County death records is straightforward because the county has strong online resources. Start with free indexes before ordering a paid certified copy. Free searches let you confirm the record exists and gather the details you need to place an accurate order.
The FamilySearch Utah Death Certificates collection is free and covers 1904 through 1964. Search by name and look for Salt Lake County in the results. You can view images of the original certificates without paying. FamilySearch also holds the Death Registers 1847 to 1966, which add older entries not in the certificate collection.
For deaths after 1964, the Salt Lake County Health Department is the primary source. Their website at saltlakecounty.gov/health/vital-records has an online ordering system. You can place an order 24 hours a day through the county's ordering portal. In-person service is available Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 4:30 PM at all three health center locations.
The Utah State Archives holds Salt Lake County records that predate the 1905 statewide system. For early Salt Lake City death records going back to 1848, the Archives is the right place. Staff can guide you on which collections cover specific time periods and how to request remote access to the records.
The VitalRec.com Utah counties page summarizes Salt Lake County ordering options and provides links to all the relevant offices. This is a useful reference when you are deciding between the county health department, the state office, and VitalChek for your order.
Salt Lake County Death Certificate Offices
Salt Lake County Health Department operates three public health centers that issue death certificates. Each location serves a different part of the county. You can visit any of the three regardless of where the death occurred in Salt Lake County. All three locations are open Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 4:30 PM.
| Salt Lake Location |
Salt Lake Public Health Center 610 South 200 East Salt Lake City, UT 84111 Phone: (385) 468-4230 |
|---|---|
| South Location |
South Redwood Public Health Center 7971 South 1825 West West Jordan, UT 84088 Phone: (385) 468-5312 |
| West Location |
Ellis R. Shipp Public Health Center 4535 South 5600 West West Valley City, UT 84120 Phone: (385) 468-3712 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | saltlakecounty.gov/health/vital-records |
In-person payment at all three locations accepts cash, check, money order, Visa, and Mastercard. Mail-in requests require a check or money order. Online orders go through the county ordering portal at saltlakecounty.gov/health/vital-records/order and accept credit cards.
The Utah Office of Vital Records at vitalrecords.utah.gov is the state-level backup. If the county health department cannot fulfill a request, the state office at 288 N 1460 W, Salt Lake City UT 84114-1012 holds copies of all Salt Lake County death certificates. The state office phone is (801) 538-6105.
Getting Salt Lake County Death Certificates
Salt Lake County death certificates cost $30 for the first certified copy. Each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time costs $10. These fees apply at all three health center locations and through the county's online ordering system. The state fee schedule also sets $30 for the first copy if you order through the state office or VitalChek.
The fastest way to get a certified copy is to visit one of the three Salt Lake County Public Health Centers. Bring a valid photo ID and proof of your relationship to the deceased if the record is less than 50 years old. Same-day service is standard for in-person requests. The South Redwood location in West Jordan is convenient for residents in the southern part of the county, and the Ellis R. Shipp location in West Valley City serves the western side.
Online orders go through the county portal at saltlakecounty.gov/health/vital-records/order or through VitalChek. Both accept credit cards. VitalChek adds a service fee to the certificate cost. Online orders are mailed out rather than available for same-day pickup.
Mail requests go to any of the three health center addresses. Include the decedent's full name, date of death, your name, your relationship to the deceased, a copy of your ID, and a check or money order for $30 made out to Salt Lake County Health Department.
Note: Additional copies of the same record ordered on the same day cost only $10 each, so order all the copies you need at one time to save money.
Historical Death Records in Salt Lake County
Salt Lake County has the most extensive collection of historical death records of any Utah county. Salt Lake City was founded in 1847 and served as the capital of Utah Territory. The LDS Church kept careful records of its members from the earliest years of settlement, and many of those records document deaths in Salt Lake County going back to 1847.
The Utah Cemetery Inventory covering 1847 through 1950 holds over 350,000 burial entries statewide. Salt Lake County cemeteries, including the Salt Lake City Cemetery and dozens of smaller community burial grounds, are well represented in this inventory. Cemetery records often show death dates and burial locations that confirm facts not recorded in any other surviving document.
Salt Lake City began its own vital statistics system in 1895, a full decade before Utah required statewide registration. This means Salt Lake County has a continuous record of registered deaths going back to 1895 through the city system and to 1905 through the statewide system. Earlier deaths from 1848 onward can be found in church records and probate files held at the Utah State Archives.
Visit the Utah State Archives to search Salt Lake County death records from the territorial period and the early statehood years before the registration system was fully established.
Veterans buried in Salt Lake County from 1844 through 1966 appear in a statewide collection of about 19,000 records. The 120,000 newspaper obituary records from Utah papers published between 1850 and 2005 also heavily feature Salt Lake County deaths, given that the major Utah newspapers were based in Salt Lake City throughout that period.
Note: The FamilySearch Utah Death Certificates 1904 to 1964 collection contains over 260,000 records and is searchable free online, making it the best first stop for Salt Lake County deaths in that time frame before ordering a certified copy.
Death Record Access Rules in Salt Lake County
Utah law restricts Salt Lake County death records for 50 years from the date of death. Records within that window are available only to immediate family members, legal representatives, or others with a documented legal need. Immediate family means a spouse, parent, child, or sibling of the deceased. All three Salt Lake County health center locations require proof of that relationship before releasing any restricted record.
The governing statute is Utah Code 26B-8-125, which sets the 50-year public access threshold for vital records statewide. Once a record reaches 50 years old, anyone can order a copy without showing a family connection. Death records from the 1970s and earlier are now open to the public under this rule.
The broader framework for government records in Utah is Utah Code 63G-2, the Government Records Access and Management Act, known as GRAMA. This law governs public access to government records across all agencies in Utah. Death certificates that are past the 50-year mark fall under the general public access rules in GRAMA, meaning anyone can request them with no special justification required.
Salt Lake County health center staff can help you determine whether a specific record is restricted or public. If the death year is unclear, bring as much information as you have and the staff will check the registration date before processing your request.
The Social Security Administration POMS guidance explains how Utah death records interact with federal survivor benefit programs. A certified Salt Lake County death certificate is typically what the SSA requires to process a claim related to a Utah resident's death.
Note: Salt Lake County health centers accept Visa and Mastercard in person, which makes it easy to pay the $30 fee when you pick up a certified copy on the day you visit.
Cities in Salt Lake County
Salt Lake County includes many cities and communities. Death records for residents of all Salt Lake County cities are handled by the Salt Lake County Health Department at any of the three public health center locations.
Salt Lake City is the county seat and the largest city in Utah. All death certificate requests for Salt Lake County cities go through the Salt Lake County Health Department, not through city offices.
Nearby Counties
Salt Lake County borders several other Utah counties. If you are looking for records from a neighboring county, contact that county's health department or the state Office of Vital Records.