Utah County Death Index
The Utah County death index provides access to death certificates and vital records maintained by the Utah County Health Department in Provo. Utah County is one of the most populous counties in the state, and its death records span from the late nineteenth century through the present day. Records from 1905 forward are maintained by the Utah State Office of Vital Records under the Utah Department of Health and Human Services. Local health departments, including the Utah County Health Department at 151 South University Avenue in Provo, process requests for certified copies. This guide explains how to search Utah County death records, what each record contains, and how to obtain a certified copy.
Utah County Quick Facts
What Utah County Death Index Records Contain
Utah County death certificates document the facts surrounding each recorded death in the county. A standard death certificate shows the full name of the deceased, date and place of death, cause of death, and the attending physician or coroner. Most records from 1905 onward also include age at death, birthdate, birthplace, parents' names, and parents' birthplaces. Records from the middle of the twentieth century typically add marital status, race, occupation, and the name of a surviving spouse.
The statewide death index at FamilySearch covers Utah County deaths from 1905 to 1951 and is searchable online at no charge. The FamilySearch Provo genealogy page also lists a register of births and deaths from 1898 to 1905 held at the county level. Utah death records from 1888 to 1946 are available through FamilySearch's historical collections. The Utah Department of Archives holds death records from 1903 to approximately 50 years ago, with digital images available online for the public-access portion. Records can be searched by name, date of death, or county.
Provo City Cemetery records from 1847 to 2000 are another resource for Utah County death data. The Utah County Cemetery Index, available through Ancestry, compiles burial records from multiple cemeteries across the county. Registration of deaths and burials from 1858 to 1915 is available through historical church and local records. The Social Security Death Index (SSDI) covers deaths reported to the Social Security Administration from approximately 1962 forward and includes many Utah County residents.
How to Search the Utah County Death Index
Several methods exist for searching Utah County death records. For records more than 50 years old, start with FamilySearch or the Utah Division of Archives. Both are free and available online. FamilySearch provides scanned images of original death certificates alongside the name index. The Utah Archives provides images for records within the public-access window. Neither resource requires a visit to a government office.
For records within the past 50 years, contact the Utah County Health Department at 151 South University Avenue, Suite 1100, Provo, UT 84601, by phone at 801-851-7000. Walk-in service is available during regular business hours. You can also order online through VitalChek, which offers expedited processing and PCI-compliant security for personal information. The Utah Office of Vital Records in Salt Lake City, at 288 North 1460 West, processes statewide requests by phone at (801) 538-6105, Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM. Mail requests go to PO Box 141012, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-1012.
The image below shows the VitalChek page for the Utah County Health Department, where you can order certified copies of Utah County death certificates online.
VitalChek Utah County Health Department ordering page for death certificates and death index records
VitalChek provides online ordering for Utah County death certificates with expedited processing and secure handling of personal information.
Utah County Death Certificate Office
The Utah County Health Department at 151 South University Avenue, Suite 1100, Provo, UT 84601, is the primary local office for Utah County death certificates. This office processes requests for certified copies of death records for events that occurred in Utah County. The Utah State Office of Vital Records maintains the central registry under the Utah Department of Health and Human Services. Local health departments work in coordination with this state office to issue certified copies.
Utah County death records are maintained jointly by the state and local health office. The state registry holds records from 1905 forward. Some county-level records from 1898 to 1905 exist outside the state system. For the period before 1905, the county register of births and deaths from 1898 to 1905 is the primary source. These early records are part of the FamilySearch historical collections for Utah County.
The Utah Courts system also plays a role in vital records for Utah County. Birth becomes public after 100 years; death becomes public after 50 years. Only close relatives, legal guardians, or authorized legal representatives have access to records within the restricted window. For court-related records involving Utah County, contact the Fourth District Court in Provo.
Getting Certified Utah County Death Certificates
Certified Utah County death certificates cost $30 for the first copy and $10 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. These fees apply to requests through the Utah County Health Department and the Utah Office of Vital Records. Online orders through VitalChek may carry an additional service fee. A certified copy bears the raised seal of the issuing office and is accepted for legal purposes including estate settlement, insurance claims, and property transfers.
To request a death certificate, you must provide a completed application form and a valid government-issued photo ID. For records less than 50 years old, you must also prove your relationship to the deceased. Proof can take several forms: a birth certificate showing you are a child of the deceased, a marriage certificate if you are the surviving spouse, or a chain of documents connecting the family if the relationship is more distant. Applications without proper ID or relationship documentation are returned unprocessed.
Under Utah Code 26B-8-125, access to restricted Utah County death records is limited to the spouse, parent, child, sibling, and grandparent of the deceased. Legal representatives with written authorization from an eligible family member may also make requests. Records more than 50 years old are public and do not require proof of relationship. The Utah Office of Vital Records accepts requests Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM, and also accepts mail requests sent to PO Box 141012, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-1012.
Historical Utah County Death Index Records
Utah County has a deep historical record base due to its early settlement history. The Utah death index covering 1905 to 1951 is searchable online and indexed by name. Utah death records from 1888 to 1946 are available through FamilySearch and include some records from before formal state registration began. The Utah Division of Archives holds death records from about 1903 to approximately 50 years ago, with digital images available for older, public-access records. Searches can be done by name, death year, month, day, or county.
The Provo City Cemetery records from 1847 to 2000 document burials in the county seat going back to its earliest settlement. These cemetery records can help you verify death dates and identify family members when formal death certificates are not available. The Utah County Cemetery Index at Ancestry covers multiple burial sites across the county. Registration of deaths and burials from 1858 to 1915 is available through historical church and early local records. For deaths reported to the Social Security Administration, the Social Security Death Index includes Utah County residents from approximately 1962 forward. Additional guidance on using these records is available through SSA POMS.
Who Can Access Utah County Death Records
Utah law classifies death records as public after 50 years from the date of death. Any person may obtain a copy of a Utah County death record that is more than 50 years old without proving a family relationship. Records less than 50 years old are restricted to the immediate family of the deceased and their authorized agents.
Immediate family is defined under Utah Code 26B-8-125 to include the spouse, parent, child, sibling, and grandparent of the deceased. Each eligible requester must provide a valid photo ID and documentation proving their family connection. Legal guardians and authorized legal representatives may also request restricted records with proper written authorization. All requests must be submitted in writing. Applications lacking required documentation are returned rather than processed.
The Government Records Access and Management Act at Utah Code 63G-2 establishes the broader framework for public records access in Utah. GRAMA classifies death records older than 50 years as public records that any person may request. The act also provides an appeal process for denied records requests. If a request for a Utah County death record is denied, you may appeal through the GRAMA process to the agency head and then to the Utah State Records Committee.
Cities in Utah County
Utah County is home to many cities and towns along the Wasatch Front. All deaths that occur in Utah County are part of the Utah County death index, regardless of which city or town they took place in. Requests for any Utah County death certificate can be made through the Utah County Health Department in Provo or the state Office of Vital Records.
Nearby Counties
Utah County is centrally located along the Wasatch Front and borders several other counties. Researchers looking into families that lived across county lines should also check these adjacent county death indexes.