Wayne County Death Index Records

Wayne County death records date back to 1898, making the county one of the earlier-documented rural counties in central Utah. The Wayne County death index covers death certificates held by the Clerk/Auditor's Office in Loa and by the Central Utah Public Health Department for more recent records. Wayne County was founded in 1892 and is a sparsely populated rural county with the county seat at Loa. Accessing Wayne County death records requires knowing which office holds the record you need, as responsibility is divided by year. This guide covers both offices, their hours, fees, and what the records contain.

What Wayne County Death Index Records Contain

Wayne County death certificates include the full name of the deceased, date and place of death, and cause of death. Most records from 1905 forward also list the person's age at death, birthplace, and parents' names and birthplaces. Mid-twentieth century records add marital status, race, and often the name of a surviving spouse. The Register of Deaths for Wayne County covers 1898 to 1957 and represents the county's earliest and most complete historical death record set.

The statewide FamilySearch collection covers Wayne County deaths from 1904 through 1964. A separate collection holds deaths from 1965 and 1966 for Washington and Wayne counties. Military death certificates from World War II and the Korean War include Wayne County casualties. Wayne County cemetery records are documented through the Utah Cemetery Inventory, which can supplement the formal death index for burials that may not have been formally registered. The Utah Death Certificates collection on FamilySearch contains over 260,000 indexed images statewide, all searchable by name at no cost.

Note: Wayne County has limited records before 1905. Some early deaths may appear in county registers but not in the state vital records system, which was established in 1905.

How to Search Wayne County Death Records

Wayne County death records are split between two offices depending on the year of death. The Wayne County Clerk/Auditor holds records from 1898 through 1959. The Central Utah Public Health Department handles death certificates issued after 1959. For recent records, contact the public health department first. For older records, the Clerk/Auditor at the Wayne County Courthouse in Loa is the right starting point.

The Courthouse is at 18 South Main, PO Box 189, Loa, Utah 84747. Clerk phone numbers are (435) 836-1300, (435) 836-1303, and (435) 836-1304. Fax: (435) 836-2479. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM MST, with a lunch break from 12:30 to 1:00 PM. All requests must be in writing. Photo ID is required for all requests. The VitalRec.com county directory also lists the clerk phone at (435) 836-2731 for general inquiries.

A public health technician is available at the courthouse on Thursdays for walk-in vital records services. Call (435) 836-1317 for public health services. For online ordering, the Utah SILVER system handles death certificate requests through the state Office of Vital Records. The Utah Office of Vital Records in Salt Lake City also accepts mail requests at PO Box 141012, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-1012. For historical records more than 50 years old, use Utah State Archives or FamilySearch for free online access.

The image below shows the Wayne County Utah Government offices page, which lists the Clerk/Auditor contact information and notes the split in record-keeping responsibility between the county and the public health department.

The Wayne County Government offices page lists the Clerk/Auditor, public health services, and other county offices relevant to obtaining Wayne County death index records.

Wayne County Death Record Offices

Two offices handle Wayne County death records, and knowing which one holds the record you need saves time. The Clerk/Auditor at the Wayne County Courthouse holds records from 1898 through 1959. After 1959, the Central Utah Public Health Department took over record-keeping for Wayne County deaths. The public health technician is on-site at the courthouse on Thursdays and can assist with walk-in requests.

The Utah Office of Vital Records in Salt Lake City maintains copies of all statewide death records from 1905 forward and is an alternative source for any Wayne County death certificate. That office is at 288 North 1460 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84114, phone (801) 538-6105. It is open Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM. Mail requests go to PO Box 141012, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-1012. The state OVR charges $30 for the first copy and $10 for each additional copy ordered at the same time.

The Utah SILVER system allows online ordering of Wayne County death certificates through the state's online vital records portal. This is a convenient option for requesters who cannot visit an office in person. Processing times for online orders are longer than in-person requests. The public health technician at the Loa courthouse on Thursdays can process in-person requests more quickly for those who can visit.

Getting Certified Wayne County Death Certificates

Certified Wayne County death certificates cost $30 for the first copy and $10 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. The county-level fee for records held at the Clerk/Auditor's Office may differ - contact the office to confirm current pricing. Certified copies carry the raised seal of the issuing office and are required for probate, insurance claims, property transactions, and other legal uses. Plain copies are not accepted for these purposes.

All requests for Wayne County death records must be submitted in writing. Photo ID is required. For records less than 50 years old, you must also provide proof of your relationship to the deceased. Payment by check or money order is standard for mail requests. Contact the relevant office before sending a mail request to confirm the current payment methods and exact fees. The Clerk/Auditor can be reached at (435) 836-1300 or (435) 836-1303 for questions before you submit a request.

Under Utah Code 26B-8-125, access to death records less than 50 years old is limited to the spouse, parent, child, sibling, or grandparent of the deceased. Authorized legal representatives with written permission from an eligible family member may also make requests. Records more than 50 years old are public and available to anyone without proof of relationship.

Historical Wayne County Death Index Collections

Wayne County's most important historical death record set is the Register of Deaths from 1898 to 1957, held at the Clerk/Auditor's Office. This county-level register predates the state registration system and covers an important period in the county's early history. The FamilySearch statewide collection adds indexed digital images of death certificates from 1904 to 1964, making these records searchable by name online at no charge.

Military death certificates from World War II and the Korean War that included Wayne County casualties are part of the FamilySearch collection. The Utah Cemetery Inventory documents Wayne County burial sites and can help identify deaths that were not formally registered. These cemetery records often fill gaps in rural counties where registration compliance was slower. The Utah State Archives holds additional historical death records from 1903 forward and provides free online access to those within the public-access window. Wayne County was founded in 1892, and some settlement-era records from before formal registration may be found through local church or historical society collections.

Who Can Access Wayne County Death Records

Utah law restricts Wayne County death records for 50 years from the date of death. Records older than 50 years are public. Anyone may request them. Records less than 50 years old require proof of an eligible family relationship.

Eligible family members under Utah Code 26B-8-125 include the spouse, parent, child, sibling, and grandparent of the deceased. Each must present a valid photo ID and documentation of the relationship. All requests must be in writing. The Wayne County Clerk/Auditor requires written applications for all records requests and will return applications that lack required identification. The Central Utah Public Health Department follows the same rules for records after 1959.

The Government Records Access and Management Act, Utah Code 63G-2, governs public records access in Utah. GRAMA classifies Wayne County death records older than 50 years as public records accessible to any person. If a request is denied, GRAMA provides a right of appeal to the agency head and then to the Utah State Records Committee. Wayne County's small size means records requests are often handled quickly by the Clerk/Auditor with minimal wait time.

Nearby Counties

Wayne County borders Garfield, Sevier, Piute, and Emery counties in central and southern Utah. Families that lived near county borders may have records in more than one county's death index.

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