Arizona Genealogy Records

Many people today are interested in learning more about their past and their ancestors. As a result Genealogy is one of the most common terms in search engines on the World Wide Web. For those who are new to the world of Genealogy, there are many ways one can find information regarding their ancestors. Some of the most common forms of public records used for genealogy are: For Birth Records In Arizona, birth records are not considered public record until 75 years after the fact. Records more recent than that can be obtained by submitting requests in person, through the mail, or over the internet. For Death Records Arizona death records go as far back as 1878. Any death certificate that's more than 50 years old can be obtained by the public. More recent certificates can only be obtained by members of the family. The administrative code R9-19-405 provides full details on death certificate laws in Arizona. You can order a copy of a death certificate via mail or in person by the Arizona Division of Public Health Services, or through the internet. For Obituaries Arizona has a massive retiree population, which means they often have more obituaries published every year than almost any other state. Luckily, they are on the forefront of technology when it comes to putting together easy to access databases that make finding the listing you are searching for easy. The Mesa Arizona Regional Family History Center has a massive database that you can search to find listings from all over the state, while Maricopa County has their own listings, as well, through the West Valley Genealogical Society. The Sharlot Hall Museum in Prescott also has an Arizona obituary records index that you can access, as well. Finally, the Scottsdale Public Library has a database you can search that contains all of the listings published in the local Scottsdale Tribune newspaper from the last few years. Since there are such a large number of requests for Arizona obituaries, more and more small town newspapers are putting their listings online. Check to see what the local paper in the area you are searching and check with them first. If that search comes up dry, one of the databases listed above will likely have what you are looking for. For Marriages In Arizona, marriage certificates aren't kept by the Office of Vital Records but instead, each county is responsible for their own marriage records. The Clerk of the Superior Court of the county in which the marriage occurred is the office to contact in regards to questions about marriage certificates.