How to Get a Death Certificate in Utah

Utah's death certificate ordering is centralized through the Office of Vital Records and Statistics in Salt Lake City, with local health departments across the state also able to issue certified copies. This guide explains every option, the current cost, and how many copies you'll need to settle the estate.

Which Agency Handles Vital Records in Utah?

Death certificates in Utah are issued by the Utah Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Vital Records and Statistics, located in Salt Lake City. Local health departments statewide can also issue certified copies. Website: vitalrecords.utah.gov.

How to Order a Death Certificate in Utah

• Online: Order directly through the state's own portal at secure.utah.gov/vitalrecords. Utah does not use VitalChek or any third-party vendor — the Office of Vital Records explicitly states that third-party vendors are not authorized to submit requests on a customer's behalf and that such requests will not be processed. Order only through the state's direct portal.
• By mail: Submit a completed application, a copy of your government-issued ID, and payment for the correct fee. Mail to: Vital Records, P.O. Box 141012, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-1012.
• In person: Available at most Utah Local Health Departments statewide, not only in Salt Lake City. Bring a completed application, valid ID, and correct fee.
• Through the funeral home: The funeral home can order certified copies on your behalf in the days after death.

How Much Does a Death Certificate Cost in Utah?

Utah's vital records fees increased effective July 1, 2026. The current fee is $35.00 for the first certified copy and $10.00 for each additional copy ordered at the same time (same record, same day) — confirmed directly on the Office of Vital Records' official fee schedule. If you're seeing an older figure of $22/$11 anywhere, that was the pre-July 2026 rate and is now out of date.

How Many Copies Should You Order?

Most Utah families need 8–12 certified copies: each bank, life insurance policy, the District Court (where Utah probate is filed), Social Security, real estate transfers, vehicle titles, and retirement accounts.

Who Is Eligible to Request a Death Certificate in Utah?

Utah law (Utah Code § 26B-8-125(3)) restricts certified copies to people with a "direct, tangible, and legitimate interest." That includes immediate family — spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, or grandchild — the executor or personal representative of the estate, legal guardians, and designated legal representatives with a letter of legal need. Immediate family members may be asked to prove the relationship (e.g., a marriage certificate for a spouse, a birth certificate for a parent or grandparent). Utah death records become public 50 years after death.

What to Do After You Receive Your Death Certificates

Once you have your certified copies in hand, these are the immediate next steps:

1. Notify financial institutions — bring a certified copy to each bank, brokerage, and credit union where the deceased held accounts.
2. File life insurance claims — each insurer needs an original certified copy.
3. Contact Social Security — report the death at (800) 772-1213 or visit your local SSA office.
4. Begin probate if the estate requires it — not every estate does.
5. Update property titles — real estate, vehicles, and other titled assets each need a certified copy.
6. Send notifications — Omuna's free notification templates help you draft letters to banks, insurers, and government agencies.
7. Create a memorial page — Omuna's memorial editor lets you build a lasting tribute your family can share.