A correction is a change made to a registered certificate because of a typographical error including misspelling and missing or transposed letters or numbers.

A Person Responsible for Final Disposition or the Informant

A person who was responsible for the final disposition of a deceased person's human remains according to A.R.S. §36-831, or who provided the information to a funeral director may request a correction to the deceased person's death certificate if the following requirements are submitted to the County Vital Records where the death occurred or to the Bureau of Vital Records:

1. A letter or application (a Spanish example form is available to assist Spanish-speakers, but state regulations require that Arizona Birth Certificates only be processed using the English forms) that includes:
   1. The date of the request;
   2. The name in the deceased person's registered death certificate;
   3. The deceased person's sex;
   4. The deceased person's date of birth;
   5. The deceased person's date of death; and
   6. If known, the state file number listed on the death certificate;
   7. The name of the person submitting the request;
   8. The person's relationship to the deceased person;
   9. Contact information for the person submitting the request (i.e. telephone number or e-mail address); and
   10. The specific information in the registered death certificate to be corrected; and
2. An affidavit attesting to the validity of the submitted correction, signed by the person requesting the correction;
3. An evidentiary document that demonstrates the person's relationship to the deceased individual;
4. An evidentiary document, dated before the date the deceased individual's death was registered, that demonstrates the validity of the submitted correction;
5. A copy of the front and back of the applicant's valid government-issued picture identification which bears the applicant's signature or the letter or application must be signed in the presence of a notary; and
6. The appropriate fee(s).

Corrections or amendments to medical information including fields related to the manner of death and cause of death, may only be corrected or amended by a medical certifier, medical examiner or tribal law enforcement authority.

Examples of evidentiary documents that may be submitted

To correct the decedent's name, date of birth or place of birth a document such as an original, certified copy of the decedent's birth certificate or a certified copy of a court order that supports the change requested.

To correct the decedent's social security number, a document such as the original social security card or application from the Social Security Administration, income tax records or W-2 forms, etc. that supports the change requested.

To correct the decedent's parent's name(s), a document such as an original, certified birth certificate of the decedent or a certified copy of the parent's birth certificate shall be submitted.

An amendment is a change, other than a correction, to a registered certificate by adding, deleting, or substituting information on the certificate.

A person may request to amend the demographic and final disposition information on a deceased person's death certificate. The following shall be submitted to the County Vital Records Office in the county where the death occurred or to the Bureau of Vital Records:

1. A letter or application (a Spanish example form is available to assist Spanish-speakers, but state regulations require that Arizona Birth Certificates only be processed using the English forms)that includes:
   1. The date of the request;
   2. The name in the deceased person's registered death certificate;
   3. The deceased person's sex;
   4. The deceased person's date of birth;
   5. The deceased person's date of death; and
   6. If known, the state file number listed on the death certificate;
   7. The name of the person submitting the request;
   8. The person's relationship to the deceased person;
   9. Contact information for the person submitting the request (i.e. telephone number or e-mail address); and
   10. The specific information in the registered death certificate to be corrected; and
2. An affidavit attesting to the validity of the submitted amendment, signed by the person requesting the amendment;
3. An evidentiary document that demonstrates the person's relationship to the deceased person;
4. An evidentiary document that demonstrates the validity of the submitted amendment;
5. A copy of the front and back of the applicant's valid government-issued picture identification which bears the applicant's signature or the letter or application must be signed in the presence of a notary; and
6. The appropriate fee(s).

Examples of evidentiary documents that may be submitted

To amend the decedent's name, date of birth or place of birth a document such as an original, certified copy of the decedent's birth certificate or a certified copy of a court order that supports the change requested.

To amend the decedent's social security number, a document such as the original social security card or application from the Social Security Administration, income tax records or W-2 forms, etc. that supports the change requested.

To amend the decedent's parent's name(s), a document such as an original, certified birth certificate of the decedent or a certified copy of the parent's birth certificate shall be submitted.

To amend the decedent's marital status an original, certified marriage certificate or certified divorce decree is required. Note additional documentation may be requested to verify and support this request.

To amend the spouse's name the document required depends on the scenario:

• To add a spouse to a death certificate, an original, certified marriage certificate shall be provided.
• To remove a spouse's name from a death certificate, a divorce decree or other proof from the county's marriage and licensing department is required.

Court Ordered Amendments

Some cases may require a court order to amend a death certificate if the documentation specified in the applicable Arizona Administrative Code cannot be submitted. In addition to the applicable requirements listed above, to request the amendment of a death certificate, a certified copy of the court order shall be submitted.