Office of Vital Records and Statistics Death certificates, 1904-

The Utah Office of Vital Records and Statistics began issuing death certificates in 1904. A death certificate is the permanent legal record of an individual's death. Each death certificate includes the decedent's full name, date of death, county where death occurred, decedent's race and gender, place and date of birth, marital status, occupation, permanent residence, place and date of burial, time of death, chief cause and contributory factors of death, and if applicable, where illness was contracted and duration of illness. Death certificates also include the names and birthplaces of parents. After 1919 death certificates indicated whether an autopsy had been performed and provided immediate surgical history prior to death. After 1935 state law required the inclusion of information about violent deaths, including accidents, homicides, and suicides. Certificates indicate whether death occurred at home, in a public place, or in the workplace. In 1940 the certificates began includingSocial Security numbers and information about the decedent's veteran status. Prior to 1910 permits relating to the transport of corpses were included with death certificates.

A Utah law requiring the registration of all deaths (and births) within the state (Laws of Utah, 1905, chapter 120) followed the guidelines of the U.S. Census Bureau in an effort to maintain uniform and accurate registration of all deaths nationwide. As a permanent legal record, the certificate is very important to the decedent's family. Death certificates provide documentation which is used in applying for insurance benefits, settling pension claims, and transferring title of real and personal property. Statistical data from death certificates helps to identify public health problems and measure the results of programs established to alleviate these problems. Certificates are also legally required to obtain a burial permit and for transport outside of the registration district.

Certificate forms are revisedperiodically to ensure that the data collected relate to current and future needs. In the revision process, each information field is evaluated thoroughly for its registration, legal, statistical, medical, and research value.