A family I am serving is requesting a rush disposition. What do I do to ensure that the cause of death and permit are received on time?
At the Maricopa Office of Vital Records, we do our best to respect the beliefs and time sensitive needs of families’ religious practices. We ask your assistance in discussing with your families that the death registration process is a complex, multi-step process that involves the coordination and efforts of several partners.

We have learned that if you can inform the medical certifier of the potential urgency in providing timely disposition this gives the certifier more awareness to complete the required medical certification you will need to request a rush disposition transit permit.

We have found that this advance notice may assist the certifier with completing the RA quickly and efficiently and most physicians will accommodate the needs of the family and expedite the certification of cause of death, as best possible.

Please call the Maricopa County Office of Vital Records Disposition Transit Permit Coordinator at 602-372-0535, ext. 2 so we may be ready to accommodate a potential emergency permit request or advise as suitable. Although we will do our best to accommodate the family’s needs, we cannot guarantee that the cause of death will be sufficient and a disposition transit permit will be issued by the planned date of disposition.

Maricopa Office of Vital Records is required by the Arizona Department of Health Services to receive a sufficient cause of death in accordance with national standards and in some cases certified causes of death are required to be reviewed further by the Medical Examiner of the relevant jurisdiction.

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1. How long does the Medical Certifier have to complete the medical certification of cause of death?
2. VSIMS is indicating that the Remote Attestation (RA) has been received by the Maricopa Office of Vital Records but the cause of death has not been entered into the Decedent’s VSIMS record. Why?
3. A family I am serving is requesting a rush disposition. What do I do to ensure that the cause of death and permit are received on time?