Fort Collins Death Records and Vital Index

Fort Collins Death Index records are maintained by Larimer County. The city is the county seat. Colorado State University is here. The city has over 170,000 residents. Death records date back many decades. This guide shows how to find death certificates for Fort Collins area deaths.

Fort Collins Death Records at Larimer County Level

Colorado maintains vital records at the county level. Fort Collins follows this system. The city does not have a vital records office. Larimer County handles all death certificates for the area.

The Larimer County Vital Records office serves Fort Collins. They issue certified copies. They have records from 1975 to present. Their office is at 1525 Blue Spruce Drive, Fort Collins, CO 80524. Call 970-498-6710 for information. Walk-in service is available.

For older records, contact the state. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has records from 1900. Their office is in Denver. The address is 4300 Cherry Creek Drive South. Call 303-692-2200.

The Larimer County vital records page is shown below.

This office handles death certificate requests for Fort Collins, Loveland, and all other communities in Larimer County.

Note: Fort Collins residents must contact Larimer County for death certificates, as cities in Colorado do not maintain vital records.

How to Order Fort Collins Death Index Records

Several options exist for ordering. Pick the one that fits your needs. Time and cost vary by method.

Online ordering is most convenient. Use GoCertificates at 800-324-6380. Or use VitalChek at 866-632-2604. Both services work with Colorado. They process Fort Collins death records. Standard processing takes about 30 business days.

Mail orders go to the state office. Send to Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, 4300 Cherry Creek Drive South, Denver, CO 80246. Include full details. Include ID. Include payment. Processing varies.

In-person visits offer speed. Visit Larimer County Vital Records in Fort Collins. Or visit the state office in Denver. Bring ID. Bring payment. Call first to confirm hours. The Larimer office is at 1525 Blue Spruce Drive.

Note: In-person visits to the Larimer County office in Fort Collins often provide faster service than mail orders.

Fort Collins Death Record Fees and Costs

Fees follow Colorado state law. They are the same statewide. Fort Collins area deaths cost the same as Denver deaths.

First copies are $25. Additional copies are $20 each. These prices apply to certified copies. They apply to standard certificates. They apply to legal certificates.

Verification searches cost $17. This confirms death. It gives limited facts. It is not a full certificate. Use it for simple proof needs. C.R.S. § 25-2-117 sets these fees.

Online services add charges. Expect service fees. Rush shipping costs extra. Budget for these extras.

Note: Verification searches at $17 provide a lower-cost option when you only need to confirm a death occurred.

Types of Fort Collins Death Records Available

Three types of death records exist. Colorado offers all three. Fort Collins deaths can have any type.

Standard certificates are complete. They show legal facts. They show medical facts. They list cause of death. This is the full record. Most legal needs require this.

Legal certificates omit medical data. They show legal items only. No cause of death appears. Some prefer this. It offers privacy.

Verifications confirm death. They show limited facts. They cost less. They are not certified copies.

Note: Choose the standard certificate for legal proceedings requiring full documentation of the death.

Who Can Get Fort Collins Death Records

Access is limited. Privacy laws apply. Eligibility rules are statewide. Fort Collins follows them.

Immediate family can order. This includes spouses. It includes parents. It includes children. It includes siblings. Show ID. Show relationship. This is the standard process.

New rules took effect in October 2024. Grandparents face restrictions. Grandchildren face restrictions. They need court orders. Or they need tangible interest proof. Plan for this if it applies to you.

Legal representatives qualify. Insurance companies qualify. Government agencies qualify. Each must show need. Each must show authority. C.R.S. § 25-2-117 covers eligibility.

Note: Immediate family members have the easiest path to obtaining Fort Collins death records.

Fort Collins Death Records for Genealogy

Family history research uses death records. Fort Collins has old records. The area has pioneer history. Several sources help researchers.

The Colorado State Archives holds historical records. They have pre-1908 records. They have indexes for later years. Visit in Denver. Search online databases. Call 303-866-2358 for help.

Larimer County was settled early. Fort Collins was founded in 1864. Old records exist. Some are at the State Archives. Some are with historical societies. The Fort Collins Museum of Discovery may have resources.

Cemetery records help. Grandview Cemetery is in Fort Collins. It has burial records. Contact them directly. They may have old registers.

Note: Fort Collins has a rich pioneer history, and early death records may be found at the State Archives or local historical societies.

Larimer County Death Records in Nearby Communities

Fort Collins is the largest city in Larimer County. Other communities also use the county vital records system. Deaths in these areas are filed with Larimer County.

Loveland is the second largest city. It sits south of Fort Collins. Deaths there go to Larimer County. The county office serves Loveland residents too. The same phone number works. The same address works.

Estes Park is in Larimer County. It is a mountain town. Deaths there are county records. Wellington is north of Fort Collins. It is in Larimer County. Berthoud is between Fort Collins and Loveland. It is also in Larimer County.

Timnath is a growing town. It is east of Fort Collins. Laporte is northwest. It is in Larimer County too. All use the same vital records office.

Note: All communities in Larimer County, including Loveland, Estes Park, and Wellington, use the same vital records office in Fort Collins.

Colorado Law and Fort Collins Death Records

State law governs all death records. Fort Collins follows these laws. Larimer County follows them. They apply statewide.

C.R.S. § 25-2-110 requires filing within 72 hours. This must happen before burial. Funeral homes handle this. Doctors certify. Counties receive records.

C.R.S. § 25-2-111 sets retention rules. Keep records 7 years minimum. Private land burials need recording within 30 days. These rules protect public health. They ensure accurate history.

Note: Colorado law requires death certificates to be filed within 72 hours of death and prior to final disposition.