Wrongful death in Tucson: a guide for families and how to find a wrongful death lawyer

Last checked November 8, 2026

We are sorry for your loss. In Arizona, a family generally has 2 years from the date of death to file a wrongful death lawsuit.1 If a public agency may be responsible, a claim is due within 180 days.2 The Pima County Medical Examiner can be reached at 520-724-8600.3

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Road map of Tucson showing West Congress Street downtown, home of Pima County Superior Court, where wrongful death cases are filed
Arizona families generally have 2 years from the death to file. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

What should your family do first after a death in Tucson?

Nothing here has to happen today. Take the time you need with your family. When you are ready, a few steps can protect your options, and a relative or friend can help with them.

  1. Ask for the case number from the responding agency. Tucson Police lists Traffic Investigations among its units,4 and DPS troopers handle freeways.5
  2. Keep any letters, phone records and photos. There is no need to sort them now.
  3. Order several certified death certificates. You may need them for insurance and bank accounts.
  4. If an insurer calls, you can say you are not ready to talk. You do not have to give a statement.

Where do you get records after a death in Pima County?

RecordWhere to askKnow this
Death certificatePima County Vital Records, at Abrams Public Health Center, 3950 S. Country Club Rd., or Northwest Service Center, 1010 W. Miracle Mile6$20 for each certified copy.7 Mail orders can take 2 to 4 weeks.8
Medical examiner's reportPima County Medical Examiner's online case search9$2, and free for legal next of kin9
Questions about releaseMedical Examiner, 520-724-8600, Option 23Staff can explain timing
Crash report, Tucson streetCrashdocs, or Tucson Police Records1011A direct copy is $5 plus page fees past 15 pages12
Crash report, I-10 or I-19Arizona DPS5Wait at least 14 days13

A recent report may take time to finish, so a wait is normal. The online search will show its status.

Who can file a wrongful death claim in Tucson?

Arizona law names the people who may bring it: a surviving spouse, child, parent or guardian, or the personal representative. The claim is brought for the spouse, children or parents, or for the estate if none of them survive.14

One claim is usually filed for the whole family, so it helps to talk early about who will take that role. If a personal representative is needed, Pima County Superior Court publishes informal probate packets, including one for that appointment.15 The court is at 110 West Congress Street, and the Clerk's number is (520) 724-3200.16

What counts as a wrongful death in Arizona?

A wrongful act or carelessness that caused the death can lead to a claim, as if the person had lived and sued.17 That can mean a crash, an unsafe building or a workplace failure.

Tucson families know this loss too well on the roads. City materials counted 95 traffic deaths in 2025, including 34 people walking and 21 on motorcycles.18 Those numbers will never say what one person meant to you. They only show that you are not alone.

A jury decides what is fair for the family's loss.19 No honest person can promise you a number.

How long does a family have to file in Tucson?

If the responsible party isDeadline
A person or a companyGenerally 2 years, counted from the date of death1
The City, the county, the state or another public bodyA claim within 180 days2
A public body, if the family then suesA lawsuit within one year20

We wish these dates were longer. If a City of Tucson vehicle, street or building may be involved, the claim goes to the City Clerk.21 The City's form asks you to confirm that the Clerk's office received it, and Risk Management can answer questions at (520) 791-4728.22 A lawyer or a trusted relative can handle this for you.

What if there is also a criminal case?

A criminal case and a family's civil claim are separate. One does not have to end before the other begins, and the deadlines above keep running. If the case is with Tucson Police, you can register for updates at engage.tucsonaz.gov/case_status with the case number and date of birth.23 The department also offers a pamphlet on victims' rights in English and Spanish.23

What if your loved one died on the job in Tucson?

Families may have workers' compensation death benefits. The Industrial Commission's Tucson office is at 2675 East Broadway, (520) 628-5181.24 Employers must report a work death to the state safety agency, ADOSH, within 8 hours.25 If someone outside the job caused it, a separate claim may be possible.

How do you choose a wrongful death lawyer in Tucson?

Take your time, but do not let the deadlines pass. A good first conversation should feel calm. You can bring a relative. Here are questions you might ask:

  • Have you handled wrongful death cases in Pima County?
  • Who in our family would need to sign, and who would be the personal representative?
  • Is a public agency involved, and when is our 180-day date?
  • How will you keep us informed without asking us to relive it?

Questions

How long do we have to file a wrongful death lawsuit in Arizona?

Generally 2 years from the date of death.1

How do I get a death certificate in Pima County?

Through Pima County Vital Records. It costs $20 for each certified copy.7

Can I get the medical examiner's report?

Yes, through the county's online case search. It is free for legal next of kin.9

Who can bring the claim?

A surviving spouse, child, parent or guardian, or the personal representative.14

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Tucson

Wrongful death

Arizona

Sources

  1. A.R.S. § 12-542(2), checked 2026-11-08. “2. For injuries done to the person of another when death ensues from such injuries, which action shall be considered as accruing at the death of the party injured.”
  2. A.R.S. § 12-821.01(A), checked 2026-11-08. “Any claim that is not filed within one hundred eighty days after the cause of action accrues is barred and no action may be maintained thereon.”
  3. Pima County Medical Examiner, Decedent Status, checked 2026-11-08. “Please call 520-724-8600, Option 2, for questions and release hours”
  4. Tucson Police Recruiting, Divisions & Units, checked 2026-11-08. “Traffic Investigations”
  5. Arizona DPS, Request Records, checked 2026-11-08. “maintains records for collisions (accidents) that were investigated by DPS Troopers occurring on an Interstate or State Highway”
  6. Pima County, Order a Birth or Death Certificate, checked 2026-11-08. “Northwest Service Center 1010 W. Miracle Mile”
  7. Pima County, Order a Birth or Death Certificate, checked 2026-11-08. “Payment for the $20 processing fee for each certified copy”
  8. Pima County, Order a Birth or Death Certificate, checked 2026-11-08. “Mail orders can take up to 2-4 weeks.”
  9. Pima County Medical Examiner, Case Search Portal, checked 2026-11-08. “Requesting a report costs $2 except for the legal Next of Kin or the investigating law enforcement agency.”
  10. Tucson Police, Request Public Records, checked 2026-11-08. “Collision reports are stored electronically in a secure database and are available for purchase at Crashdocs.”
  11. Tucson Police, Request Public Records, checked 2026-11-08. “Tucson Police Department Records Section 270 S Stone Ave Tucson, AZ 85701-1917”
  12. Tucson Police, Records Request Form, checked 2026-11-08. “$5.00 per report plus $0.25 per page after 15 pages.”
  13. Arizona DPS, Request Records, checked 2026-11-08. “Please wait at least 14 days to check on report availability”
  14. A.R.S. § 12-612(A), checked 2026-11-08. “An action for wrongful death shall be brought by and in the name of the surviving husband or wife, child, parent or guardian, or personal representative of the deceased person for and on behalf of the surviving husband or wife, children or parents, or if none of these survive, on behalf of the decedent's estate.”
  15. Pima County Superior Court, Probate Court Forms, checked 2026-11-08. “Packet 02 - Appointment of Personal Representative”
  16. Pima County Superior Court, Contact, checked 2026-11-08. “110 West Congress Street”
  17. A.R.S. § 12-611, checked 2026-11-08. “When death of a person is caused by wrongful act, neglect or default, and the act, neglect or default is such as would, if death had not ensued, have entitled the party injured to maintain an action to recover damages in respect thereof, then, and in every such case, the person who or the corporation which would have been liable if death had not ensued shall be liable to an action for damages”
  18. City of Tucson, Complete Streets Coordinating Council materials 04/22/2026, checked 2026-11-08. “last year there were 95 total fatalities (38 auto, 34 pedestrian, 21 motorcycle, 4 bicycles).”
  19. A.R.S. § 12-613, checked 2026-11-08. “In an action for wrongful death, the jury shall give such damages as it deems fair and just with reference to the injury resulting from the death to the surviving parties who may be entitled to recover”
  20. A.R.S. § 12-821, checked 2026-11-08. “shall be brought within one year after the cause of action accrues and not afterward”
  21. City of Tucson, File a Notice of Claim, checked 2026-11-08. “Claimants have 180 days from an accident or injury to file a claim against the City.”
  22. beta.tucsonaz.gov, checked 2026-11-08. “It is your sole responsibility to confirm that the Clerk’s office has received your form.”
  23. Tucson Police, Victim Rights Information, checked 2026-11-08. “You will need your case number and the victim's date of birth.”
  24. Industrial Commission of Arizona, Claims Division, checked 2026-11-08. “Tucson Office: 2675 East Broadway Tucson, AZ 85716”
  25. ADOSH, How to Report a Workplace Fatality, checked 2026-11-08. “All work-related fatalities within 8 hours following the incident.”

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