How to Find Florida Death Records

How to Find United States Deaths Florida Deaths

Statewide registration of deaths began in 1911 in Florida with general compliance by 1917. Counties have copies of these records.

Next Step: When did the death occur?	Choose a time period to search for your ancestor's death record: Deaths before 1917 Deaths from 1917 to the Present

Learn more about U.S. Death Records

Deaths before 1917

Before 1899, no deaths were recorded by the county or state. You must search substitute records to locate your ancestor’s death date and place.

Records that give death information:
Cemetery Records Newspapers Probate (wills, etc) Tax Records	Church Records Census Bible Records

Return to top: Choose another death year

Deaths from 1917 to the Present

Starting in 1899, counties and cities in Florida began keeping records of deaths; however, records are incomplete during this time period.

State records are closed to the general public. Conditions for obtaining a record may be obtained from the Office of Vital Statistics.

• Florida, Death Index, 1877-1998 is a name index without images with a description of the records.

• Florida Deaths, 1877-1939 is a name index to death certificates without images. A description of the records is available.

• Deaths and Burials, 1900-1921 is a name index to death and burial records from the state of Florida.  Images of the records are not available. A description of the records is given.

The Family History Library has 143 microfiche of the Florida Combined Death Index, 1877-1969. You can obtain copies of the state's records by writing to:

Office of Vital Statistics
1217 Pearl Street
P.O. Box 210
Jacksonville, FL 32231-0042
Telephone: 904-359-6900
Fax: 904-359-6931
Internet: Florida Office of Vital Statistics

An explanation of the history and availability of vital records is in Guide to Public Vital Statistics Records in Florida.

Wiki articles describing online collections are found at:

• Florida Deaths and Burials (FamilySearch Historical Records)
• Florida Death Index (FamilySearch Historical Records)
• Florida Death Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)

If you cannot locate your ancestor in the databases below try searching for death information in other records.

For deaths that exist during the time period, try the following databases. Try each link.

Florida Deaths Database - Includes Index Only
	1877-1998 - At FamilySearch.org	Free; Index of deaths from the Florida Department of Health, Office of Vital Records
	1900-1921 - At FamilySearch.org	Free; Name index to death and burial records from the state of Florida. Microfilm copies of these records are available at the Family History Library and Family History Centers.
	Can't search the index listed above?	Try searching other records for death information.
Can't find your ancestor in the index?		Tips for searching indexes
No death record for your ancestor?		Other records with death information

Return to top: Choose another death year

Deaths after 1917

The state of Florida began recording deaths in 1917.

STEP ONE: Find Death Information

For deaths that exist during this time period, try the following databases. Try each link.

Florida Deaths Database - Includes Index Only
	1877-1998 - At FamilySearch.org	Free; Index of deaths from the Florida Department of Health, Office of Vital Records
	1900-1921 - At FamilySearch.org	Free; Name index to death and burial records from the state of Florida. Microfilm copies of these records are available at the Family History Library and Family History Centers.
	Can't search the index listed above?	Try searching other records for death information.
Can't find your ancestor in the index?		Tips for searching indexes
No death record for your ancestor?		Other records with death information

Return to top: Choose another death year

STEP TWO: Obtain the Certificate

If the image was not included in the index entry above, you can order a copy of the death record for a fee from the following locations:

To Order Death Certificates
From County of Death		From FL Dept. of Health State office
Pros	Cons	Pros	Cons
May be less expensive and faster than ordering from the state	County websites can be more difficult to use	Offers a search of the state index for an additional fee	May be more expensive than ordering from the county

If you do not know the exact date or place of death:
For a fee, the West Virginia Department of Health office will do a 3 year search (click on the death certificates tab).

Restrictions for persons who died within the last 50 years:
To obtain a copy of the death certificate for those who died within the last 50 years, you must be:

• The parents and grandparents of person on the certificate
• The wife or husband of the person on the certificate
• The children and grandchildren of the person on the certificate
• The brothers or sisters of the person on the certificate
• Funeral director
• Anyone who has legal interest in the certificate

NOTE: A copy of the death record cannot be obtained by anyone except those listed above until 50 years have passed from the date of the death.

If you do not want to order the death record, there are other records with death information you can search.

Return to top: Choose another death year

Related Wiki Articles

• How to Find United States Birth Records
• Learn more about U.S. Death Records
• United States Record Selection Table
• U.S. Vital Records Overview
• United States Vital Records
• Locating United States Vital Records
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