How to Find Florida Death Records

United States US Vital Records How to Find United States Deaths Florida Vital Records Florida Deaths

Statewide registration of deaths began in 1899 in Florida; however, general compliance did not begin until 1917.

Next Step: When did the death occur?	Choose a time period to search for your ancestor's death record: Deaths before 1877 Deaths between 1877 and 1939 Deaths after 1939

Learn more about U.S. Death Records

Deaths before 1877

Before 1877, 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 between 1877 and 1939

Some counties in Florida began to keep death records in 1877. Statewide registration started in 1899 but not every death was recorded. General compliance throughout the state began in 1917.

STEP ONE: Find Death Information

For death that exist during this time period, try the following databases.

Florida Death Databases - Includes Indexes Only
Try 1st:
	1877-1939 - At FamilySearch.org	Free; index of Florida death records created by Florida Department of Health and Vital Statistics. Microfilm copies of original records are available at the Family History Library and at Family History Centers
Try 2nd:
	1900-1921 - At FamilySearch.org	Free; 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.
Try 3rd:
	1877-1998 - At FamilySearch.org	Free; index of deaths from the Florida Department of Health, Office of Vital Records.
United States Social Security Death Index U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014 ($) U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007, incomplete, ($).
Can't find your ancestor in the online index?		Tips for searching online indexes
No death record for your ancestor?		Other records with death information

STEP TWO: Obtain the Certificate

There are two options:

• If the indexed information contained a GS microfilm number you can order the microfilm from the Family History Library.
• If the indexed information did NOT contain a GS microfilm number, you can you can order a microfilm corresponding to the correct certificate number from the library's database of Florida death certificates, 1877-1939.

Return to top: Choose another death year

Deaths after 1939

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 database.

Florida Death Databases - Includes Index Only
	1877-1998 - At FamilySearch.org	Free; index of deaths from the Florida Department of Health, Office of Vital Records.

• United States Social Security Death Index
• U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014 ($)
• U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007, incomplete, ($).

STEP TWO: Obtain the Certificate

To get an image of the certificate, you can order a copy of the death certificate for a fee from one of the following locations:

• Florida Department of Health
• VitalChek

Death records are also maintained at the county level. County copies may be obtained at the Register of Deeds office in the county where the event occurred.

Restrictions for persons who died within the last 50 years:

To obtain a copy of the death certificate with information on the cause of death for those who died within the last 50 years, you must be:

• The decedent's spouse, parent, child, grandchild, or sibling
• Any person who provides documentation that he or she is acting on behalf of any of the previously mentioned persons

NOTE: A copy of the certificate with information about the cause of death cannot be obtained by anyone except those listed above until 50 years have passed from the date of 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
• United States Birth Records
• United States Marriage Records

• Florida Death Index, 1877-1998 Index only. ($)

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