How to Find Florida Death Records
Statewide registration of deaths began in 1899 in Florida; however, general compliance did not begin until 1917.
Next Step: When did the death occur? [edit | edit source] |
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Deaths before 1877[edit | edit source]
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: | ||
Deaths between 1877 and 1939
[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
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 FamilySearch Library and at FamilySearch 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 FamilySearch Library and FamilySearch Centers. | |||
| Try 3rd: | ||||
| 1877-1998 - At FamilySearch.org | Free; index of deaths from the Florida Department of Health, Office of Vital Records. Also on Ancestry.com, free at FamilySearch centers. | |||
| Social Security Death Index | ||||
| 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[edit | edit source]
There are two options:
- If the indexed information contained a GS microfilm number you can view the microfilm at the FamilySearch Library or possibly a FamilySearch Center.
- If the indexed information did NOT contain a GS microfilm number, you can you can view a microfilm corresponding to the correct certificate number from the library's database of Florida death certificates, 1877-1939.
Deaths after 1939[edit | edit source]
The state of Florida began recording deaths in 1917.
STEP ONE: Find Death Information[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
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:
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.