Free Florida Death Records

By Claire Dowell


Florida death records are one of the public files opened to the public. This was done when the Freedom of Information Act in 1968 has been passed. It is not only the state of Florida that made their public documents accessible to the public but all of the fifty states have implemented the law. Death records of each state can be accessed at the state's Vital Records Office.

Death Records in Florida are used primarily to conduct a research on the history of a certain family. The records are also used by the immediate family members to settle transactions left by the deceased. Such transactions can be insurance claims and the like.

What is the useful information found on a death certificate which can be used to conduct a family history research? By the name itself, it primarily contains details about the death of an individual. The cause of death, date and place where the person died are used in the research. Just like any public records in the state of Florida, death certificates, indicate the name and the date of birth of the deceased. It also indicates the names of the immediate family members of the deceased person whose name is on the record.

The state of Florida has managed to keep records that were dated since 1917. One has to pay a $5 fee for the retrieval of the record. The requesting individual will be required to provide their information such as their name and addresses as well as their relationship to the deceased person since death certificates are only given to immediate family members. The information that you provide is kept confidential and is only used as reference and for documentation purposes.

The state office of the Vital Records Section of the Department of Health Services stores death files of Florida. One can go to the said office and file the request from there. If you cannot personally go to the office, a mail request can be done as well. Another ways to know of the death of a person is to go the state library and check out the obituary section of the newspapers. Third party companies can also request for the file for you. Using the Internet to obtain the document is the fastest and most convenient method there is.

Not only that the Internet offers a hassle free way in obtaining death records of Florida, one can even obtain it free of charge. However, free death records may not be as accurate as those that came from a paid search. It may contain erroneous information that cannot be used. It is still best to pay for the search and get quality results.




About the Author: