Florida Deaths - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
The collection consists of an index of Florida death records created by Florida Department of Health and Vital Statistics in Jacksonville, Florida. Microfilm copies of original records are available at the Family History Library and at Family History Centers. The collection covers the years 1877 to 1939. This collection may include information previously published in the International Genealogical Index.

The record consists of printed death certificate forms filled in by hand or typed. The data was obtained from the Florida Department of Health and Vital Statistics Vital Records. Although Key West and other Florida cities began keeping vital records as early as 1865, statewide registration officially began recording birth and death events in 1927. The records cover virtually all the people who died in Florida during the noted years. Death certificates were created to record deaths in Florida in compliance with state law to answer the need for accurate statistical data on deaths and epidemics. They were also used in connection with the probate of wills and the administration of estates. Information pertaining to death is dependent upon the reliability of the informant.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:


 * Name of the deceased
 * Dates of death and burial
 * Age and race of the deceased
 * Sex of the deceased
 * City, county, and state of death
 * Name and location of the cemetery where buried


 * Birth date and place
 * Parent or spouse's name
 * Name of the informant
 * Residence of the deceased
 * Marital status

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of the person at the time of death
 * The approximate date of death
 * The place where the death occurred
 * The names of family members and their relationships

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Add any new information to your records
 * Use the information found on the death record to search for the family in census records
 * Search for cemetery records
 * Search for obituaries in local newspapers
 * Search for other records in the county where the family lived

I Can't Find the Person I'm Looking For, What Now?

 * Look for variant spellings of the names. You should also look for alias names, nicknames and abbreviated names
 * Search the indexes and records of nearby localities

Research Helps
The following articles will help you research your family in the state of Florida.
 * Florida Guided Research
 * Florida Record Finder
 * Florida Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Florida Research, 1880-Present

Other FamilySearch Collections
These collections may have additional materials to help you with your research.

FamilySearch Catalog

 * Florida. Department of Health. Bureau of Vital Statistics. Death certificates, 1877-1939

FamilySearch Historical Records

 * Florida Deaths and Burials, 1900-1921
 * Florida Death Index, 1877-1998
 * Florida Probate Records, 1784-1990

FamilySearch Digital Library

 * Florida Historical Records Survey, Division of Community Service Programs, Work Projects Administration. Guide to public vital statistics records in Florida. Jacksonville, Florida : Florida Historical Records Survey, 1941
 * prepared by the Florida Historical Records Survey, Division of Community Service Programs, Work Projects Administration, Guide to supplementary vital statistics from church records in Florida (preliminary) Jacksonville, Florida : Florida Historical Records Survey, 1942-

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying you sources helps others find the records you used.

Florida defunciones (Registros históricos de FamilySearch)