Find Boca Raton Obituary Records

Obituary and death certificate records for Boca Raton are handled by the Palm Beach County Department of Health in West Palm Beach. Boca Raton is in the southern portion of Palm Beach County with a population over 102,000, and all vital records requests for the city go through the county DOH office. The Palm Beach County DOH keeps death records from 2009 to the present, while older Boca Raton death records are held at the state Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville. A secondary DOH location in Delray Beach also serves southern Palm Beach County residents.

Boca Raton Death Records Office

Boca Raton does not have its own vital records office. Death certificates are issued through the Palm Beach County DOH. The main office is in West Palm Beach, about 45 minutes north of Boca Raton. However, Boca Raton residents may also be able to use a satellite DOH location in Delray Beach, which is much closer. Check with the county DOH to confirm which services are available at the Delray Beach location for death certificates.

Palm Beach County is one of the most populous counties in Florida, and the DOH office handles a large volume of requests. Boca Raton residents who prefer the main West Palm Beach office should plan for the drive and possible wait times. The Clematis Street office is in downtown West Palm Beach, where parking can be tight during business hours.

Palm Beach County charges $15 for the first death certificate. This is among the higher county fees in Florida. The fee reflects the cost of running a vital records program in a large, busy county. Boca Raton residents should factor in both the fee and travel costs when deciding between in-person and online ordering.

The City of Boca Raton website offers general city services but does not process death certificates directly.

The Boca Raton city website covers municipal services, parks, and community information.

How to Order Boca Raton Death Records

Boca Raton residents can request death certificates in person, by mail, or online. Each has its own cost and turnaround time.

For in-person requests, go to 800 Clematis St in West Palm Beach or check if the Delray Beach satellite office can help. Bring a valid photo ID and a completed DH727 form. You need the deceased person's full name, date of death, date of birth, city or county of death, and Social Security number if known. Staff will search for the Boca Raton death record and process your request. Standard processing takes 3 to 5 business days for records from 2009 forward. The West Palm Beach office can get crowded, so arriving early in the morning helps.

Mail requests go to 800 Clematis St, West Palm Beach, FL 33401. Include a completed DH727, a photocopy of your photo ID, and a check or money order made to the Florida Department of Health. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope. Mail orders from the Palm Beach County DOH typically take 2 to 3 weeks. Given that Boca Raton is nearly an hour from West Palm Beach, mail can be a practical choice for residents who do not want to make the drive.

Online orders go through VitalChek. The cost is $15 for the first copy plus a $7 processing fee, with extra copies at $4 each. You pay by credit or debit card. Standard delivery takes 5 to 7 business days. Rush options cost more. For Boca Raton residents, VitalChek may be the best value when you factor in the cost and time of driving to West Palm Beach.

Boca Raton Death Certificate Types

Florida issues two types of death certificates. Both apply the same way to Boca Raton records as they do to the rest of the state.

The public version does not include cause of death. Any adult can request it. It lists the deceased person's name, dates, and place of death. The first five SSN digits are blacked out. Under Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes, the SSN and cause of death on death certificates are confidential. This version is fine for genealogy work, proof of death, and other situations that do not require medical details.

The confidential version includes cause of death. It stays sealed for 50 years. Only certain people can access it: the surviving spouse, parents, adult children or grandchildren, adult siblings, or someone with an estate or insurance claim. File DH Form 1959 to prove your eligibility. A court order works too. Boca Raton families dealing with estate planning, probate, or insurance often need the confidential version to move forward with their legal and financial matters.

Fees for Boca Raton Death Records

Palm Beach County charges $15 for the first Boca Raton death certificate through the county DOH. That is higher than the $5 state base fee. Extra copies have their own per-copy charge. Cash, check, or money order for in-person payments.

VitalChek charges $15 for the first copy plus a $7 processing fee. Additional copies through VitalChek are $4 each. A single Boca Raton death certificate through VitalChek runs about $22 before shipping. Because the Palm Beach County in-person fee is already $15, the VitalChek route only adds about $7 for the convenience of not driving to West Palm Beach.

For records before 2009, the state Bureau of Vital Statistics charges $5 per search, $2 per year if the death date is unknown (up to $50), and may add a $10 rush fee plus $1 shipping. These state fees apply to older Boca Raton death records that the county office does not maintain. Always verify current fees before placing an order.

Boca Raton Historical Records and Genealogy

The Palm Beach County DOH keeps death records from 2009 to the present. For Boca Raton deaths before 2009, contact the state Bureau of Vital Statistics at 1217 N Pearl St, Jacksonville, FL 32202. Call (904) 359-6900 or email VitalStats@FLHealth.gov. The state bureau has records back to 1877.

Under Chapter 382 of the Florida Statutes, death certificates must be filed within five days of death. Section 382.008 covers the filing timeline. Section 382.016 gives local registrars the authority to issue certified copies. These laws govern every death that occurs in Boca Raton.

For genealogy research in Boca Raton, the Florida Memory Project provides free access to digitized records, photos, and documents. The Boca Raton Public Library has local history and genealogy resources. The Florida Clerks of Court website connects to probate records and court filings. Boca Raton was incorporated in 1925, so records before that date would be filed under Palm Beach County. Local newspapers like the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and the Palm Beach Post publish Boca Raton obituaries. Funeral homes in the Boca Raton area maintain their own obituary archives and frequently post them online.

Boca Raton Records Tips

The distance from Boca Raton to the main Palm Beach County DOH office in West Palm Beach is a key factor for Boca Raton residents. The Delray Beach satellite location is a shorter trip. Call ahead to confirm that death certificate services are available there before making the drive. If the satellite office can help, it saves Boca Raton residents a significant amount of travel time.

Filing false information on a vital records application is a third-degree felony in Florida. Bring a valid photo ID and provide truthful details on every form. The Palm Beach County DOH processes a large volume of requests and the staff are trained to spot problems. The penalties for vital records fraud apply whether you file in Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, or any other Florida location.

Boca Raton County Records

All Boca Raton death records go through Palm Beach County. Visit the county page for full details on the DOH office, fees, and available services.

Nearby Cities

These Florida cities near Boca Raton also have obituary record pages with details on local death certificate access.