Cape Coral Obituary Records

Cape Coral obituary and death records are managed by the Lee County Department of Health vital records office. Cape Coral has about 233,000 people and is the largest city in Lee County by population, though it sits across the Caloosahatchee River from the county seat of Fort Myers. The Lee County DOH office on Pondella Road in North Fort Myers is where Cape Coral residents go to get death certificates. Records from 2009 to the present are on file at that location. The office takes walk-in visits and accepts a wide range of payment options, including cash, credit cards, Google Pay, and Apple Pay.

Lee County DOH Vital Records

The Lee County Department of Health vital records office is in North Fort Myers on Pondella Road. Cape Coral residents cross the bridge to get there. It is about a 20-minute drive from central Cape Coral. The office handles all death certificate requests for Lee County, including Cape Coral, Fort Myers, and the surrounding communities. Death records from 2009 onward are stored at this location.

A certified death certificate costs $14 for the first copy. Additional copies of the same record are $10 each. The Lee County DOH accepts cash, credit cards, Google Pay, and Apple Pay. That is more payment options than most Florida county offices offer. Bring a valid photo ID and fill out the request form at the counter. Most requests are processed the same day if the record is in the system. Call (239) 332-9572 to check wait times before you drive from Cape Coral.

Getting Death Records in Cape Coral

Cape Coral residents have three main options for getting death records. In-person visits to the Lee County DOH in North Fort Myers are the fastest. Mail requests work if you are not in a rush. Online ordering through VitalChek is the most convenient but costs more. Pick the method that fits your timeline and budget.

For in-person visits, head to 83 Pondella Road in North Fort Myers. Bring your ID and $14 for the first copy. The drive from Cape Coral takes about 20 minutes depending on traffic at the bridges. Try to go early in the day. The office gets more crowded as the morning goes on, so early arrivals tend to have shorter waits for Cape Coral death records.

Mail requests use Form DH727 from the Florida DOH website. Send it to the Lee County DOH with a check or money order for $14 and a copy of your photo ID. Allow two to three weeks for processing. For deaths before 2009, send your request to the state bureau in Jacksonville, which holds older Florida records going back to 1877.

The VitalChek online option costs $15 for the first copy plus a $7 processing fee. Call 1-877-550-7330 to order by phone. Orders ship in five to seven business days. This works well for Cape Coral residents who do not want to drive to North Fort Myers or wait for a mail request to come back.

Cape Coral Obituary Search

Obituaries for Cape Coral residents are published in the News-Press, which is the main daily paper for Lee County. The Cape Coral Breeze also carries local obituary notices. The Lee County Library System has archives of both papers. Branches in Cape Coral and Fort Myers have microfilm readers and access to digital newspaper databases. Library staff can help you search for specific names and dates.

The Florida Memory project from the State Archives is another resource for historical death records. The digitized collection includes vital records indexes, military service cards, and pension files that may reference deaths of Cape Coral and Lee County residents from past decades. The collection is free and searchable online.

Cape Coral funeral homes maintain their own records too. If you know which one handled the service, a call or visit can provide details that the official death certificate does not cover. This is useful when you are doing genealogy research or need more context around a death in Cape Coral beyond what the county DOH can provide.

Who Can Get Cape Coral Death Records

The rules for accessing death records in Cape Coral are set by Florida state law. A death certificate without cause of death is a public record. Any person 18 or older can request one. You do not need to prove a family connection. This public version works for most needs, from closing accounts to filing claims and tracking family lines.

The version that includes cause of death is confidential for 50 years under Florida Statutes Chapter 382. Only close relatives and legal representatives of the estate can get it. You must show proof of your relationship at the Lee County DOH. A court order is another way to gain access if you have a legitimate legal reason and cannot qualify through family ties.

Under Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes, public records must be provided to anyone who asks and pays the fee. The Lee County DOH cannot refuse a non-confidential death record request from a Cape Coral resident or anyone else. No explanation is required.

Cape Coral Death Record Fees

Fees for death certificates in Cape Coral follow the Lee County schedule. Here is a breakdown of costs:

• Lee County DOH first copy: $14
• Lee County DOH additional copies: $10 each
• State bureau search and one copy (mail): $5
• State bureau extra copies: $4 each
• State rush processing: $10
• VitalChek online: $15 plus $7 processing

The $14 first copy fee is in the middle range for Florida counties. Additional copies at $10 each are reasonable. For bulk orders, the state bureau at $5 plus $4 per extra copy is the cheapest route. The convenience of paying with Google Pay or Apple Pay at the Lee County office is a nice touch for Cape Coral residents who do not carry cash. Just make sure to bring your photo ID regardless of how you pay.

Lee County Obituary Records

Cape Coral is the largest city in Lee County, which also includes Fort Myers and several other communities along the Gulf Coast. The county DOH office in North Fort Myers handles all death record requests for the area. Visit the county page for more on the office, fees, and related resources.

View Lee County Obituary Records

Nearby Cities

Other cities near Cape Coral with obituary and death record pages are listed here. Each page has local DOH and access details.