Hollywood Death Records

Obituary and death certificate records for Hollywood, Florida are managed by the Broward County Department of Health. Hollywood is a coastal city with about 159,000 residents, sitting between Fort Lauderdale and Miami. When someone dies in Hollywood, the death is registered through the Broward County DOH office in Fort Lauderdale. Family members and other eligible people can then request certified copies of the death certificate. This page explains the full process for getting obituary and death records tied to Hollywood, including fees, office details, and alternative ways to order.

Broward County DOH for Hollywood Records

Hollywood does not have a city vital records office. The Broward County Department of Health in Fort Lauderdale is where all death certificate orders for Hollywood go. The office is about eight miles north of Hollywood, making it one of the closer DOH offices for a city in south Broward. You can drive up I-95 or take US-1, and the office is just south of the New River on S.W. 6th Avenue.

One thing to note is that the office closes early on every third Thursday of the month. The doors shut at 3:00 PM on those days. If you are making the trip from Hollywood, call ahead to make sure it is a regular day. The office handles a high volume of requests since Broward County has over two million people. Hollywood residents should bring a photo ID, the name of the deceased, and their date of death. Having the Social Security number helps too, though it is not always required.

Getting Hollywood Death Certificates

Hollywood residents have three paths to get a death certificate. Each one works, but they differ in speed and cost. Pick the one that fits your situation best.

Going in person to the Fort Lauderdale DOH office is the fastest option. Fill out the DH727 form, pay the $5 fee, and you can typically walk out with your copy the same day. The form is also available in Spanish as DH727S. You need to show a photo ID. If you are requesting the full certificate with cause of death, you must prove you are an eligible family member or legal representative. The office accepts check, money order, and sometimes credit cards.

Ordering by mail means sending your request to the state office in Jacksonville. The address is Bureau of Vital Statistics, 1217 N Pearl St, Jacksonville, FL 32202. Include the completed form, a $5 check or money order, plus $1 for shipping. Mail orders from Hollywood typically take four to six weeks. Adding the $10 rush fee can speed things up, but it is not instant. This method works well when you don't need the record right away.

VitalChek is the online option. Visit www.VitalChek.com or call 1-877-550-7330 to place your order. The first copy runs $15 plus a $7 processing fee. It ships to your home in Hollywood, usually within two to three weeks. This is a convenient choice if you can't get to the office and don't want to deal with mailing forms yourself.

Hollywood Death Record Fees

The fee structure for death certificates is set by the state of Florida. It does not change from city to city. Whether you live in Hollywood or anywhere else in Broward County, the fees are the same at the county DOH office.

• Search and first certified copy: $5
• Each additional copy: $4
• Rush fee: $10
• Shipping for mail orders: $1
• VitalChek online: $15 + $7 processing

Order multiple copies at once if you think you will need them. Extra copies cost just $4 each, which is a lot less than paying for a whole new order later. Hollywood residents dealing with insurance, probate, or Social Security claims often need three or more copies. The county office and VitalChek both let you order extras in the same transaction. Payments to the state by mail must be by check or money order made out to Vital Statistics.

Who Can Get Hollywood Death Records

Florida law splits death certificates into two categories. This affects what Hollywood residents can actually get when they request a death record.

Death certificates without cause of death are open to anyone 18 or older. This version shows the name, date and place of death, and other key facts. It is a public record under Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes. You do not need to be related to the person to get this type. It works fine for genealogy research, confirming a death, or other non-legal uses.

The full certificate with cause of death is restricted under Chapter 382. Cause of death stays confidential for 50 years from the date of death. Only a surviving spouse, parent, child, sibling, or a person with a court order can get the full version. You need to provide proof of your relationship when you make the request at the Broward County DOH. If you are a Hollywood resident handling a loved one's estate, you will likely qualify for the full version.

Historical Death Records for Hollywood

The Broward County office has records from 2009 to the present. That covers most recent deaths in Hollywood. For records before 2009, you need to contact the state Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville. The state holds death records dating back to 1877. Hollywood was founded in 1925, so all deaths in the city fall within the state's coverage.

Researchers looking for older Hollywood death records may also try Florida Memory, a free digital archive from the State Library. The Broward County Library system has a genealogy section at its main branch in Fort Lauderdale that may hold microfilm and local burial records. The City of Hollywood website does not handle vital records, but it can point you to local library and community resources for historical research.

Finding Hollywood Obituary Notices

Obituary notices for Hollywood residents are published in local newspapers and online databases. The Sun Sentinel covers all of Broward County and publishes both print and digital obituaries. The Miami Herald also has obituary listings that sometimes include Hollywood residents. These newspaper obituaries are not the same as an official death certificate, but they can be helpful for finding out when someone passed away or identifying surviving family members.

Funeral homes in Hollywood often post obituaries on their own websites and on Legacy.com. Some also post on the funeral home's social media pages. If you are trying to track down information about a Hollywood resident who died recently, checking the funeral home listings first is often the quickest way to find basic details. For an official certified death record, though, you need to go through the Broward County DOH or the state office.

Broward County Obituary Records

Hollywood is part of Broward County. The county DOH in Fort Lauderdale processes all death certificate requests for the area. For a full overview of the Broward County vital records office, hours, fees, and other details, check the county page.

View Broward County Obituary Records

Nearby Cities

Other cities near Hollywood with obituary and death record information:

• Fort Lauderdale
• Pembroke Pines
• Miramar
• Deerfield Beach
• Miami