Search Lakeland Obituary Records

Obituary and death certificate records for Lakeland are processed by the Florida Department of Health in Polk County. Lakeland is the largest city in Polk County with about 125,000 residents, sitting between Tampa and Orlando along the I-4 corridor. Deaths in Lakeland are registered through the Polk County DOH office in Bartow, which is the county seat. This page explains how to request death certificates for Lakeland residents, the fees involved, and where to search for published obituary information.

Polk County DOH Office for Lakeland

The Polk County Department of Health office is in Bartow, about 15 miles south of Lakeland. It is on Government Center Boulevard, near the Polk County government complex. Lakeland is the biggest city in the county, but the DOH is in Bartow because that is the county seat. The drive from Lakeland to Bartow takes about 20 to 25 minutes on US-98 South. This is where you go for in-person death certificate requests.

Bring a photo ID and the full name and date of death of the person whose record you need. Knowing the Social Security number helps the staff locate the record faster. Walk-in requests for Lakeland death certificates are typically processed the same day. The Bartow office is smaller than DOH offices in major metro areas, so wait times can be reasonable. Still, arriving early in the morning is a good practice. Call (863) 519-7900 if you have questions before driving from Lakeland.

Getting Lakeland Death Certificates

Lakeland residents have three methods available. Pick the one that matches your timeline and budget.

Going in person to the Bartow office is the fastest way. Complete the DH727 form, pay the $5 fee, and you can walk out with your copy the same day. The Spanish version is the DH727S. The office accepts check, money order, and sometimes credit card. Lakeland is close enough to Bartow that the round trip takes about an hour, including wait time at the office. It is worth the drive when you need the record quickly.

Mail orders go to the Bureau of Vital Statistics at 1217 N Pearl St, Jacksonville, FL 32202. Include the completed DH727 form and a check or money order for $5 plus $1 for shipping, payable to Vital Statistics. Standard processing takes four to six weeks. Rush handling costs $10 extra. This is a practical option for Lakeland residents who can wait and don't want to make the drive to Bartow. Everything is done by mail from your home.

VitalChek lets you order online at www.VitalChek.com or by phone at 1-877-550-7330. The first copy is $15 plus $7 in processing fees. It ships to your Lakeland address in two to three weeks. The cost is higher, but you don't need to fill out paper forms or visit any office. For Lakeland residents who prefer the online approach, this is the simplest path.

Lakeland Death Certificate Fees

Death certificate fees at the Polk County DOH follow the state fee schedule. The costs are the same as at most other county offices across Florida.

• First certified copy (includes search): $5
• Each additional copy: $4
• Rush processing (mail): $10
• Shipping (mail orders): $1
• VitalChek online: $15 + $7 processing

Ordering multiple copies at once is smart if you think you will need them. The $4 rate for extras is much cheaper than placing separate orders later. Lakeland families handling insurance claims, probate cases, or Social Security notifications after a death often need at least three or four copies. Banks and insurance companies usually want their own certified copy. Order them all in one request and save yourself the repeat trips or extra shipping costs.

Who Can Access Lakeland Death Records

Florida splits death certificates into two types. The rules apply the same way in Lakeland as in every other city in the state.

The version without cause of death is open to any person 18 or older. It is a public record. This certificate shows the name, date and place of death, and basic biographical information. It does not include what caused the death. Under Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes, government records are broadly available to the public, and this version falls under that principle.

The full death certificate with cause of death is restricted for 50 years. Chapter 382 of the Florida Statutes makes the cause of death confidential. Only a surviving spouse, parent, child, sibling, or legal representative with a court order can request it. When you visit the Polk County DOH in Bartow, bring documentation that proves your relationship to the deceased. A marriage certificate, birth certificate, or legal paperwork will work.

Lakeland Historical Death Records

Polk County keeps death records from 2009 to the present at the Bartow DOH office. Deaths in Lakeland before 2009 are on file with the state Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville. The state archive goes back to 1877. Lakeland was incorporated in 1885, so some early death records for the city may exist at the state level.

The Florida Memory website provides free access to digitized historical records from the State Library and Archives. The Polk County History Center in Bartow has local history and genealogy materials. The Lakeland Public Library also has a Florida Room with genealogy resources that cover the central Florida area. The City of Lakeland website does not handle vital records, but it links to community services and local government offices that may be helpful for other types of requests.

Lakeland Obituary Sources

The Lakeland Ledger is the main local newspaper for Lakeland and publishes obituary notices in print and online. The Tampa Bay Times may also carry obituaries that include Lakeland residents. Funeral homes in Lakeland post obituaries on their own websites and on Legacy.com. These notices are helpful for finding the date of death, service schedules, and the names of surviving family members. They are not certified death records.

For an official death certificate, you must go through the Polk County DOH or the state office in Jacksonville. The Florida DOH death certificates page has all the forms and instructions that apply to Lakeland requests. If you are searching for a death that may have been registered in another county, the state office has a statewide index that can help you track it down.

Polk County Obituary Records

Lakeland is in Polk County. All death certificate requests go through the Polk County DOH in Bartow. For the complete county page with more details on the office, related records, and additional resources, check the link below.

View Polk County Obituary Records

Nearby Cities

Cities near Lakeland with obituary and death record pages:

• Tampa
• Orlando
• Brandon
• Kissimmee
• Clearwater