Lehigh Acres Obituary Records

Obituary and death records for Lehigh Acres are handled by the Florida Department of Health in Lee County. Lehigh Acres is a census-designated place in Lee County with about 127,000 residents, making it one of the largest CDPs in the state. Because it is not an incorporated city, Lehigh Acres does not have its own city government or vital records office. All death certificates are processed through the Lee County DOH in North Fort Myers. This page covers how to get death records, fees, and where to look for obituary information related to Lehigh Acres.

Lee County DOH Office for Lehigh Acres

The Lee County Department of Health office is located on Pondella Road in North Fort Myers. For Lehigh Acres residents, the drive is about 15 to 20 miles west, depending on which part of the community you start from. Lehigh Acres is a large area that stretches across much of eastern Lee County, so some residents will have a shorter trip than others. The DOH office handles all vital records for Lee County, including death certificates for people who died in Lehigh Acres.

Because Lehigh Acres is a census-designated place, there is no local city hall or clerk's office that can help with vital records. The Lee County DOH is the only local option. Bring a valid photo ID and the name, date of death, and place of death of the person whose record you need. Walk-in requests are usually handled the same day. Call (239) 332-9572 to ask about wait times or what forms of payment they accept before you drive from Lehigh Acres.

How to Get Lehigh Acres Death Records

Three options exist for getting death certificates tied to Lehigh Acres. Each one has a different cost and timeline.

The in-person method is fastest. Go to the Lee County DOH in North Fort Myers, fill out the DH727 form, and pay the $14 fee for the first certified copy. Additional copies are $10 each at the Lee County office. That county fee is higher than the state base rate. You get your record the same day in most cases. For Lehigh Acres residents, the drive takes about 20 minutes from the eastern side of the community. The DH727S form is available in Spanish.

Mailing your request to the state office costs less. Send the DH727 form and a check for $5 (plus $1 shipping) to the Bureau of Vital Statistics at 1217 N Pearl St, Jacksonville, FL 32202. Processing takes four to six weeks. You can add $10 for rush handling. This is a cheaper route for Lehigh Acres residents who are not in a rush and want to avoid the drive to North Fort Myers. Make the check payable to Vital Statistics.

VitalChek is the online option at www.VitalChek.com or 1-877-550-7330. The first copy costs $15 plus $7 processing. Delivery takes two to three weeks. VitalChek ships to your address in Lehigh Acres. It is the easiest method but costs more than mailing to the state office. For people who prefer handling everything online, VitalChek is the way to go.

Lehigh Acres Death Certificate Fees

Lee County charges its own rates for death certificates issued at the local DOH office. The county fee is higher than the state base rate. Here is a breakdown of costs by method.

• In-person at Lee County DOH: $14 first copy, $10 each additional
• State mail order: $5 first copy, $4 additional, $1 shipping
• Rush (mail orders): $10 extra
• VitalChek: $15 + $7 processing fee

The difference between the county and state fees is notable. At $14 locally versus $5 by mail, the state route is much cheaper for Lehigh Acres residents who can wait. But you get same-day service at the county office, which matters when you need the record quickly. If you need several copies, ask about multi-copy pricing. Extra copies at the county office cost $10 each, while the state charges only $4 for additional copies. That gap adds up if you need five or six copies for insurance, banking, and probate.

Who Can Access Lehigh Acres Death Records

Florida law creates two tiers of access for death certificates. The same rules apply to Lehigh Acres as to every other community in the state.

A death certificate without cause of death is available to anyone 18 or older. It is public. This version lists the name, date and place of death, and basic personal information about the deceased. It does not include what caused the death. Under Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes, most government records are open to the public. This version of the death certificate qualifies as a public record.

The full certificate with cause of death is confidential for 50 years under Chapter 382. Only close family members or a person with a court order can get it. That means the surviving spouse, parent, child, or sibling. At the Lee County DOH, you will need to show proof of your relationship when asking for the full version. Bring a birth certificate, marriage license, or court paperwork that shows how you are connected to the deceased.

Lehigh Acres Historical Death Records

The Lee County DOH holds death records from 2009 forward. For deaths in Lehigh Acres before 2009, you need to contact the state office in Jacksonville. The Bureau of Vital Statistics has Florida death records going back to 1877. Lehigh Acres was originally developed in the late 1950s, so its death records start around that era. Earlier records for the area would be filed under Lee County generally.

For genealogy research, Florida Memory offers free digital access to historical records from the State Library and Archives. The Lee County Library System has genealogy resources at some of its branches. Because Lehigh Acres is a census-designated place and not an incorporated city, its community records are part of the broader Lee County collection. The Florida DOH main page has forms and general information that apply to all Lehigh Acres requests.

Finding Lehigh Acres Obituaries

Obituary notices for Lehigh Acres residents are published in the News-Press, the main newspaper for Lee County and the Fort Myers area. The paper runs both print and online obituary listings. Funeral homes serving Lehigh Acres also post obituaries on their websites and on Legacy.com. These are not official death certificates. They help with finding the date of death, service information, and names of surviving family members.

For official records, you still need to go through the Lee County DOH or the state Bureau of Vital Statistics. Lehigh Acres has no city government office that handles records, so the county is the only local source. If you are unsure which county a death was registered in, the state office in Jacksonville has a statewide index that covers all 67 Florida counties and can help you locate the right record.

Lee County Obituary Records

Lehigh Acres is an unincorporated community in Lee County. All death certificates go through the Lee County DOH in North Fort Myers. For the full county page with additional information on fees, office hours, and related resources, visit the link below.

View Lee County Obituary Records

Nearby Cities

Cities near Lehigh Acres with obituary and death record pages:

• Cape Coral
• Fort Myers
• North Port