Search Miami Beach Obituary Records

Miami Beach obituary and death records are managed by the Miami-Dade County Department of Health, which serves all cities within the county including this barrier island community. With a population of more than 83,000, Miami Beach generates a significant number of vital records each year. Death certificates for people who passed away in Miami Beach from 2009 onward are on file at the county DOH office in Miami. Older records dating back to 1877 are kept at the state bureau in Jacksonville. Whether you are searching for a recent death certificate or looking up an older obituary notice, the process starts with the county or state vital records office.

Miami-Dade County DOH Office

The Miami-Dade County Department of Health vital records office is the place to go for Miami Beach death certificates. It sits on the mainland in the city of Miami, about a 20-minute drive from the beach depending on traffic over the causeways. The office holds death records from 2009 to the present for all of Miami-Dade County, which includes Miami Beach. For deaths before 2009, you will need to contact the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville.

You need to bring a valid photo ID when you visit. Fill out the request form at the front counter. Staff will search the records and print a certified copy. The first copy is $12. Each added copy of the same record costs $16. Rush processing is $10 extra. The office takes cash, check, and money order. Call ahead to check if they take credit cards at the time of your visit. Miami Beach residents should plan for the drive and possible parking delays near the county office.

Getting Miami Beach Death Records

You have three ways to get a death certificate for someone who died in Miami Beach. In person is the fastest. Mail works if you can wait. Online is the most convenient but costs more.

Walk-in requests at the county DOH are the quickest path. Go to the NW 14th Street office during business hours. You can get a certified copy the same day if the record is on file. Most Miami Beach death records from 2009 forward are there. The staff processes walk-in requests in the order they come in, so get there early if you can. Some mornings the wait runs about an hour, especially on Mondays.

To request by mail, send a completed DH727 form to the Miami-Dade DOH at 1350 NW 14th St, Miami, FL 33125. Include a check or money order for $12 payable to the Florida Department of Health. Add a copy of your photo ID and a return address. Mail requests for Miami Beach death records take two to four weeks on average. You can download the DH727 form from the Florida DOH site.

The online option goes through VitalChek, the state-approved vendor. The first copy costs $15 plus a $7 processing fee. You can also call 1-877-550-7330 to order by phone. They take credit and debit cards. Orders ship in five to seven business days. It costs more than the county office, but it saves the trip from Miami Beach to the mainland for people who prefer not to drive.

Miami Beach Obituary Lookup

Obituaries are different from death certificates. A death certificate is an official government record. An obituary is a notice that a family places in a newspaper or posts online. Both serve a purpose when researching a death in Miami Beach. The certificate provides legal proof. The obituary gives personal details and family connections that the government record does not include.

The Miami Herald has long been the main newspaper for the Miami Beach area. Its obituary section covers deaths from across Miami-Dade County, and many Miami Beach obituaries appear there. The Florida Memory project run by the State Archives also has digitized historical records that can help with older searches. You can look through vital records, military files, and other documents that may mention Miami Beach residents from past decades. These resources are free to use online.

Local funeral homes on Miami Beach often post obituaries on their websites. If you know which funeral home handled the arrangements, check their site first. Many keep searchable archives going back several years. Public libraries in the Miami Beach area also maintain newspaper collections on microfilm and in digital form that include obituary notices. The Miami Beach Regional Library on Collins Avenue is a good starting point for in-person research.

Who Can Access Miami Beach Death Records

Florida law controls access to death certificates. The rules apply the same way in Miami Beach as anywhere else in the state. There are two types of death certificates, and who can get each one depends on what information it contains.

Under Florida Statutes Chapter 382, a death certificate without cause of death is public. Anyone 18 or older can request one. You do not need to prove any relationship to the person who died. This type works for most needs in Miami Beach, from estate matters to genealogy research. The county DOH must provide it to anyone who asks and pays the fee.

A certificate that shows the cause of death is restricted. It stays confidential for 50 years after the date of death. Only eligible people can get this version. That means the spouse, a parent, a child, or a legal representative of the estate. You have to prove your relationship at the time of the request. A court order can also unlock a confidential Miami Beach death record if you can show a judge that you have a valid legal reason for it.

The state's public records law under Chapter 119 backs up the public's right to access death records that do not include cause of death. You do not need to explain your reason for wanting a Miami Beach death record. Just pay the fee and provide proper ID.

State Records for Miami Beach

The Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville is the backup option when the county DOH does not have what you need. The state bureau holds death records from 1877 to the present, covering every county in Florida. If the death in Miami Beach happened before 2009, or if you need a record from outside Miami-Dade County, this is where to go.

State fees are lower than the county. A search plus one copy costs $5. Each added copy is $4. Rush processing is $10 extra, and shipping adds $1. You can mail requests to 1217 N Pearl St, Jacksonville, FL 32202, or call (904) 359-6900. For Miami Beach residents, the state office is most useful for old records that the county does not have on hand.

Miami Beach Death Certificate Costs

The fees for Miami Beach death records depend on which office you use. Here is a breakdown:

• Miami-Dade DOH first copy: $12
• Miami-Dade DOH added copies: $16 each
• State bureau search and one copy: $5
• State bureau added copies: $4 each
• Rush processing: $10 (county or state)
• VitalChek first copy: $15 plus $7 processing

The county office is the cheapest for a single copy at $12 in person. But the added copy fee of $16 is steep. If you need multiple copies of the same Miami Beach death record, the state bureau at $5 plus $4 per extra copy saves a lot. VitalChek is the priciest option but the most convenient one when you can not visit either office.

Miami-Dade County Records

Miami Beach is part of Miami-Dade County. The county page has more details on the DOH vital records office, related services, and other resources for obituary and death record searches across the full county.

View Miami-Dade County Obituary Records

Nearby Cities

These cities near Miami Beach also have obituary and death record resources that may be useful for your search.