Miami Gardens Death Records

Obituary and death certificate records for Miami Gardens are processed through the Miami-Dade County Department of Health office in Miami. Miami Gardens is the third-largest city in Miami-Dade County with a population over 116,000, and all vital records for the city go through the county DOH rather than any local city office. The Miami-Dade County DOH keeps death records from 2009 forward, while the state Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville maintains older records going back to 1877.

Miami Gardens Death Certificate Office

Miami Gardens does not have its own vital records office. Death certificates for Miami Gardens residents are handled by the Miami-Dade County DOH office in downtown Miami. The drive from Miami Gardens to the county office takes about 25 to 35 minutes depending on traffic, which can be heavy on the main highways during rush hours.

Miami-Dade County is the most populous county in Florida, so the DOH office handles a very high volume of requests. Miami Gardens residents should plan for wait times, especially if they visit without an appointment. The office on NW 14th Street serves more than 2.7 million county residents, making it the busiest vital records office in the state.

Miami-Dade County charges $12 for the first death certificate copy and $16 for additional copies. These fees are higher than the standard state rate and reflect the county's large operating costs. The City of Miami Gardens website does not issue death certificates but provides general city services and community resources.

The Miami Gardens city website offers municipal services but does not handle vital records directly.

How to Order Miami Gardens Death Records

Miami Gardens residents can order death certificates in person, by mail, or online. Each method has different costs and timelines.

For in-person requests, go to 1350 NW 14th St in Miami. Bring a valid photo ID and a completed DH727 application. You need the full name of the deceased, date of death, date of birth, county or city of death, and Social Security number if you have it. The Miami-Dade staff will search for the record and process your request. Standard processing takes 3 to 5 business days for records from 2009 forward. Because this is the busiest DOH office in the state, mid-week mornings tend to have shorter wait times.

Mail orders should go to 1350 NW 14th St, Miami, FL 33125. Include a completed DH727 form, a photocopy of your photo ID, and payment by check or money order made to the Florida Department of Health. A self-addressed stamped envelope helps. Mail requests from the Miami-Dade office generally take 2 to 4 weeks due to the volume they handle. For Miami Gardens residents with flexible timelines, mail works fine. But if you need the record fast, consider VitalChek.

Online orders go through VitalChek. The cost is $15 for the first copy plus a $7 processing fee. Extra copies are $4 each. You pay by credit or debit card. Standard shipping takes 5 to 7 business days. Rush shipping costs more. VitalChek handles a large share of Miami-Dade County's online orders, and it saves Miami Gardens residents the trip to downtown Miami.

Miami Gardens Death Certificate Eligibility

Florida uses two types of death certificates. The rules apply the same way to every Miami Gardens death record.

The public version does not show cause of death. Any adult can get it. It lists the person's name, dates, and place of death. The SSN has the first five digits redacted. Under Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes, both cause of death and SSN are confidential on death certificates. This version works for genealogy, basic proof of death, and many other common uses.

The confidential version includes cause of death and stays sealed for 50 years. Eligible requesters include the surviving spouse, parents, adult children or grandchildren, adult siblings, or anyone with an estate or insurance interest. You file DH Form 1959 to prove eligibility. A court order also authorizes release. Many Miami Gardens families need this version to settle estates, file insurance claims, or handle legal matters after a death.

Miami Gardens Historical Records

The Miami-Dade County DOH keeps death records from 2009 to the present. For Miami Gardens deaths before 2009, contact the state Bureau of Vital Statistics at 1217 N Pearl St, Jacksonville, FL 32202. Call (904) 359-6900 or email VitalStats@FLHealth.gov. The state has records back to 1877, though Miami Gardens itself was only incorporated in 2003.

Under Chapter 382 of the Florida Statutes, death certificates must be filed within five days. These rules apply to every death in Miami Gardens and the rest of Florida. Before the city's incorporation, deaths in the Miami Gardens area were filed under unincorporated Miami-Dade County, so older records may list the location as Miami or unincorporated Miami-Dade rather than Miami Gardens.

For genealogy research connected to Miami Gardens, the Florida Memory Project has free digitized historical records. The Miami-Dade Public Library System offers extensive genealogy resources. The Florida Clerks of Court website links to probate and court records. Local newspapers like the Miami Herald publish obituaries for the Miami Gardens area. Funeral homes in and around Miami Gardens maintain their own obituary archives and often post them online.

Fees for Miami Gardens Death Records

Miami-Dade County charges $12 for the first Miami Gardens death certificate. Additional copies cost $16 each. These are among the higher county fees in Florida. In-person payments at the Miami office accept cash, check, or money order.

VitalChek online orders cost $15 for the first copy plus $7 processing. Extra copies through VitalChek are $4 each. A single Miami Gardens death certificate through VitalChek runs about $22 before shipping. Depending on how many copies you need, the VitalChek rate can actually be cheaper than getting extra copies in person at the Miami-Dade office due to the county's $16 additional copy charge.

For records before 2009, the state Bureau charges $5 per search, $2 per year if the death year is unknown (up to $50), and may add rush and shipping fees. Always confirm current prices before placing an order.

Miami Gardens County Records

All Miami Gardens death records are handled through Miami-Dade County. Visit the county page for full details on the DOH office, fees, and available services.

Nearby Cities

These Florida cities near Miami Gardens also have obituary record pages with local death certificate details.