Palm Coast Death Record Search

Obituary and death certificate records for Palm Coast are processed by the Flagler County Department of Health office in Bunnell. Palm Coast is the largest city in Flagler County with a population over 106,000, and it accounts for the vast majority of the county's vital records requests. The Flagler County DOH keeps death records from 2009 forward, while the state Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville holds older records going back to 1877. Palm Coast has grown rapidly in recent decades, which means the volume of death record requests continues to rise each year.

Palm Coast Death Certificate Office

Palm Coast does not have its own vital records office. Death certificates for Palm Coast residents are handled by the Flagler County DOH office in Bunnell. Bunnell is the Flagler County seat and sits about 10 miles west of Palm Coast. The short drive makes in-person visits fairly convenient for most Palm Coast residents. Compared to the massive DOH offices in South Florida or Tampa Bay, the Flagler County office is smaller and generally has shorter wait times.

The Flagler County DOH office on Moody Boulevard in Bunnell handles all vital records for Flagler County, including death certificates for Palm Coast residents. The office is smaller than many county DOH locations in Florida, which can be an advantage. Less volume usually means shorter wait times and more personal attention from the staff.

The City of Palm Coast website provides city services but does not issue death certificates or handle vital records directly.

The Palm Coast city website covers municipal services and community resources for residents.

How to Order Palm Coast Death Records

Palm Coast residents can get death certificates in person, by mail, or online. Each method works differently in terms of cost and speed.

For in-person requests, visit the Flagler County DOH at 1769 E Moody Blvd, Bldg 2, in Bunnell. Bring a valid photo ID and a completed DH727 application form. You need the full name of the deceased, date of death, date of birth, city or county of death, and Social Security number if known. The staff will search for the Palm Coast death record and process your request. Standard processing takes 3 to 5 business days for records from 2009 forward. Because the Flagler County office is smaller, you may get faster service than you would at a larger county office.

Mail requests go to the Bunnell address. Include a completed DH727 form, a copy of your photo ID, and payment by check or money order made to the Florida Department of Health. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope. Mail orders from the Flagler County office typically take 2 to 3 weeks.

Online orders use VitalChek, the state's authorized online vendor. 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 delivery takes 5 to 7 business days. Rush options cost more. For Palm Coast residents who do not want to make the drive to Bunnell, VitalChek handles the whole process remotely.

Palm Coast Death Certificate Types

Florida has two types of death certificates. The rules work the same for Palm Coast as everywhere else in the state.

The public version leaves off cause of death. Any adult can get it. It shows the name, dates, and place of death. The SSN has the first five digits blacked out. Under Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes, cause of death and SSN are confidential on death records. This version works for genealogy, proof of death, and many other common purposes.

The confidential version shows cause of death. It stays sealed for 50 years. Only eligible people can request it. That list includes the surviving spouse, parents, adult children or grandchildren, adult siblings, or anyone with an estate or insurance interest. DH Form 1959 proves your eligibility. A court order can also authorize release. Palm Coast families settling estates or filing insurance claims typically need this restricted version.

Fees for Palm Coast Obituary Records

The fee for a Palm Coast death certificate through the Flagler County DOH is $5. That covers the search and one certified copy. Extra copies ordered at the same time cost $4 each. The office accepts cash, check, or money order for in-person payments.

VitalChek online orders cost $15 for the first copy plus a $7 processing fee. Additional copies are $4 each through VitalChek. A single Palm Coast death certificate ordered online runs about $22 before shipping upgrades. The $5 in-person fee makes a trip to Bunnell worthwhile if you live in Palm Coast and can spare the time.

Records before 2009 require contacting the state Bureau of Vital Statistics. The state charges $5 per search, $2 per year if the death date is unknown (up to $50), and may add a $10 rush fee plus $1 shipping. These fees apply to older Palm Coast death records that the county office does not have.

Palm Coast Historical Records

The Flagler County DOH has death records from 2009 to the present. For Palm Coast deaths before 2009, the state Bureau of Vital Statistics at 1217 N Pearl St, Jacksonville, FL 32202 handles requests. Call (904) 359-6900 or email VitalStats@FLHealth.gov. The state has records going back to 1877.

Under Chapter 382 of the Florida Statutes, death certificates must be filed within five days. These rules apply to all deaths in Palm Coast and the rest of Flagler County. Palm Coast was incorporated in 1999, so deaths before that year would have been recorded under unincorporated Flagler County. When searching for older records, using Flagler County as the location may return better results than searching by the city name.

The Florida Memory Project offers free access to digitized historical records. The Flagler County Public Library has local genealogy resources. The Florida Clerks of Court website connects to probate records and court filings that may contain death-related details. Flagler County probate records can be particularly useful for tracking deaths of early area residents before the modern vital statistics system was fully in place.

Local funeral homes in the Palm Coast area maintain obituary records. The Daytona Beach News-Journal covers Palm Coast obituaries. Online obituary databases also index Palm Coast due to the city's growing population. For genealogy research, the proximity to Jacksonville makes it possible to visit the state Bureau of Vital Statistics in person, which is about 80 miles north of Palm Coast.

Palm Coast Vital Records Notes

Palm Coast's rapid population growth means the Flagler County DOH processes more requests each year. The office is still much smaller than those in Broward, Miami-Dade, or Hillsborough, so the experience tends to be less hectic. But the increasing demand is worth being aware of, especially during peak times.

Providing false information on a vital records application is a third-degree felony under Florida law. Always bring valid ID and give accurate answers on every form. The Flagler County office follows the same rules and penalties as every other Florida DOH location. Whether your request is for a Palm Coast death record or any other location in the county, truthful reporting is required.

Palm Coast County Records

All Palm Coast death records go through Flagler County. Visit the county page for complete details on the DOH office, fees, and services.

Nearby Cities

These Florida cities near Palm Coast also have obituary record pages with death certificate details.