Pompano Beach Obituary Records

Obituary and death certificate records for Pompano Beach are managed by the Florida Department of Health in Broward County. The Broward County DOH office in Fort Lauderdale handles all vital records for Pompano Beach residents, including death certificates from 2009 to the present. Older records go through the state Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville. Pompano Beach sits along the coast in northeast Broward County with a population of more than 118,000 people, and the city generates a steady volume of death record requests each year through the county health department.

Pompano Beach Death Certificate Office

Pompano Beach does not have its own vital records office. All death certificate requests for Pompano Beach go through the Broward County DOH office in Fort Lauderdale. The drive from Pompano Beach to the Fort Lauderdale office takes about 20 to 30 minutes depending on traffic. This is the same office that serves all of Broward County, so expect a busy waiting room, especially on Mondays and right after holidays.

The Broward County DOH closes at 3:00 PM on the third Thursday of each month. Keep that in mind if you plan to visit in the afternoon. Pompano Beach residents can also use the Paul Hughes DOH location, which stays open until 6:00 PM on Wednesdays. That evening option can be useful for people who work during the day and need to pick up a Pompano Beach death certificate in person.

The City of Pompano Beach website does not issue death certificates directly but may have links to local services.

The Pompano Beach city website offers general city services and can point residents toward county resources for vital records.

How to Get Pompano Beach Death Records

There are three ways to get a death certificate for someone who died in Pompano Beach. You can go in person, send a request by mail, or order online. Each method has different costs and time frames.

For in-person requests, visit the Broward County DOH at 2421-A SW 6th Ave in Fort Lauderdale. 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, county or city of death, and Social Security number if known. The staff will search for the Pompano Beach death record and process your request. Standard processing takes 3 to 5 business days for records from 2009 forward. Walk-in visits mid-week tend to go faster than Monday or Friday visits at this particular office.

Mail orders go to the same Fort Lauderdale address. Include a completed DH727 form, a photocopy of your photo ID, and a check or money order made out to the Florida Department of Health. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope. Mail requests from the Broward County office generally take 2 to 3 weeks. The high volume of requests at the Broward office sometimes pushes that timeline a bit longer, which is worth noting if you have a deadline for a Pompano Beach obituary record.

Online orders go through VitalChek, the state's authorized vendor. VitalChek charges $15 for the first copy plus a $7 processing fee. Extra copies cost $4 each. You pay by credit or debit card. Orders ship in 5 to 7 business days. Rush shipping is available for more money. VitalChek is convenient but costs more than ordering in person at the Broward County office.

Pompano Beach Death Certificate Types

Florida issues two types of death certificates. The rules apply to every Pompano Beach death record the same way they apply across the state.

The public version does not include cause of death. Any adult can request this type. It shows the name, dates, and place of death. The first five digits of the Social Security number are blacked out. Under Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes, both the SSN and cause of death are treated as confidential information on death records. This version works fine for genealogy research, basic proof of death, and situations where cause of death is not needed.

The confidential version shows cause of death. It stays sealed for 50 years. Only certain people can get this version. Eligible requesters include the surviving spouse, a parent, an adult child or grandchild, an adult sibling, or someone with an estate or insurance interest. You prove eligibility by filling out DH Form 1959. A court order can also authorize release. Many Pompano Beach families need the confidential version for estate matters and life insurance claims.

Fees for Pompano Beach Obituary Records

The fee for a Pompano Beach death certificate through the Broward County DOH is $5. That covers the search and one certified copy. Each extra copy at the same time costs $4. The office takes cash, check, or money order for in-person payments.

If you do not know the exact year of death, the state charges $2 per year searched, up to a $50 cap. Records older than 2009 must come from the state Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville. The state bureau charges the same $5 base fee but may add a $10 rush fee and a $1 shipping charge. These costs add up when you are searching across multiple years for a Pompano Beach death record.

VitalChek online orders run about $22 for a single Pompano Beach death certificate after the $15 base and $7 processing fee. Rush delivery adds even more. In-person orders at the Broward County office save a good deal of money if you have the time to make the trip from Pompano Beach to Fort Lauderdale.

Historical Records and Genealogy in Pompano Beach

The Broward County DOH keeps death records from 2009 to the present. For Pompano Beach deaths before 2009, contact the state Bureau of Vital Statistics. The state bureau is at 1217 N Pearl St, Jacksonville, FL 32202. Phone: (904) 359-6900. Email: VitalStats@FLHealth.gov. The state has death records going back to 1877.

Under Chapter 382 of the Florida Statutes, death certificates must be filed within five days. Section 382.008 sets the filing timeline. Section 382.016 gives local registrars the power to produce certified copies. These laws cover every death that occurs in Pompano Beach and the rest of Florida.

For genealogy work tied to Pompano Beach, the Florida Memory Project offers free access to digitized historical records. The Pompano Beach branch of the Broward County Library has local history resources. The Florida Clerks of Court site can connect you to probate records and court filings. Broward County probate records may contain death-related information, especially for older Pompano Beach residents.

Local newspapers like the South Florida Sun-Sentinel publish Pompano Beach obituaries regularly. Funeral homes in Pompano Beach also maintain their own records and post obituaries on their websites. Online obituary databases cover the Pompano Beach area well due to the city's size.

Pompano Beach Vital Records Tips

Pompano Beach residents should be aware of a few things before requesting death records. The Broward County DOH office in Fort Lauderdale handles a huge number of requests. Traffic on I-95 between Pompano Beach and Fort Lauderdale can be heavy during rush hour, so plan your visit for mid-morning or early afternoon if possible.

Filing false information on a vital records application is a third-degree felony under Florida law. Always bring a valid photo ID and provide truthful answers on every form. The Broward County office processes so many requests that they are set up to catch inconsistencies. Penalties for vital records fraud in Florida apply no matter which city you live in.

If you can't find a Pompano Beach death record at the county level, try the state bureau. Some older records may only exist in the state system. For very old records, check with the Florida Memory Project or the Broward County Clerk of Court. Historical records before the state vital statistics system started in 1917 can be harder to find but may show up in church records, cemetery records, or newspaper archives in the Pompano Beach area.

Pompano Beach County Records

All Pompano Beach death records are handled through Broward County. Visit the county page for full details on the Broward County DOH office, fees, and services.

Nearby Cities

These Florida cities near Pompano Beach also have obituary record pages with details on their local death certificate process.