The Villages Death Records

Death records and obituary searches for The Villages go through the Sumter County Department of Health in Bushnell, Florida. The Villages is a large retirement community that spans parts of Sumter, Marion, and Lake counties, but the main vital records office is the Sumter County DOH.

Sumter County DOH Vital Records

The Sumter County Department of Health handles death certificates for residents of The Villages who live in the Sumter County portion of the community. This office is in Bushnell, which is about 20 minutes south of The Villages. It processes walk-in requests and mail orders for death records from 2009 onward. The staff can look up and print a certified copy while you wait if the record is on file.

Bring a valid photo ID when you go. The fee is $5 for a search and one certified copy of a death certificate. This is one of the lower fees in the state. If the staff cannot find the record, the $5 search fee still applies. Added copies are $4 each. Sumter County keeps things simple and affordable.

The Sumter County DOH website has more details on what forms you need and how to pay. You can check it at sumter.floridahealth.gov before making the trip from The Villages to the Bushnell office. Call (352) 569-3102 if you have questions about hours or what to bring.

Which County Office to Use

The Villages stretches across three counties: Sumter, Marion, and Lake. This makes things a bit tricky for death records. The county where the death took place is the one that holds the record. Most of The Villages sits in Sumter County, so the Bushnell office handles the majority of requests.

If the person died in the Marion County part of The Villages, you need to contact the Marion County DOH in Ocala. For deaths in the Lake County section, the Lake County DOH in Tavares is the right office. You can call the Sumter County DOH first and they can tell you which county has the record. It helps to know the address where the death occurred to figure out the right county.

For deaths before 2009, regardless of which part of The Villages it happened in, the state bureau in Jacksonville has the records. The state office keeps files from 1877 to the present. You do not need to figure out the county for older records. Just send your request to Jacksonville.

How to Get Death Records in The Villages

There are three ways to get death certificates. In person is the fastest. Mail takes a few weeks. VitalChek is the online choice.

For in-person requests, drive to the Sumter County DOH at 415 East Noble Ave in Bushnell. Bring your ID and the fee. The staff will search for the record and print it while you wait. This is the quickest way for Villages residents to get a death certificate, and the $5 fee makes it one of the cheapest options in the state.

The Villages obituary and death record portal at the Sumter County DOH website shows relevant forms and instructions. Visit sumter.floridahealth.gov to download forms before you go. You can also print Form DH727 from the Florida DOH site for a mail request. Send the form with a check or money order to the Bushnell office. Mail processing takes two to four weeks from The Villages area.

VitalChek offers online ordering at VitalChek or by phone at 1-877-550-7330. The base fee is $15 for the first copy plus a $7 processing charge. Credit and debit cards are accepted. Shipping takes five to seven business days. This is a good choice for Villages residents who prefer not to drive to Bushnell or wait for mail processing.

The Villages Obituary Search

Obituaries and death certificates are separate records. A death certificate is an official state document that records the facts of a death. An obituary is a notice placed by the family, usually in a local paper. Both can be useful for research.

The Villages Daily Sun is the main local newspaper for the community. It runs obituary notices for residents and can be searched through its archives. The Ocala Star-Banner also covers the area and publishes death notices for Marion and Sumter County residents. Check both papers when searching for an obituary from The Villages.

For older and historical records, the Florida Memory project has digitized vital records indexes and other collections from the State Archives. These cover records going back to the 1800s. The Florida Clerks of Court site links to the Sumter County Clerk for probate records. Probate filings often reference death dates and can help piece together a family history for someone who lived in The Villages.

Who Can Request Death Records

Florida has two types of death certificates. The version without cause of death is a public record. Any adult can get one. No family tie is needed. This covers most needs like insurance claims, estate work, and genealogy.

The version with cause of death is confidential for 50 years under Florida Statutes Chapter 382. Only a spouse, parent, child, or legal representative of the estate can request this version. You have to show proof of your relationship at the DOH office. A court order can also grant access if there is a valid legal reason for it.

Under Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes, all public records are open to any person. The Sumter County DOH must give you a non-confidential death record if you ask and pay the fee. No reason is required.

Death Certificate Fees for The Villages

Sumter County charges some of the lowest fees in Florida for death certificates. The state bureau in Jacksonville has its own fee schedule. VitalChek adds processing charges on top. Here is a breakdown of costs for Villages residents:

• Sumter County DOH search and one copy: $5
• Sumter County DOH added copies: $4 each
• State bureau search and one copy: $5
• State bureau added copies: $4 each
• State bureau rush processing: $10
• VitalChek first copy: $15 plus $7 processing

The Sumter County fee matches the state bureau rate, which is unusual. Many counties charge more than the state office. If you live in The Villages and need just one copy, the Bushnell DOH office is the cheapest and fastest option. For multiple copies, both the county and the state charge $4 per extra, so the cost stays the same either way. VitalChek is the most expensive route but adds the convenience of ordering from home.

State Bureau of Vital Statistics

The state bureau in Jacksonville has death records from 1877 to the present. This office serves as a backup for all county DOH offices in Florida. For The Villages, it is especially useful when you do not know which county the death occurred in or when the death happened before 2009.

The state bureau address is 1217 N Pearl St, Jacksonville, FL 32202. You can call (904) 359-6900 for information. Mail requests use Form DH727. The fee is $5 for a search and one certified copy. Rush processing costs $10 extra and speeds up the turnaround. The bureau does not take walk-in visitors, so all requests go through the mail or through VitalChek for online orders.

Sumter County Obituary Records

The Villages is primarily within Sumter County. The county page has full details on the Sumter County DOH, related records, and extra resources for death record searches across the county.

View Sumter County Obituary Records

Nearby Cities

These Florida cities near The Villages have their own obituary and death record pages with local DOH details.