West Palm Beach Death Records
Obituary and death records for West Palm Beach are processed through the Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County. West Palm Beach is the county seat with about 128,000 residents and serves as the main hub for government services in Palm Beach County. The DOH office is right in the city on Clematis Street, making it one of the most convenient locations in the state for in-person vital records requests. This page covers how to get death certificates, what they cost, and where to find obituary notices for West Palm Beach.
West Palm Beach Quick Facts
Palm Beach County DOH in West Palm Beach
The Palm Beach County Department of Health office is located on Clematis Street in downtown West Palm Beach. Because West Palm Beach is the county seat, local residents have the advantage of being able to walk or drive a short distance to the vital records office. Most other cities in the county have a longer trip. The Clematis Street location is easy to find and has public parking nearby.
| Office | Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County |
|---|---|
| Address | 800 Clematis St, West Palm Beach, FL 33401 |
| Phone | (561) 840-4500 |
| Website | palmbeach.floridahealth.gov |
| Death Certs | Death Certificates Page |
| Hours | Mon-Fri 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM |
Palm Beach County also has a second DOH location in Delray Beach that may handle certificate requests. Call ahead to confirm before making the trip to either office. The West Palm Beach location is the primary site. Bring a valid photo ID and the full name and date of death of the person whose record you need. If you have their Social Security number, bring that too. The staff can pull up recent death records quickly once they have the right details.
Getting West Palm Beach Death Certificates
West Palm Beach residents can get death certificates three ways. Each method has different costs and processing times.
In-person requests at the Clematis Street office are the fastest. Complete a DH727 form, pay the $15 county fee, and you can get your copy the same day. The Palm Beach County fee of $15 is higher than the state base rate of $5. That is just how this county sets its pricing. The office takes check, money order, and sometimes credit card. Going in the morning helps you avoid longer waits. West Palm Beach residents are lucky to have the office right in the city.
Mail orders can be sent to the state Bureau of Vital Statistics at 1217 N Pearl St, Jacksonville, FL 32202. The state charges $5 for the first copy plus $1 for shipping. Include a completed DH727 form and a check or money order payable to Vital Statistics. This takes four to six weeks. You can pay an extra $10 for rush handling. If you live in West Palm Beach but don't want to go downtown to the DOH, the mail option is a solid alternative, though it takes longer.
VitalChek is the online route. Order at www.VitalChek.com or call 1-877-550-7330. The first copy is $15 plus $7 processing. Delivery takes two to three weeks. This is the most hands-off method. You fill out the form online, pay with a credit card, and the certificate shows up at your West Palm Beach address. It costs more than the state mail option but less effort overall.
West Palm Beach Death Certificate Fees
Palm Beach County has its own fee schedule for death certificates issued at the local DOH office. The county rate is higher than the state base rate. Here is what you can expect to pay.
- In-person at Palm Beach County DOH: $15 first copy
- Each additional copy (any method): $4
- By mail to state office: $5 first copy, $1 shipping
- Rush processing: $10 extra
- VitalChek: $15 + $7 processing
The price gap between the county office and the state mail order is significant. At $15 locally versus $5 by mail, you pay triple at the county office. But you get the record on the spot. If time is not a factor, mailing your request to Jacksonville saves you $10 on the first copy. For West Palm Beach families who need multiple copies, always order them in one batch. Each additional copy is just $4, no matter which method you use. Insurance companies, banks, and government agencies often each want their own certified copy.
Access Rules for West Palm Beach Death Records
Florida divides death certificates into two types. The rules are the same across the state, including in West Palm Beach.
The public version does not include cause of death. Anyone 18 or older can get it. It shows basic facts: name, date of death, place of death, and personal details about the deceased. This is the version most people can access. Under Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes, government records are generally open to the public, and this version of the death certificate falls under that principle.
The full certificate listing cause of death is restricted for 50 years under Chapter 382. Only a surviving spouse, parent, child, sibling, or legal representative with a court order can request the full version. At the Palm Beach County DOH in West Palm Beach, you must show proof of your relationship. This can be a marriage certificate, birth certificate, or court document. The staff checks before issuing the full record.
West Palm Beach Historical Death Records
Palm Beach County keeps death records from 2009 to the present at the DOH office. For older records, the state Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville has death records dating back to 1877. West Palm Beach was incorporated in 1894, so records for the city go back more than a century at the state level.
The Florida Memory website has free digitized historical records from the State Library and Archives. The Palm Beach County Library System has a genealogy section at its main branch that holds local history materials, microfilm, and archival collections. The City of West Palm Beach website does not process vital records but connects residents to city services and community organizations. For official death certificates, the DOH and state office are the only sources.
West Palm Beach Obituary Sources
The Palm Beach Post is the main newspaper covering West Palm Beach and all of Palm Beach County. It publishes obituary notices in print and online. Funeral homes in West Palm Beach also post obituaries on their own sites and on Legacy.com. These listings help when you are trying to find the date of death, service details, or surviving family for a West Palm Beach resident. They are not the same as a certified death certificate, though.
For the official death record, you go through the Palm Beach County DOH or the state office. The Florida DOH death certificates page has the forms and full instructions for any West Palm Beach request. If you are not sure which county a death was registered in, the state office can search the statewide index to help you find it.
Palm Beach County Obituary Records
West Palm Beach is the county seat of Palm Beach County. The DOH office on Clematis Street handles all death certificate requests for the county. For full details on the Palm Beach County vital records office, eligibility rules, and other related resources, see the county page below.
Nearby Cities
Other cities near West Palm Beach with obituary record pages: