Access Brevard County Death Records

Obituary and death record searches in Brevard County go through the Florida Department of Health, which operates multiple office locations along the Space Coast. With over 650,000 residents, Brevard County is one of the larger counties in Florida, and its DOH offices handle a high volume of death certificate requests each year. This guide covers everything from ordering methods and fees to historical record searches for Brevard County.

Brevard County DOH Office Locations

The Florida Department of Health in Brevard County runs its main vital records operation from the Viera Government Center. Unlike many smaller counties that have just one office, Brevard County has multiple locations spread across its long, narrow geography. The county stretches over 70 miles from Titusville in the north to Palm Bay in the south, so having more than one office makes a real difference for residents.

The main Brevard County DOH office in Viera is centrally located within the county. It sits near the Brevard County Government Center, which makes it easy to find if you are already visiting other county offices. Parking is free and plentiful. Call (321) 633-2100 to ask about wait times or confirm that a specific death record is on file before making the trip.

Brevard County also has satellite offices in Titusville, Melbourne, and other locations that may handle vital records requests. Check the Brevard County DOH website for a full list of locations and which services each one offers. Not every satellite office does death certificates, so calling ahead saves time.

The Brevard County DOH provides certificate services through its online portal.

This portal is the starting point for all Brevard County vital records requests, including death certificates.

How to Order Brevard County Death Certificates

Brevard County offers three ways to get a death certificate. The county's size and multiple office locations give residents more flexibility than most Florida counties have.

In-person visits are the fastest method. Go to the Viera office at 2555 Judge Fran Jamieson Way or any satellite location that handles vital records. Bring a valid photo ID. Fill out form DH727 (English) or DH727S (Spanish). You need the deceased person's full name, date of death, date of birth, and where they died within Brevard County. The Social Security number helps speed things along. Standard processing takes 3 to 5 business days, though the Brevard County office can sometimes handle straightforward requests faster than that due to their staffing levels.

Mail orders go to the Viera address. Send a completed DH727 form, a copy of your photo ID, payment by check or money order made out to the Florida Department of Health, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Plan on 2 to 3 weeks from mailing to receiving your certificate. The Brevard County office processes mail requests in the order they arrive.

The Brevard County certificates section has more details on what to include with your request.

The certificates page walks through forms, fees, and required documents for Brevard County orders.

Online ordering goes through VitalChek, the only online vendor Florida authorizes. The first certificate is $15 plus $7 processing. Additional copies cost $4. Pay by credit or debit card. Delivery takes 5 to 7 business days by standard mail. Brevard County's online ordering option through VitalChek is convenient for residents in the southern parts of the county who may live far from the Viera office.

Note: Brevard County supports online ordering through VitalChek, making it one of the more accessible counties for remote death certificate requests.

Types of Death Records in Brevard County

Florida law sets up two types of death certificates. Both apply to Brevard County records. The type you qualify for depends on your relationship to the person who died.

Death certificates without cause of death are public records. Any adult 18 or older can get one. No family ties required. These copies include the person's name, dates, and place of death. Social Security numbers have the first five digits blacked out under Section 119.071 of the Florida Statutes. This version handles most basic needs, from settling minor affairs to confirming a death for records purposes.

The confidential version includes cause of death. It is restricted for 50 years from the date of death. Only a surviving spouse, parent, adult child or grandchild, adult sibling, or someone with demonstrated estate interest can request it. Estate interest means being named in a will or insurance policy. DH Form 1959 is the affidavit you may need to fill out. A court order works too. Insurance companies, attorneys, and estate planners in Brevard County regularly need this version to process claims and close out estates.

The Brevard County vital records office can explain which version you qualify for and what proof you need to bring. It is worth a quick phone call before your visit, especially for the confidential version.

Brevard County Death Certificate Fees

Brevard County follows the standard state fee schedule for death certificates. The base fee is $5, which covers the search and one certified copy. Additional copies ordered at the same time cost $4 each.

When the year of death is not known, the state adds $2 per year searched, up to a $50 maximum. Pre-2009 records that need to come from the state Bureau of Vital Statistics carry a $10 rush fee for expedited processing. Shipping from the state adds $1 per order. These extra charges apply when the Brevard County office does not have the record on file and it has to be pulled from the state archive in Jacksonville.

VitalChek online orders run higher. The first certificate costs $15, plus $7 in processing. Extra copies are $4 each. The total for a single death certificate through VitalChek comes to about $22 before any shipping upgrades. For Brevard County residents who need a certificate in a hurry and cannot visit the office, VitalChek offers rush delivery for an additional cost on top of the standard fees.

Historical Brevard County Death Records

The Brevard County DOH has death records from 2009 to the present. For deaths before 2009, you need to reach out to the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics at 1217 N Pearl St, Jacksonville, FL 32202. Their phone number is (904) 359-6900 and you can email VitalStats@FLHealth.gov. Florida's death records go back to 1877, which covers the early days of Brevard County's settlement.

Under Chapter 382 of the Florida Statutes, death certificates must be filed electronically within five days of a death. Section 382.008 lays out those filing rules. Section 382.016 authorizes local registrars like the Brevard County DOH to issue certified copies. These statutes have shaped how Brevard County handles death records for years and continue to govern the process today.

The Florida Memory Project is a free digital archive run by the State Library and Archives of Florida. It has historical documents, photographs, military records, and other materials that can help with Brevard County genealogy research. The Central Brevard Library and Reference Center in Cocoa also holds local history and genealogy collections, including newspaper archives and microfilm records. The Florida Clerks of Court website can point you toward probate records and other court documents pre-1927 that may contain Brevard County death-related information.

The Brevard County certificates section shows the various vital records services the DOH provides.

Brevard County's certificate portal provides information on all types of vital records available through the DOH.

Additional Brevard County Resources

The Florida DOH Bureau of Vital Statistics is the central state repository for death records. When the Brevard County DOH cannot fulfill a request, the state bureau is the backup. They handle older records, complicated searches, and anything that falls outside what the local office can do.

Funeral homes across Brevard County keep their own records and may have copies of obituaries or death notices they helped families prepare. Local newspapers like Florida Today publish obituaries regularly. The Brevard County Library System has access to newspaper archives and digital databases that can help track down older obituary notices. Many Brevard County funeral homes maintain online obituary pages as well.

The Brevard County government website links to all county departments, including the Clerk of Court, property records, and other public services.

The Brevard County site provides a central hub for county government services and public records access.

Providing false information on a vital records application is a third-degree felony under Chapter 775 of the Florida Statutes. This applies to requests made at the Brevard County DOH or any other office in the state. Always use your real identity and bring current photo identification. The state takes vital records fraud seriously and does pursue cases.

Note: Brevard County's multiple office locations make it one of the more convenient counties in Florida for in-person death certificate requests.

Cities in Brevard County

Brevard County has two major cities with populations over 100,000. Death records for residents of these cities are processed through the Brevard County DOH.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Brevard County and each has its own DOH office for death record requests.