DeSoto County Obituary Lookup

Obituary and death records for DeSoto County are handled by the Florida Department of Health office in Arcadia. DeSoto County is a small, rural county in south-central Florida with a population of about 36,700. Arcadia serves as both the county seat and the main hub for government services. The DOH office on South 9th Avenue is where you go to request death certificates for deaths that took place in Florida from 2009 to the present. For older records, the state Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville is the right contact. This page covers the full process for getting death records and finding obituary info tied to DeSoto County.

DeSoto County Health Department Records

The DeSoto County Department of Health sits on South 9th Avenue in Arcadia. This small office manages vital records requests for the county. Staff can look up death records, accept your forms, and issue certified copies. Walk-in visits tend to be the fastest route since the office is not as busy as those in larger counties. You can also mail in a request if you are unable to visit in person.

The DeSoto County DOH website has general info on health services in the county. Florida law provides for two kinds of death certificates. The public kind does not list the cause of death and can be requested by any person 18 or older. The confidential kind shows the cause of death and is restricted for 50 years from the date of death under Chapter 382, Florida Statutes. Only close family and authorized parties may access the confidential version from DeSoto County.

The DeSoto County DOH main page shows what services are available at their Arcadia office.

Start with this page to get the office phone number and address before your visit.

How to Request DeSoto County Death Certificates

Fill out Form DH-727 to start your request. This state form is used in every Florida county. A Spanish version, DH-727S, also exists. The form asks for the full legal name of the deceased, their date of birth, date of death, sex, Social Security number, and the city or county of death. Bring the completed form and a valid photo ID to the DeSoto County office in Arcadia. You can also mail the form with payment.

If you need the version with cause of death, you must also fill out DH Form 1959. This affidavit shows that you have a legal right to the restricted information under Florida law. People who qualify include the surviving spouse, parents, children 18 or older, grandchildren, siblings who are 18 or up, persons named in the deceased's will, insurance beneficiaries, and anyone with a court order. Without this affidavit, the DeSoto County office will only give you the public version of the death certificate.

All public copies have the first five digits of the Social Security number redacted. Both the public and confidential versions are certified and hold legal standing for court, insurance, and estate matters.

DeSoto County Death Record Fees

Fees are standard across Florida. A death certificate from DeSoto County costs $5, which includes one search and one certified copy. Additional copies are $4 each. If you don't know the year of death, the state charges $2 per year searched, capped at $50 total. Deaths before 2009 may carry a $10 rush fee for faster handling through the state bureau. Mail requests add $1 for shipping.

Processing for recent deaths, those from 2009 to now, takes three to five business days through the DeSoto County DOH. Older records must come from the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics at 1217 N Pearl Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202. The bureau phone number is (904) 359-6900. For the fastest way to order without visiting the office, use VitalChek. They charge $15 for the first certificate plus a $7 processing fee, with $4 for each extra copy. Call VitalChek at 1-877-550-7330 to order by phone.

Note: Payment by money order or cashier's check is typical for mail requests to the DeSoto County DOH office. Call ahead to ask about accepted methods for in-person visits.

Obituary Research in DeSoto County

Beyond death certificates, many people want to find obituaries for DeSoto County residents. The Arcadian, the local newspaper, has been the main source for published obituaries in the area for many years. Families work with funeral homes to place these notices. The DeSoto County Library in Arcadia may have archived issues on file, and some older editions are available through online newspaper databases.

Historical research in DeSoto County can also benefit from the Florida Memory project. This state resource holds military records, pension files, and other government documents that sometimes include death information. The DeSoto County Historical Society keeps local records and artifacts that may help with genealogy and family research. Cemeteries in the county maintain burial records with dates and family contacts that provide another way to track down death information.

The DeSoto County government website offers links to county offices and local services.

Use this site to find information about DeSoto County departments beyond the health office.

The Florida Clerks of Court network can connect you to the DeSoto County Clerk, who handles probate records. Estate files at the clerk's office often contain death certificates and lists of heirs. These files are public under Chapter 119, Florida Statutes. The DeSoto County Board of County Commissioners at desotobocc.com has additional county info.

Who Can Get DeSoto County Death Records

Public death certificates are open to any adult 18 or older. You don't need a family connection. Just bring your ID and fee to the DeSoto County DOH office. These copies leave out cause of death and redact part of the Social Security number.

Confidential death certificates are restricted by state law. For 50 years after the date of death, only certain individuals can get a copy that shows the cause. Those individuals are the surviving spouse, a parent, an adult child or grandchild, a sibling 18 or older, someone named in the will, an insurance beneficiary, or a person with a court order. You need to bring proof of your connection, a photo ID, and the completed DH Form 1959 to the DeSoto County office. Staff will deny your request if you cannot prove eligibility.

Additional DeSoto County Resources

Funeral homes in DeSoto County are a useful contact for obituary research. They keep records of services and can tell you where an obituary was published. The DeSoto County Clerk of Court in Arcadia handles probate cases and keeps estate records that often include death certificates. These are open to the public and can be searched at the courthouse.

For federal death records, the Social Security Death Index is a free resource available through genealogy websites. It lists deaths reported to the Social Security Administration and can confirm a death date when local records in DeSoto County are difficult to find. The DeSoto County Public Library can also point you toward local and state genealogy resources that connect to death and obituary records.

Nearby Counties

DeSoto County is surrounded by several other Florida counties. Death records are filed where the death happened, so if you aren't certain it was in DeSoto County, these nearby offices may have the record.