Franklin County Death Records

Franklin County obituary and death records are handled by the Florida Department of Health office in Apalachicola. This small coastal county on the Gulf of Mexico has a tight-knit community, and most vital records requests go through a single local office. Below you will find everything you need to know about getting death certificates, the costs involved, and how to track down older obituary records in Franklin County.

Franklin County DOH Vital Records Office

The Florida Department of Health in Franklin County has a small office in Apalachicola that serves the entire county. This is where you go to get death certificates for deaths registered in Franklin County from 2009 to the present. The office sits on 12th Street, just a few blocks from the waterfront. Because the county has a small population, wait times are usually short. Staff can handle most requests the same day you walk in.

Call the office before your visit to make sure the record you need is available locally. Bring a valid photo ID. You will fill out a DH727 application form. The staff is helpful and can walk you through the process if it is your first time requesting a death certificate.

The Franklin County DOH website has general health department information and contact details for the Apalachicola office.

Below is the Franklin County Department of Health main page, where you can find contact details and service hours.

The DOH page is the starting point for Franklin County vital records and health services.

How to Request Franklin County Death Records

There are three ways to get a death certificate in Franklin County: in person, by mail, or online. Each has trade-offs in terms of speed and cost.

Walk-in requests are straightforward. Visit the Franklin County DOH at 139 12th St in Apalachicola. Bring your photo ID, fill out the DH727 form, and provide the name of the deceased, date of death, and place of death. The date of birth and Social Security number speed up the search. The fee is $5 for the first certified copy. Each extra copy costs $4 if ordered at the same time. You can usually get your certificate the same day.

For mail requests, send a completed DH727 form, a copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order to the Franklin County DOH address. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope for the return. Mail orders take about 2 to 3 weeks. Some take longer depending on mail speeds to the Apalachicola area.

Online orders use VitalChek, the state's authorized online vendor. The first certificate costs $15, plus a $7 processing fee. Additional copies are $4 each. You pay by credit or debit card, and standard delivery takes 5 to 7 business days. Rush options are available too.

Note: Franklin County's small office may have limited staff during holidays or severe weather, so it helps to call ahead and confirm they are open.

Death Certificate Types Available

Florida issues two types of death certificates. The kind you can get depends on your identity and purpose.

Death certificates without cause of death are public records. Anyone 18 or older can request one, no family connection needed. These show the person's name, date and place of death, and basic personal details. Social Security numbers are partially redacted under Section 119.071 of Florida Statutes.

Death certificates with cause of death are confidential for 50 years from the date of death. Only eligible people can access them. This includes a surviving spouse, parent, adult child or grandchild, adult sibling, or someone with a legal estate interest. A court order also works. You might need to complete DH Form 1959, an affidavit that documents your relationship to the deceased. Franklin County DOH staff can explain the requirements when you visit or call.

Franklin County Death Record Fees

The Franklin County DOH charges $5 for the first certified copy and $4 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. These fees cover both in-person and mail requests.

The state Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville has the same base fee of $5 for one search and copy, plus $4 per extra. If you don't know the year of death, expect a $2 charge per year searched (up to $50). Pre-2009 records may carry a $10 rush surcharge, and there is a $1 per-order shipping fee.

VitalChek online orders run $15 for the first copy, $7 for processing, and $4 for each additional. It is the most expensive option, but also the most convenient for people who live far from Apalachicola or cannot send mail easily.

Historical Records and Obituary Research

Franklin County's DOH office holds death records from 2009 to the present. Anything older requires a request to the state Bureau of Vital Statistics at 1217 N Pearl St, Jacksonville, FL 32202. You can call them at (904) 359-6900. The state maintains death records going back to 1877.

Chapter 382 of Florida Statutes requires that death certificates be filed within five days. Section 382.008 lays out the filing rules. Section 382.016 authorizes local registrars, including the Franklin County DOH, to issue certified copies. These rules are the same across all 67 Florida counties.

For genealogy and obituary research, the Florida Memory Project offers free access to digitized historical records and documents. The Florida Clerks of Court website has probate records that sometimes contain death-related information. The Franklin County Public Library in Eastpoint may also have local newspaper archives where old obituaries were published.

The Franklin County government website provides public records access and links to county departments.

The Franklin County portal connects residents with services across the county government.

Franklin County Public Records Access

Florida's public records law, outlined in Chapter 119 of Florida Statutes, gives the public broad access to government documents. Death certificates without cause of death are available to anyone 18 or older. Cause of death stays sealed for 50 years. SSNs are always redacted on public copies.

If you believe your records request in Franklin County was wrongly denied, you can contact the Florida Attorney General's office. Giving false details on a vital records form is a third-degree felony under Chapter 775 of the Florida Statutes. Always provide honest information and bring proper ID to the office.

Note: Franklin County is small, and the DOH office is the sole local source for certified death certificates. For records before 2009, the state office in Jacksonville is your only other option.

Nearby Counties

These counties are next to Franklin County and each one has its own DOH office for death certificate requests.