Search Hardee County Death Records

Hardee County obituary and death records are filed through the Florida Department of Health office in Wauchula. Located in the heart of central Florida's rural interior, Hardee County is a small agricultural community where most government services run through a single office. This page explains how to get death certificates in Hardee County, what fees are involved, and where to search for older obituary records.

Hardee County DOH Vital Records Office

The Florida Department of Health in Hardee County manages vital records from the Wauchula office. This is where you get death certificates for deaths registered in Hardee County from 2009 to the present. The office is on South 6th Avenue, right in the middle of town. It handles all vital record types for the county, but death certificates are among the most frequently requested documents. Walk-in visits are accepted during normal business hours.

Give the Wauchula office a call before you visit. They can confirm whether the record you need is on file. Bring a valid photo ID. The DH727 form is the standard application (DH727S for Spanish). Staff at the Hardee County DOH are familiar with the process and can walk you through it if this is your first time.

The Hardee County DOH website has details on available services including vital records, immunizations, and other health programs.

Below is the Hardee County DOH main page showing office details and contact information.

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

Getting Death Certificates in Hardee County

There are three ways to get a death certificate in Hardee County. The best one for you depends on your location and urgency.

Walk-in requests are the quickest. Go to the Hardee County DOH at 115 S. 6th Ave. in Wauchula. Show your photo ID, fill out a DH727 form, and give the staff the full name of the deceased, date of death, and the city or county where the death happened. The date of birth and Social Security number help if you have them. The fee is $5 for the first certified copy and $4 for each additional one ordered at the same time. Most people get their certificate that same visit.

For mail orders, send a completed DH727, a photocopy of your ID, and a check or money order payable to the Florida Department of Health. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope. Mail to the Wauchula address listed above. Count on about 2 to 3 weeks from start to finish, though rural mail delivery can sometimes add a few days.

Online orders go through VitalChek, Florida's sole authorized online vendor. The first certificate costs $15, plus a $7 processing fee. Extra copies are $4. Pay with a credit or debit card. Standard delivery takes 5 to 7 business days. Rush shipping is available at additional cost.

Hardee County Death Certificate Types

Two types of death certificates exist under Florida law. The type you can get depends on who you are.

A death certificate without cause of death is public. Anyone 18 or older can request it without proving a family relationship. It includes the person's name, date and place of death, and basic personal information. The first five digits of the Social Security number are blacked out per Section 119.071 of Florida Statutes. For many purposes, this version is all you need.

A death certificate with cause of death remains confidential for 50 years. Only eligible individuals can access it: a surviving spouse, a parent, an adult child or grandchild, an adult sibling, or someone with a proven estate interest. You may need DH Form 1959, an affidavit of your relationship. A court order is another path to access. The Hardee County DOH in Wauchula can explain the rules and help you decide which form to submit.

Note: Hardee County has a large agricultural workforce, and the DOH office processes records for all residents regardless of citizenship status. A valid photo ID is required for all requests.

Fees for Hardee County Death Records

The Hardee County DOH office charges $5 for the first certified copy and $4 for each extra when ordered together. These fees apply to in-person and mail requests.

At the state Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville, the fee is $5 for a search and one copy, $4 for each additional. If the year of death is unknown, they charge $2 per year searched (up to $50). Pre-2009 records may come with a $10 rush fee if you want expedited processing. Shipping from the state office is $1 per order.

VitalChek online orders are $15 for the first copy, $7 for processing, and $4 for additional copies. More expensive, yes, but convenient if you are not near Wauchula. You need a credit card or debit card to order through VitalChek.

Historical Records and Hardee County Obituaries

The Hardee County DOH office has death records starting from 2009. For anything earlier, you need to contact the state Bureau of Vital Statistics at 1217 N Pearl St, Jacksonville, FL 32202, or call (904) 359-6900. Florida keeps death records going back to 1877. Hardee County was formed from DeSoto County in 1921, so records from before that year may be filed under DeSoto at the state level.

Chapter 382 of Florida Statutes says death certificates must be filed within five days. Section 382.008 covers filing procedures. Section 382.016 authorizes local registrars, including the Hardee County DOH, to issue certified copies. These rules are the same in all 67 Florida counties.

The Florida Memory Project offers free access to historical records and digitized documents useful for genealogy work. For Hardee County research, this can help fill gaps in the local record. The Florida Clerks of Court site connects you to probate and court records that may hold death-related details from earlier decades when formal vital records were not always kept.

Funeral homes in Wauchula, Bowling Green, and Zolfo Springs maintain their own obituary files. The Herald-Advocate, Hardee County's local weekly newspaper, has been publishing obituaries for over a century. The Hardee County Public Library in Wauchula may have back issues or microfilm copies of the Herald-Advocate available for genealogy research. Local churches across Hardee County sometimes keep burial records as well, which can supplement official vital records.

Hardee County Public Records Access

Florida's Sunshine Law, found in Chapter 119 of Florida Statutes, provides broad public access to government records. Death certificates without cause of death are available to any adult who requests them. Cause of death information stays confidential for 50 years. Social Security numbers are always redacted on public copies.

If you believe a Hardee County records request was improperly denied, the Florida Attorney General's office handles complaints. Providing false information on a vital records application is a third-degree felony under Chapter 775 of the Florida Statutes. Always fill out forms honestly and bring valid photo identification when requesting death records in Hardee County.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Hardee County and each has its own DOH vital records office for death certificate requests.