Holmes County Obituary Records

Holmes County death records and obituary information are handled by the Florida Department of Health office in Bonifay. This page covers how to request death certificates from the Holmes County DOH, what fees and forms are involved, and where to look for older records or historical death data that goes back before 2009.

Holmes County DOH Vital Records Office

The Florida Department of Health in Holmes County has its office on East Byrd Avenue in Bonifay. This is a small county in the Florida Panhandle, and the DOH office is the main place to go for death certificates covering deaths filed here from 2009 onward. The staff handles walk-in requests, phone calls, and mail orders. Because Holmes County is rural and small in population, wait times are usually short compared to more urban counties.

Bonifay sits along State Road 79 in the northwestern part of the state. The DOH office is one of the few government buildings in town that handles vital records. If you need a death certificate from Holmes County, this is where to go. The office also deals with birth and marriage certificates.

The Holmes County DOH website lists services, contact information, and general health department programs.

The Holmes County health department site provides access to services and contact details for the Bonifay office.

Requesting Death Records in Holmes County

You can get a Holmes County death certificate three ways. Each has its own timeline and cost. Pick the one that fits your situation best.

In-person visits are the quickest route. Go to the Holmes County DOH office at 605 E. Byrd Ave. in Bonifay. Bring a valid photo ID and fill out a DH727 form (DH727S for Spanish). The form asks for the full name of the deceased, date of death, and where the death happened in Holmes County. A date of birth and Social Security number make the search easier. The fee is $5 for the first certified copy and $4 for each extra one you order at the same time. Most walk-in requests are done the same day.

For mail orders, send a completed DH727 form, a photocopy of your ID, and a check or money order made out to the Florida Department of Health. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope. Mail everything to the Byrd Avenue address. Plan on 2 to 3 weeks for delivery. This works well for people who live outside the area or who cannot make the trip to Bonifay.

Online orders use VitalChek, the only vendor Florida authorizes. VitalChek charges $15 for the first copy, $7 in processing fees, and $4 for each additional copy. You pay by card. Standard delivery takes 5 to 7 business days. Rush options cost more but arrive faster.

Note: The Holmes County DOH does not have a separate vital records page on its website, so call the office to confirm current fees and hours before you visit.

Holmes County Death Certificate Types

Florida produces two versions of a death certificate. The rules are the same in Holmes County as they are across the state.

A death certificate without cause of death is public. Any person 18 or older can request one. No family relationship is needed. These copies show the deceased person's name, date and place of death, and other basic facts. The first five digits of the Social Security number are hidden under Section 119.071 of Florida Statutes. This version is useful for property transfers, genealogy, closing bank accounts, and other tasks that do not need cause of death details.

A death certificate with cause of death is locked down for 50 years. Only close family members and people with a direct legal or financial stake can get this version. That means the surviving spouse, a parent, an adult child or grandchild, an adult sibling, or someone named in a will or insurance policy. A court order also works. DH Form 1959 is the affidavit that proves your eligibility for the restricted version. The Holmes County DOH office can help you fill it out if you need guidance.

Older Death Records and Holmes County Genealogy

Holmes County DOH records go back to 2009. Anything before that year is held by the state. The Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics is at 1217 N Pearl St, Jacksonville, FL 32202. Call (904) 359-6900. The state charges $5 for a search that includes one certified copy. If you do not know the exact year, they charge $2 per year searched, up to $50. Pre-2009 records come with a $10 rush fee if you need them fast, plus a $1 shipping charge.

Florida death records extend back to 1877, though early records from rural counties like Holmes may be sparse or incomplete. The state bureau is still your best bet for tracking down these older files. For Holmes County genealogy, church records, cemetery records, and local family histories can fill gaps where official vital records are missing. Many families in the Panhandle have deep roots, and local historical societies sometimes hold useful materials.

Under Chapter 382 of the Florida Statutes, every death must be registered within five days. Section 382.008 covers filing requirements, and Section 382.016 authorizes local offices like the Holmes County DOH to produce certified copies. These are the core laws that govern death records statewide.

The Holmes County government website provides information on county services and departments.

The Holmes County site links to government services in Bonifay and the surrounding area.

Additional Holmes County Record Sources

Beyond the DOH office, several other resources can help with Holmes County death records and obituary searches. The Florida DOH Bureau of Vital Statistics is the statewide repository and can fill requests the county office cannot. If a death was not registered in Holmes County but happened elsewhere in Florida, the state office can find it.

Funeral homes in Bonifay and Westville keep their own records. They can often supply copies of obituaries or tell you which funeral home handled a specific service. The Holmes County Advertiser and other local papers run obituaries that may be archived at the Holmes County Public Library or through online newspaper databases. Some of these go back several decades.

The Florida Memory Project is a free resource from the State Library and Archives with historical documents, photographs, and searchable records. The Florida Clerks of Court site can guide you to probate and court records in Holmes County that may contain death-related information. These can be especially useful for older records from before the modern vital records system was fully in place.

Florida's public records law in Chapter 119 gives broad access to government records. Death certificates without cause of death are public. Cause of death details are confidential for 50 years. Submitting false information on a vital records form is a felony under Chapter 775. Always provide truthful details on your application.

Note: Holmes County is small enough that the local DOH staff may know local funeral homes and other resources that can help with your search, so do not hesitate to ask them for pointers.

Nearby Counties

If the death you are looking for was registered in a county near Holmes, these neighboring offices each maintain their own vital records.