Lafayette County Death Records

Lafayette County obituary and death records can be obtained through the Florida Department of Health office in Mayo. As one of the least populated counties in Florida, Lafayette County processes a small number of death certificate requests each year, but the procedures follow the same statewide rules that apply in every other county.

Lafayette County DOH Vital Records

The Florida Department of Health in Lafayette County handles death certificate requests from its office in Mayo. This small office serves the entire county, which sits along the Suwannee River in north-central Florida. Staff can help with death records for any death registered in Lafayette County from 2009 to the present. You can walk in during business hours, and most requests get processed the same day if the record is on file.

The office sits on Virginia Circle, near the center of Mayo. Parking is free and readily available. Since Lafayette County is a small, rural county, the office tends to have short wait times. Call ahead if you want to make sure a specific death record is on file before you drive out. The staff can check their system and let you know.

The Lafayette County DOH website lists services and contact details for the local health department.

This is the main page for the Lafayette County Department of Health, which handles vital records services for the area.

How to Get Lafayette County Death Records

There are three ways to get a death certificate in Lafayette County. The method you choose depends on where you live and how fast you need the record. Each option has its own cost and timeline.

In-person requests are the fastest route. Go to the Lafayette County DOH office at 140 SW Virginia Circle in Mayo. Bring a valid photo ID and fill out a death certificate application form. You will need the full name of the person who died, the date of death, and where it happened. Having the date of birth or Social Security number can help speed things up. The fee is $5 for the first certified copy, which includes the search. Each extra copy of the same record costs $4. Staff can usually hand you the certificate the same day.

Mail requests work too. Send a completed application form, a copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order payable to the Florida Department of Health. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope. Mail it to the office at 140 SW Virginia Circle, Mayo, FL 32066. These requests take about 2 to 3 weeks from the date they get your letter. Keep in mind that Lafayette County's small staff means mail orders might sit for a day or two before someone processes them.

Online orders go through VitalChek, the state's only authorized online vendor. VitalChek charges $15 for the first copy plus a $7 processing fee. Extra copies cost $4 each. You pay with a credit or debit card. Most orders arrive in 5 to 7 business days by standard mail, though rush shipping is available for an added cost.

Lafayette County Death Certificate Types

Florida has two types of death certificates. Which one you can get depends on who you are and your reason for requesting the record.

The first type does not include the cause of death. This version is a public record. Anyone 18 or older can request one. You don't need to prove any family connection. It still shows the person's name, date and place of death, and other basic facts. The first five digits of the Social Security number are blacked out under Section 119.071 of Florida Statutes. This law keeps SSNs confidential on all public copies.

The second type includes cause of death. It stays confidential for 50 years after the date of death. Only certain people can get this version. That list includes the surviving spouse, parents, adult children, adult grandchildren, adult siblings, or anyone named in a will or insurance policy with a proven estate interest. A court order can also unlock access. You may have to fill out DH Form 1959, an affidavit proving your relationship.

For Lafayette County residents, both types cost the same at the local DOH office. The difference is just in who can get them.

Lafayette County Fees and Costs

The state fee for a death certificate through the Lafayette County DOH office is $5. That covers the search and one certified copy. Each extra copy of the same record is $4. These are the standard state fees that apply when you order in person or by mail through the local office.

The state Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville charges the same base rate. If the exact year of death is not known, there is a $2 charge for each year they have to search, up to $50 total. Records from before 2009 carry a $10 rush fee if you need them expedited. There is also a $1 shipping charge per order from the state office.

VitalChek's fees run higher. The first copy is $15 plus $7 in processing fees. Additional copies are $4 each. This is the most convenient way to order if you can't visit the Lafayette County office, but the added fees make it the most expensive option.

Historical Records and Genealogy in Lafayette County

The Lafayette County DOH office keeps death records from 2009 forward. For older records, you need to go through the state. The Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville holds death records going back to 1877. Contact them at 1217 N Pearl St, Jacksonville, FL 32202, or by phone at (904) 359-6900.

Under Chapter 382 of Florida Statutes, death certificates must be filed within five days of a death. Section 382.008 lays out the filing rules. Section 382.016 gives local registrars like the Lafayette County DOH the power to issue certified copies. These laws set the framework for how death records work statewide.

Lafayette County's small size means older records can be harder to find. The Florida Memory Project is a free state resource for historical documents, photos, and records. It can be a useful starting point for genealogy work in Lafayette County. The Florida Clerks of Court website links to probate records and other county-level documents that sometimes have death-related details, particularly for records predating the modern vital records system.

Local funeral homes in Lafayette County may also keep old records. Some families in the area have been here for generations, and funeral homes in Mayo sometimes have records that go back decades. It is worth calling around if the state archives come up empty.

Other Lafayette County Record Sources

The Florida DOH Bureau of Vital Statistics is the central repository for all death records statewide. If the Lafayette County office cannot help with a specific request, the state bureau is the next step. They have records the local office does not hold, especially anything before 2009.

Florida's public records law, found in Chapter 119 of Florida Statutes, gives the public broad access to government records. This is sometimes called the Sunshine Law. It means that death certificates without cause of death are open to anyone who asks. However, cause of death stays sealed for 50 years, and Social Security numbers are always redacted.

Providing false information on a vital records application is a crime in Florida. It is classified as a third-degree felony under Chapter 775 of the Florida Statutes. Always fill out forms with accurate details and bring valid identification when you visit the Lafayette County DOH office. Staff will verify your identity before handing over any records.

Nearby Counties

Lafayette County borders several other rural counties in north-central Florida. Each has its own DOH vital records office where you can request death certificates.