Access Liberty County Death Records

Liberty County obituary and death records are available through the Florida Department of Health office in Bristol. This is one of the smallest and least populated counties in Florida, with fewer than 8,000 residents. Despite its size, the Liberty County DOH office follows the same rules and procedures for death certificate requests as every other county in the state.

Liberty County DOH Vital Records

The Florida Department of Health in Liberty County has its office on State Road 20 in Bristol. This is the only location in the county where you can get death certificates for deaths registered in Liberty County from 2009 to the present. Because the county is so small, the office handles a limited number of vital records requests. Wait times are usually short. Walk-ins are welcome during normal business hours.

The Bristol office is along State Road 20, which is the main east-west road through Liberty County. Parking is free. Bristol is a very small town, so finding the office is easy. If you are driving from Tallahassee, it is about 45 minutes west on SR 20. Call ahead to check if a specific death record is on file. The staff can look it up quickly given the small volume of records they manage.

The Liberty County DOH website has contact information and general details about the health department.

The Liberty County DOH main page provides access to health department services, including vital records.

How to Get Liberty County Death Records

You can get a death certificate in Liberty County through three methods. Each has its own timeline, cost, and process.

In-person requests are the quickest way to get a death certificate. Visit the Liberty County DOH at 11382 NW State Road 20 in Bristol. Bring a valid photo ID and fill out a death certificate application. You need the full name of the deceased, the date of death, and where the death happened. Date of birth and Social Security number help with the search but are not strictly required. The fee is $5 for the first certified copy, and each additional copy is $4. The staff can usually process your request the same day, sometimes within minutes.

Mail requests go to the same address. Include a completed application form, a copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order payable to the Florida Department of Health. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope. Mail orders take about 2 to 3 weeks. In a small county like Liberty, the turnaround can sometimes be a bit faster since there is less mail volume, but plan for the full time frame.

Online orders are handled through VitalChek. This is the only online vendor Florida authorizes for vital records. VitalChek charges $15 for the first copy plus a $7 processing fee. Additional copies cost $4 each. You pay by credit or debit card. Orders typically ship in 5 to 7 business days, with rush options available at extra cost.

Liberty County Death Certificate Types

Florida issues two versions of death certificates. The one you can get in Liberty County depends on your relationship to the deceased and your reason for the request.

A death certificate without cause of death is public. Anyone age 18 or older can request it. No proof of family ties is needed. This version includes the person's name, date of death, place of death, and other key facts. Social Security numbers have the first five digits blacked out, per Section 119.071 of Florida Statutes.

A death certificate with cause of death is confidential for 50 years from the date of death. Only eligible people can request it. That means the surviving spouse, parents, adult children, adult grandchildren, adult siblings, someone named in a will or insurance policy with a proven interest, or someone with a court order. DH Form 1959, an affidavit proving your eligibility, may be required. The Liberty County DOH can provide this form when you visit or call.

Both types carry the same fee at the Liberty County office.

Liberty County Death Record Fees

The fee at the Liberty County DOH office is $5 for the first certified copy of a death certificate. This includes the search. Extra copies of the same record cost $4 each when ordered at the same time. These fees are standard and apply to both in-person and mail requests.

Through the state Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville, the base fee is the same. However, if you don't know the exact year of death, the state charges $2 for each year searched, up to $50. Pre-2009 records can get a $10 rush fee. There is a $1 shipping charge per order from the state office. For Liberty County residents, the local office is usually the better first stop since it is closer than Jacksonville.

VitalChek charges more. The first copy is $15 plus a $7 processing fee. Additional copies are $4 each. This route costs the most but works well for people outside the area who cannot visit or mail the Liberty County office. VitalChek accepts credit and debit cards only.

Historical Death Records in Liberty County

The Liberty County DOH office has death records from 2009 to the present. For older records, contact the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics at 1217 N Pearl St, Jacksonville, FL 32202, or call (904) 359-6900. The state keeps death records as far back as 1877.

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, and Section 382.016 authorizes local registrars to issue certified copies. These statutes govern death records across all 67 Florida counties, including Liberty.

Liberty County's small population means historical records can be sparse. The Florida Memory Project offers free access to state archives, historical photos, and documents that may help with genealogy research. The Florida Clerks of Court website links to probate and other court records that sometimes contain death-related details. Local churches and cemeteries in Liberty County are another useful source for old records, since many families have deep roots in the area.

The state DOH death certificates page, shown below, provides information about the statewide records system.

The Florida DOH death certificates page describes the state system for requesting records from any county.

Other Liberty County Record Sources

The Florida DOH Bureau of Vital Statistics is the central repository for all state death records. When the Liberty County office cannot help, the state bureau is the next step. They hold everything before 2009 and can search across the entire state.

Florida's Sunshine Law, found in Chapter 119 of Florida Statutes, gives broad public access to government records. Death certificates without cause of death fall under this law. Cause of death stays sealed for 50 years, and Social Security numbers are always redacted on public copies. If you believe a records request was improperly denied, the Florida Attorney General's office handles public records complaints.

Funeral homes in Liberty County maintain their own records and may have copies of obituaries or death notices they prepared. Providing false details on a vital records application is a third-degree felony under Florida law. Always use accurate information and valid ID when requesting death records from the Liberty County DOH office.

Nearby Counties

Liberty County sits in the Florida panhandle between the Apalachicola River and the capital region. Each neighboring county has its own DOH vital records office.