Manatee County Obituary Search

Manatee County obituary and death records are managed by the Florida Department of Health office in Bradenton. With a population of over 458,000, Manatee County is a large and growing county on Florida's Gulf coast. The vital records office here handles a high volume of death certificate requests for deaths registered in the county from 2009 to the present.

Manatee County DOH Vital Records Office

The Florida Department of Health in Manatee County has its vital records office on 6th Avenue East in Bradenton. This location processes death certificate requests for all deaths registered in Manatee County from 2009 to the present. The office serves residents of Bradenton, Palmetto, Lakewood Ranch, Anna Maria Island, and all other Manatee County communities. Walk-ins are accepted during regular business hours.

The office is on 6th Avenue East in downtown Bradenton, near the Manatee River. Parking is available nearby. Because Manatee County has a large population, the office can get busy during certain times. Calling ahead to check wait times is a good idea. Staff can also confirm if a specific death record is in their system before you visit.

The Manatee County certificates page has details on how to request death certificates and other vital records.

The Manatee County DOH website connects residents with vital records services in the Bradenton area.

How to Get Manatee County Death Records

There are three ways to get a death certificate in Manatee County. Each method has different costs, timelines, and requirements.

In-person visits are the fastest route. Go to the Manatee County DOH at 410 6th Ave E in Bradenton. Bring a valid photo ID and complete a death certificate application form. You need the full name of the person who died, the date of death, and the county or city where it happened. Date of birth and Social Security number help speed up the search. The fee is $5 for the first certified copy, including the search, and $4 for each extra copy of the same record. Most in-person requests get processed the same day.

Mail requests are another option. Send a completed application, 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 and mail to 410 6th Ave E, Bradenton, FL 34208. Mail orders generally take 2 to 3 weeks from the time they receive your request.

The Manatee County certificates section outlines the full ordering process.

The certificates page details forms, fees, and instructions for ordering Manatee County death records.

Online orders go through VitalChek, Florida's only authorized online vendor for vital records. VitalChek charges $15 for the first copy plus a $7 processing fee. Additional copies are $4 each. You pay by credit or debit card. Orders typically arrive in 5 to 7 business days, with rush shipping available for extra cost.

Manatee County Death Certificate Types

Florida has two types of death certificates. The version you can get in Manatee County depends on your relationship to the deceased and why you need the document.

A death certificate without cause of death is a public record. Anyone 18 or older can request one. No family connection is required. This version includes the person's name, date and place of death, and other basic details. The first five digits of the Social Security number are redacted per Section 119.071 of Florida Statutes, which classifies SSNs as confidential on public copies.

A death certificate with cause of death is confidential for 50 years from the date of death. Eligible requesters include the surviving spouse, parents, adult children, adult grandchildren, adult siblings, anyone with a proven estate interest through a will or insurance policy, or a person with a court order. You may need to fill out DH Form 1959, an affidavit of eligibility. The Manatee County DOH office can give you this form.

Both certificate types cost the same at the Manatee County office. The fee does not differ based on the type.

Fees for Manatee County Death Records

The Manatee County DOH charges $5 for the first certified copy of a death certificate. That price covers the search and one copy. Each extra copy of the same record costs $4 when ordered at the same time. These fees apply to in-person and mail orders through the Bradenton office.

The state Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville has the same base fee. However, when the year of death is unknown, the state charges $2 per year searched, up to $50 total. Pre-2009 records cost $10 extra for rush processing. Shipping from the state office is $1 per order. For Manatee County residents, the local office is usually the easier choice for recent deaths.

VitalChek charges $15 for the first copy plus a $7 processing fee. Additional copies run $4 each. This is the most expensive way to order but the most convenient for people who cannot visit or mail the Manatee County DOH. VitalChek takes credit and debit cards only.

Check the current fee schedule with the Manatee County DOH before sending in your payment. Fees can change.

Historical Manatee County Death Records

The Manatee County DOH holds 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 has death records going back to 1877.

Under Chapter 382 of Florida Statutes, death certificates must be filed within five days of a death. Section 382.008 covers the filing rules. Section 382.016 authorizes local registrars like the Manatee County DOH to issue certified copies. These laws apply to all 67 Florida counties.

The Florida Memory Project is a free state resource for historical documents and photographs. Manatee County researchers can use it to trace family history. The Florida Clerks of Court website connects to probate records and other court files that may have death-related information. The Manatee County Public Library system also has a genealogy collection, including local newspaper archives and historical materials.

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

The Manatee County government portal connects residents with services and records across the county.

Other Manatee County Record Sources

The Florida DOH Bureau of Vital Statistics is the central repository for all statewide death records. If the Manatee County DOH cannot fulfill your request, the state bureau handles pre-2009 records and statewide searches.

Florida's Sunshine Law, codified in Chapter 119 of Florida Statutes, provides the public with broad access to government records. Death certificates without cause of death are open to all. Cause of death stays sealed for 50 years. Social Security numbers are always redacted. If you think a records request was wrongly denied in Manatee County, the Florida Attorney General's office takes public records complaints.

Funeral homes in Manatee County keep their own records and may have obituaries or death notices on file. The Bradenton Herald and other local newspapers publish obituaries regularly. Providing false details on a vital records application is a third-degree felony. Always bring valid ID and use truthful information when requesting Manatee County death records.

The Manatee County vital records certificates section provides full ordering details.

The certificates section walks through the full process for getting death records in Manatee County.

Nearby Counties

Manatee County borders several counties along Florida's Gulf coast. Each has its own DOH vital records office for death certificate requests.