Find Nassau County Death Records

Nassau County obituary and death records are handled by the Florida Department of Health office in Fernandina Beach. Located in the northeast corner of the state, Nassau County has a population of about 104,000. This page explains how to search for, request, and receive death certificates from the Nassau County DOH and through the state system in Jacksonville.

Nassau County DOH Vital Records Office

The Florida Department of Health in Nassau County runs the local vital records office from Fernandina Beach. This is where you go to request death certificates for deaths that took place in Nassau County from 2009 to the present. The office handles birth and marriage records as well, but death certificate requests make up a big share of their workload. Walk-in visits are the quickest way to get a certified copy if you live near Fernandina Beach.

The office sits on Nectarine Street in Fernandina Beach, with on-site parking. Bring a valid photo ID when you visit. If you want to check whether a specific Nassau County death record is on file, call (904) 548-1800 and ask the vital records staff. They can look it up and save you a trip if the record is not in their system. Nassau County is close to Jacksonville, so some residents also use the state Bureau of Vital Statistics office there for older records.

The Nassau County DOH website is the main portal for health department services in the county.

The Nassau County health department homepage links to vital records services, programs, and office contact details.

How to Request Nassau County Death Records

There are three ways to get a death certificate in Nassau County. You can go in person, send a request by mail, or order online through VitalChek. The right choice depends on how soon you need the record and how close you are to the Fernandina Beach office.

In-person requests are processed at the Nassau County DOH at 1620 Nectarine St in Fernandina Beach. Fill out form DH727 (or DH727S for Spanish). You need to provide the full name of the deceased, the date of death, and the county where the death occurred. Date of birth and Social Security number are helpful but not always required. Bring a valid photo ID. The fee is $5 for the first certified copy, including the search. Extra copies ordered at the same time cost $4 each. Most requests are processed same day.

Mail orders should go to the Fernandina Beach office address. Send a completed DH727 form, a photocopy of your ID, a check or money order payable to the Florida Department of Health, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Allow 2 to 3 weeks for processing. This is a good option for Nassau County residents who prefer not to drive to the office.

Online orders go through VitalChek, Florida's authorized online vendor. VitalChek charges $15 for the first certificate plus $7 in processing fees. Additional copies are $4 each. You pay by credit or debit card, and standard delivery takes 5 to 7 business days. Rush shipping options are available at extra cost.

Because Nassau County sits just north of Duval County, some residents find it convenient to contact the state Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville directly, especially for pre-2009 death records. The state office is at 1217 N Pearl St, Jacksonville, FL 32202.

Nassau County Death Certificate Types

Florida offers two versions of death certificates. The type you can get in Nassau County depends on who you are and what you need the record for.

A death certificate without cause of death is a public record. Anyone age 18 or older can request one. No family relationship is needed. These copies show the name, date of death, place of death, and other basic details. The first five digits of the Social Security number are blacked out under Section 119.071 of Florida Statutes, which makes SSNs confidential on public records.

A death certificate with cause of death is confidential for 50 years from the date of death. Only certain individuals can request it. Eligible requesters include a surviving spouse, parent, adult child, adult grandchild, adult sibling, or someone with a direct estate or insurance interest. You can also get one through a court order. DH Form 1959, an affidavit of relationship, may be required. The Nassau County DOH staff can tell you whether you qualify and what documents you need to bring.

Fees for Nassau County Death Records

The fee at the Nassau County DOH office is $5 for the first certified copy of a death certificate. This includes the search. Additional copies ordered at the same time are $4 each. These rates apply to both in-person and mail requests.

The state Bureau of Vital Statistics charges the same base fee. A $5 search fee includes one copy. Extra copies cost $4. There is a $1 shipping charge per order. Pre-2009 records carry an optional $10 rush fee. If the year of death is not known, the state charges $2 per year searched up to $50.

VitalChek online orders cost $15 for the first copy plus $7 in processing fees. Each extra copy is $4. This is the most expensive option but offers the convenience of ordering Nassau County death records from home.

Historical Death Records and Nassau County Genealogy

The Nassau County DOH keeps death records from 2009 to the present. For anything older, contact the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics at 1217 N Pearl St, Jacksonville, FL 32202, or call (904) 359-6900. The state holds death records back to 1877. You can also email VitalStats@FLHealth.gov with questions about older Nassau County records.

Under Chapter 382 of Florida Statutes, death certificates must be filed within five days. Section 382.008 covers the filing rules. Section 382.016 authorizes local registrars like the Nassau County DOH to issue certified copies. These are the same laws every Florida county follows.

Nassau County has been around since 1824, so there is a deep pool of historical records for genealogy researchers. The Florida Memory Project is a free state resource with historical documents and photographs. The Nassau County Public Library in Fernandina Beach maintains local history and genealogy collections. The Florida Clerks of Court website can help you find probate records that may include death-related information for early Nassau County residents.

The Nassau County government website offers links to county departments and public services.

The county site connects Nassau County residents with local government services and information.

Additional Nassau County Record Sources

Beyond the DOH office, other resources can help with death-related records in Nassau County. The Florida DOH Bureau of Vital Statistics is the central repository for all state death records and handles requests the Nassau County office cannot fill.

Funeral homes in Nassau County keep their own records and often have copies of obituaries they helped prepare. The Fernandina Beach News-Leader and other local papers publish obituaries that can be useful as a starting point for finding death information. The Nassau County Library has newspaper archives and other genealogy tools. Florida's public records law in Chapter 119 gives the public broad access to government records, but cause of death stays confidential for 50 years and Social Security numbers are always redacted.

Providing false information on a vital records request is a felony under Florida law. Always fill out forms with correct information and bring valid identification when requesting Nassau County death records.

Nearby Counties

If you need death records from a neighboring area, these counties border Nassau County and each has its own DOH vital records office.