Orange County Death Records

Orange County obituary and death records are filed through the Florida Department of Health office in Orlando. With over 1.5 million residents, Orange County is one of the busiest vital records offices in the state, processing thousands of death certificate requests each year for families, attorneys, and researchers.

Orange County DOH Vital Records Office

The Florida Department of Health in Orange County handles death certificate requests from its main office on West Church Street in Orlando. This office issues certified copies for deaths registered in Orange County from 2009 to the present. The fee is $10 for the first copy. Each extra copy runs $4 when ordered at the same time. The office sees a high volume of traffic, so plan for a wait if you go in person.

Orange County also runs branch offices that handle vital records. The Clarcona-Ocoee location can be reached at 407-445-5594, and the Orlando Health Campus branch is at 407-245-0047. Both branches accept death certificate requests. If the main office on Church Street is too busy, one of these branches may have a shorter wait. Call first to check hours and make sure they can help with your specific request.

The Orange County death certificates page has the full list of what you need to bring. Florida death certificates are issued through the Bureau of Vital Statistics at the Department of Health, and orders may be placed online, by mail, or in person at the Orange County office.

The Orange County DOH portal below shows the main entry point for death certificate services and other vital records.

This is where Orange County residents can start the process of requesting death records online or find office details for in-person visits.

How to Get Death Records in Orange County

There are three ways to get a death certificate in Orange County. You can go in person, send a mail request, or order online. Each has trade-offs in cost and speed.

For in-person requests, visit the Orange County DOH office at 807 W Church St in Orlando or one of the two branch locations. Bring a valid photo ID and fill out a death certificate application form (DH727 in English or DH727S in Spanish). You need the full name of the person who died, the date of death, and the city or county where the death happened. The date of birth and Social Security number speed things up but are not strictly required. The fee is $10 for the first copy. Staff can usually process your request the same day, though some cases take 3 to 5 business days if the record needs more review.

Mail requests go to the main office at 807 W Church St, Orlando, FL 32805. Include a completed DH727 form, a photocopy of your ID, a check or money order for $10 (payable to the Florida Department of Health), and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Mail requests take 2 to 3 weeks on average. Send the payment by check or money order only. Cash is not accepted by mail.

The Orange County certificates page below shows the forms and fee details for ordering death records.

This section of the Orange County DOH site lists all certificate types and their costs.

Online orders go through VitalChek, the sole vendor Florida authorizes for online vital records. VitalChek charges $15 for the first certificate plus a $7 processing fee. Extra copies cost $4 each. A credit or debit card is needed. Orders arrive in 5 to 7 business days by standard mail. Rush shipping is available for an extra charge.

Orange County Death Certificate Types

Florida issues two kinds of death certificates. Which one you can get depends on who you are and what you need it for.

The first is a death certificate without cause of death. This is a public record. Anyone 18 or older can ask for it. No family tie is needed. These copies show the person's name, date of death, 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.

The second type includes cause of death. This version stays confidential for 50 years from the date the person died. Only specific people can get it. Eligible requesters include a surviving spouse, parent, child or grandchild 18 or older, sibling 18 or older, or someone named in a will or insurance policy with a clear estate interest. A court order can also unlock it. You may need to fill out DH Form 1959, an affidavit showing your relationship. The Orange County office can help you figure out which type you qualify for.

The Orange County DOH death certificates page below has the full breakdown of certificate types.

This page walks you through the difference between public and confidential death records in Orange County.

Fees for Orange County Death Records

Orange County charges $10 for the first certified copy and $4 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. These rates apply to in-person and mail requests at the Orange County DOH office. The fee is the same at branch locations.

If you order from the state Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville instead, the fee is $5 for a search that includes one copy. Extra copies are $4 each. If you don't know the exact year of death, the state charges $2 for each year searched, up to $50. Pre-2009 records carry an extra $10 rush fee if you need them fast. There is a $1 shipping charge per order. The state office handles records going all the way back to 1877, which the Orange County office cannot do.

VitalChek orders cost more. The first certificate is $15 plus $7 in processing fees. Extra copies are $4 each. You pay by credit or debit card. This is the fastest option for Orange County residents who can't visit an office, but the fees add up. For a single copy through VitalChek you are looking at $22 total.

Always check with the Orange County DOH office to confirm the current fee schedule before sending payment.

Historical Records and Genealogy Research

The Orange County DOH office keeps death records from 2009 to the present. For older records, you need to go through the state. The Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics at 1217 N Pearl St, Jacksonville, FL 32202 has death records going back to 1877. You can reach them at (904) 359-6900. Records before 2009 are stored at the state level and are not available from the Orange County office.

Under Chapter 382 of Florida Statutes, death certificates must be filed within five days of a death and submitted electronically through the state's registration system. Section 382.008 covers filing rules. Section 382.016 gives local registrars like the Orange County DOH the power to issue certified copies. These laws apply to every county in the state.

For genealogy work in Orange County, the Florida Memory Project is a free resource from the State Library and Archives. It holds historical photos, documents, and records that help with family research. The Orange County Library System also maintains genealogy collections with access to newspaper archives and obituary databases. The Florida Clerks of Court website can point you to probate records that sometimes contain death-related details for early Orange County residents.

Other Orange County Record Sources

Several agencies beyond the DOH office can help with death-related records in Orange County. The Florida DOH Bureau of Vital Statistics is the central repository for all state death records. It handles requests for certificates the Orange County office does not have on file, especially anything before 2009.

Funeral homes across Orange County keep their own records too. Many have copies of obituaries or death notices they helped families prepare. Local newspapers like the Orlando Sentinel publish obituaries regularly, and the Orange County Library System maintains archives of these publications. Some are available on microfilm; others have been digitized and can be searched online.

Under Florida's public records law (commonly called the Sunshine Law), most government documents are open for inspection. Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes gives broad public access to records held by state, county, and city agencies. Cause of death stays confidential for 50 years, though, and Social Security numbers are always blacked out on public copies. If you think a records request was wrongly denied in Orange County, the Florida Attorney General handles complaints about public records access.

Keep in mind that giving false information on a vital records application is a third-degree felony under Florida law. This holds true in Orange County and everywhere else in the state. Always bring proper ID and fill out forms with accurate details.

Cities in Orange County

Orange County has several major population centers. Death records for all Orange County cities are handled by the Orange County DOH office in Orlando, regardless of which city the death took place in.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Orange County. Each one has its own DOH vital records office that handles death certificate requests for deaths registered in that county.