Search Putnam County Death Records

Putnam County obituary and death records are processed by the Florida Department of Health office in Palatka. A rural county in northeast Florida along the St. Johns River, Putnam County has about 77,000 residents and a single DOH office that handles all vital records requests for the area.

Putnam County DOH Vital Records Office

The Florida Department of Health in Putnam County operates from Kennedy Street in Palatka. This is the only vital records office in the county. It issues certified death certificates for deaths that happened in Putnam County from 2009 to the present. The office also takes care of birth and marriage records. Since Putnam County is relatively small, wait times tend to be shorter than at larger county offices, but calling ahead is still a good idea to make sure the record you need is available.

The Palatka office is on Kennedy Street, not far from the center of town. Free parking is on site. The drive from other parts of Putnam County (like Crescent City or Interlachen) takes 20 to 30 minutes. Call (386) 329-3720 to check hours or find out if a particular death record is in the system. Staff can also tell you what documents to bring along.

The Putnam County DOH website has general health department information and links to vital records services.

The Putnam County DOH main page below shows the entry point for county health services including death records.

This portal is the starting point for Putnam County vital records requests and other health department services.

How to Get Death Records in Putnam County

Three methods are available for requesting a death certificate in Putnam County. You can visit in person, mail a request, or order online through the state's authorized vendor.

For in-person requests, go to the Putnam County DOH at 2801 Kennedy St in Palatka. Bring a valid photo ID and fill out a DH727 application form (available in English or Spanish as DH727S). You need the full name of the person who died, the date of death, and the county or city where the death took place. The date of birth and Social Security number help narrow the search. The fee is $5 for a search that includes one certified copy. Extra copies cost $4 when ordered together. Most requests are processed the same day if the record is on file.

Mail requests go to 2801 Kennedy St, Palatka, FL 32177. Include a completed DH727 form, a photocopy of your ID, a check or money order for $5 payable to the Florida Department of Health, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Mail requests usually take 2 to 3 weeks. Do not send cash through the mail.

Online orders go through VitalChek, which is the only vendor the state of Florida authorizes for online vital records orders. VitalChek charges $15 for the first certificate plus a $7 processing fee. Additional copies cost $4. You need a credit or debit card. Standard shipping takes 5 to 7 business days. Rush options cost extra but get the certificate to you faster. A single copy through VitalChek runs about $22 total, which is higher than ordering from the Putnam County office directly.

The Putnam County government website also provides general information about county services.

The county site links to Putnam County departments and public services.

Putnam County Death Certificate Types

Florida has two types of death certificates. The one you can get depends on your relationship to the deceased and why you need the record.

The public version is a death certificate without cause of death. Any person 18 or older can request it. No family relationship is required. These copies include the person's name, date of death, place of death, and other standard facts. The first five digits of the Social Security number are redacted under Section 119.071 of Florida Statutes. This type meets the requirements for many legal and personal purposes.

The confidential version includes cause of death. It stays sealed for 50 years after the date of death. Only certain people can access it: a surviving spouse, parent, child or grandchild 18 or older, sibling 18 or older, or someone who can prove an estate or insurance interest. A court order works too. DH Form 1959 may be required to prove your eligibility. The Putnam County DOH office can walk you through the process and tell you what paperwork to bring.

Fees for Putnam County Death Records

The Putnam County DOH charges $5 for a search that includes the first certified copy of a death certificate. Each additional copy is $4 when ordered at the same time. These fees cover both in-person and mail requests.

The state Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville has the same base fee structure: $5 for one search and one copy, $4 for additional copies. If the year of death is unknown, the state charges $2 per year searched, up to $50. Pre-2009 records carry a $10 rush fee. Shipping is $1 per order. The state office is at 1217 N Pearl St, Jacksonville, FL 32202. Call (904) 359-6900 for details.

VitalChek is the priciest option. The first copy costs $15, the processing fee is $7, and extra copies run $4 each. One certificate through VitalChek totals $22. Despite the higher cost, it is the only way to order Florida death certificates online. Putnam County residents who can't get to Palatka or send mail may find it worth the extra expense.

Always confirm fees with the Putnam County DOH before submitting payment.

Historical Records and Genealogy

Putnam County death records at the local DOH office go back to 2009. For anything older, the state Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville is the place to go. Florida has maintained death records since 1877, and the Jacksonville office holds them all. Contact the state at 1217 N Pearl St, Jacksonville, FL 32202, or call (904) 359-6900. You can also email VitalStats@FLHealth.gov with questions about historic Putnam County records.

Under Chapter 382 of Florida Statutes, death certificates must be filed within five days and submitted electronically. Section 382.008 outlines the filing requirements. Section 382.016 authorizes local registrars like the Putnam County DOH to issue certified copies. These laws are the same across every Florida county.

Genealogy researchers in Putnam County can use the Florida Memory Project, a free online resource from the State Library and Archives. It holds historical photographs, documents, and records that help with family research. The Palatka Public Library and the Putnam County Archives have local history collections, including newspaper files and obituary records. The Florida Clerks of Court website links to probate and court records that sometimes include death-related details for early Putnam County residents.

Local funeral homes in Putnam County often keep their own records and may have copies of obituaries or death notices. The Palatka Daily News and other area publications have published obituaries for decades, and many can be found through library archives.

Additional Putnam County Resources

The Florida DOH Bureau of Vital Statistics serves as the central repository for all death records in the state. It fills the gap for records the Putnam County office cannot provide, which includes everything before 2009.

Florida's Sunshine Law, laid out in Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes, grants the public broad rights to inspect government records. Death records without cause of death are public, but cause of death remains confidential for 50 years. Social Security numbers are always blacked out on public copies. If you believe a records request was wrongly denied in Putnam County, contact the Florida Attorney General's office.

Providing false information on a vital records application is a third-degree felony in Florida. This rule applies in Putnam County and every other county in the state. Always bring proper identification and be truthful on all forms you submit.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Putnam County. Each has its own DOH vital records office for handling death certificate requests.