Access Santa Rosa County Death Records

Santa Rosa County obituary and death records are filed through the Florida Department of Health office in Milton. Located in the Florida Panhandle east of Pensacola, Santa Rosa County has over 200,000 residents and a single DOH office that handles all vital records requests for the county, including death certificates.

Santa Rosa County DOH Vital Records

The Florida Department of Health in Santa Rosa County runs the vital records office from Stewart Street in Milton. This is the county seat, and the DOH office here issues certified death certificates for deaths that happened in Santa Rosa County from 2009 to the present. The office also handles birth and marriage records. Walk-in visitors are welcome during regular hours, and you can also reach the staff by phone for general questions about what records are on file.

The Milton office is on Stewart Street in the main part of town. Free parking is available. If you live in Navarre, Gulf Breeze, or Pace, the drive to Milton is typically 15 to 30 minutes. Call (850) 983-5200 before heading over to confirm hours and ask whether the specific death record you need is in the system. Staff can also tell you what forms and ID to bring along.

The Santa Rosa County certificates page provides instructions on what documents you can request and the steps for each ordering method.

The Santa Rosa County DOH website shown below is the starting point for vital records services.

This page connects Santa Rosa County residents with health department services, including death certificate requests.

How to Request Santa Rosa Death Records

Three methods are available for getting a death certificate in Santa Rosa County. You can visit in person, mail a request, or order online. Choose the one that best fits your schedule and needs.

In-person requests are taken at the Santa Rosa County DOH at 5527 Stewart St in Milton. Bring a valid photo ID and fill out the DH727 application form. You need the deceased person's full name, date of death, and the county or city where the death occurred. The date of birth and Social Security number speed up the search but are not required. The fee is $5 for a search that includes one certified copy. Each additional copy ordered at the same time costs $4. Most requests are processed the same day if the record is on file. Some take 3 to 5 business days if extra verification is needed.

Mail orders go to 5527 Stewart St, Milton, FL 32570. Include a completed DH727 form, a copy of your photo ID, a check or money order for $5 payable to the Florida Department of Health, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Allow 2 to 3 weeks for mail orders. Do not send cash.

The Santa Rosa County certificates section below provides more details on the ordering process.

This page covers forms, fees, and the full process for ordering death certificates in Santa Rosa County.

Online orders go through VitalChek, the only vendor Florida authorizes for online vital records. VitalChek charges $15 for the first certificate plus a $7 processing fee, with extra copies at $4 each. You pay by credit or debit card. Standard delivery takes 5 to 7 business days. Rush shipping is available at an extra cost. A single certificate through VitalChek totals about $22.

Death Certificate Types in Santa Rosa County

Florida issues two types of death certificates. Which one you can get depends on your identity and your purpose for needing the record.

A death certificate without cause of death is public. Anyone 18 or older can request one without showing a family tie. These copies list the person's name, date and place of death, and other basic vital facts. The first five digits of the Social Security number are blacked out under Section 119.071 of Florida Statutes. This type works for property matters, basic verification, and many other common uses.

A death certificate with cause of death is kept confidential for 50 years from the date the person died. Only certain people can request it. Eligible requesters include a surviving spouse, parent, adult child or grandchild, adult sibling, or someone who can demonstrate a direct estate or insurance interest. A court order can also authorize access. You may need to fill out DH Form 1959, an affidavit proving your eligibility. The Santa Rosa County DOH staff can help you figure out which type you qualify for.

The Santa Rosa County vital records office can answer questions about certificate eligibility by phone or in person.

Staff at the Santa Rosa County DOH help visitors determine which certificate type meets their needs.

Fees for Santa Rosa Death Records

The Santa Rosa 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. This applies to in-person and mail requests.

The state Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville uses the same base fee: $5 for one search and copy, plus $4 for extra copies. If the year of death is unknown, the state adds $2 per year searched, up to $50. Pre-2009 records can be rushed for $10 extra. Shipping costs $1 per order. The state office address is 1217 N Pearl St, Jacksonville, FL 32202. Call (904) 359-6900 with questions.

VitalChek charges $15 for the first copy, $7 in processing fees, and $4 for additional copies. A single copy through VitalChek totals $22. The higher price reflects the convenience of ordering online from anywhere. It is the only way to order a Florida death certificate through the internet, so Santa Rosa County residents who cannot get to Milton or mail a request may find it worth the extra cost.

Check with the Santa Rosa County DOH before sending payment to make sure fees have not changed.

Historical Records and Genealogy

Santa Rosa County death records at the DOH office start at 2009. For records before that date, you need to contact the state Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville. Florida has death records going back to 1877, all stored at the state level. The Jacksonville office can be reached at (904) 359-6900 or by email at VitalStats@FLHealth.gov.

Chapter 382 of Florida Statutes requires death certificates to be filed within five days and submitted electronically. Section 382.008 details the filing process. Section 382.016 authorizes local health departments like Santa Rosa County to issue certified copies. These rules are consistent across every county in the state.

Genealogy researchers in Santa Rosa County have several useful resources. The Florida Memory Project is a free tool from the State Library and Archives with historical documents, photographs, and records. The Santa Rosa County Historical Society and the Milton library maintain local history collections that include newspaper files, obituary clippings, and family records. The Florida Clerks of Court website can point you to probate and court records that sometimes contain death-related details for early Santa Rosa County residents.

Local funeral homes in Santa Rosa County often keep copies of obituaries and death notices. Area newspapers have published obituaries for years, and many of these are archived at the county library or available through digital newspaper databases.

More Santa Rosa County Resources

The Florida DOH Bureau of Vital Statistics is the central source for all state death records and handles requests for anything the Santa Rosa County office does not have. This is especially relevant for pre-2009 records.

Florida's public records law, outlined in Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes, gives the public wide access to government records. Death records without cause of death are open to the public. Cause of death information is sealed for 50 years. Social Security numbers are always redacted on public copies. If a records request is wrongly denied in Santa Rosa County, complaints can be filed with the Florida Attorney General.

Providing false information on a vital records form is a third-degree felony in Florida. This rule applies across all 67 counties, including Santa Rosa County. Always bring proper ID and provide truthful information on every form you submit to the DOH office.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Santa Rosa County. Each has its own DOH vital records office that processes death certificate requests.