Union County Obituary Records

Obituary and death records for Union County are filed through the Florida Department of Health office in Lake Butler. This page covers how to request death certificates, the fees involved, and where to find obituary notices tied to Union County residents. Union County is one of the smallest counties in Florida by population, but the DOH office in Lake Butler handles the same vital records services as larger counties across the state.

Union County DOH Vital Records Office

The Florida Department of Health in Union County processes death certificate requests for deaths that took place in the county from 2009 to the present. The office is on NE 1st Street in Lake Butler, the county seat. Union County is a small, rural county in north-central Florida, and the DOH office there serves a compact population. Staff handle both walk-in visits and mail orders.

Call the Union County DOH before you visit. The staff can check if the death record you are looking for was filed in the county and tell you what ID to bring. Since it is a small office, calling ahead also helps make sure someone is available to help when you arrive.

The Union County DOH website provides general information about the health department, including vital records services.

This is the Union County DOH main page, where vital records services begin.

How to Get Union County Death Records

You can get a death certificate from Union County in three ways. The best option depends on how quickly you need the record and whether you can make it to Lake Butler.

For in-person requests, go to the Union County DOH at 15 NE 1st St in Lake Butler. Bring a valid photo ID and fill out a death certificate application. You need the full name of the person who died, their date of death, and the county where the death occurred. The date of birth and Social Security number help the staff find the record faster. Most walk-in requests at the Union County office are processed the same day. The fee is $5 for the search and first copy. Each additional copy costs $4. Pay by check, money order, or cash.

Mail requests go to the same Lake Butler address. Include a completed application form, a photocopy of your ID, a check or money order payable to the Florida Department of Health, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Mail orders usually take 2 to 3 weeks.

Online orders go through VitalChek, the state's only authorized online vendor. VitalChek charges $15 for the first copy plus $7 in processing fees. Extra copies are $4. You pay by credit or debit card. Delivery takes 5 to 7 business days by standard mail. Rush options cost more.

For Union County, the in-person visit to the small Lake Butler office is often the easiest and cheapest way to get what you need.

Death Certificate Types in Union County

Florida has two types of death certificates. Which one you can get from the Union County DOH depends on who you are and why you need the record.

A death certificate without cause of death is public. Anyone 18 or older can request it with no family connection required. This version lists the name, date of death, place of death, and other basic facts. Social Security numbers are partially redacted under Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes, which protects personal information on public copies.

The version that includes cause of death is confidential for 50 years. Only eligible individuals can request this type. That includes a surviving spouse, parent, adult child or grandchild, adult sibling, or someone with a court order or documented estate interest. DH Form 1959 may be required to verify your eligibility before the Union County office will release this version.

If you are unsure which version you need, the Union County DOH staff in Lake Butler can help you sort it out.

Union County Death Record Fees

Union County follows the standard state fee schedule. The search fee is $5, which includes one certified copy. Extra copies cost $4 each when ordered at the same time. These rates apply to in-person and mail requests.

The state Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville also charges $5 for the search and first copy. If you do not know the exact year of death, they add $2 per year searched, up to $50. Rush processing is $10 extra. Shipping is $1. The state covers records from 1877 to the present.

VitalChek charges $15 for the first copy plus a $7 processing fee. Additional copies run $4 each. This is the most convenient option for ordering from home, but the total price is higher than going through the DOH directly. Always check current fees with the Union County DOH before paying.

Historical Records and Research

Union County DOH keeps death records from 2009 forward. 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 archive stretches back to 1877, though the earliest Union County records may be incomplete.

Under Chapter 382 of Florida Statutes, all deaths must be registered within five days. Section 382.008 covers the filing requirements. Section 382.016 lets local registrars issue certified copies. These rules apply in Union County just as they do across Florida.

For genealogy research, the Florida Memory Project provides free access to historical documents, photographs, and other records. The Florida Clerks of Court website can point you toward probate records that may contain death-related information from Union County's early days.

The Union County government website offers links to county departments and public records access.

The Union County website connects residents to services and records across all departments.

Other Union County Record Sources

Funeral homes in Union County keep their own records and may have obituaries or death notices they helped prepare. The Lake Butler Times and other local publications print obituaries that help confirm names, dates, and family details. The Union County public library may offer access to newspaper archives and basic genealogy tools.

The Union County Clerk of Court maintains probate files, estate records, and court documents related to deaths. These records can be useful for research beyond what a death certificate provides, especially for genealogy or legal matters in Union County.

Florida's Sunshine Law gives the public broad access to government records under Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes. Cause of death is confidential for 50 years. Social Security numbers are always redacted. If a Union County records request is denied and you think it was wrong, the Florida Attorney General can help resolve the issue.

Submitting false information on a vital records form is a felony. Always fill out Union County death certificate applications with accurate details.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Union County. Each has its own DOH vital records office where you can request death certificates.