Broward County Florida obituary records give families, researchers, and curious residents a way to locate death notices, memorial tributes, and certified death certificates for loved ones lost in South Florida. The records cover Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Pembroke Pines, and every other city within Broward County.
This page explains how the system works, where to search, what fees apply, and which offices hold the files you need.
What Are Broward County Florida Obituary Records
Broward County Florida obituary records include two main types of documents. The first type is the death certificate, which is the official state record filed by a funeral director or medical certifier. The second type is the obituary notice, which is a paid announcement published in a local newspaper or posted on a funeral home website. Both serve different purposes for genealogy, legal matters, and personal remembrance.
How Florida Files Death Records
Florida law requires every death in Broward County to be registered with the Florida Department of Health within five days. Funeral directors file most of the paperwork using the Electronic Death Registration System. Local registrars in Broward County then forward the records to the state Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville. Once filed, the record becomes a permanent part of Florida’s vital records archive dating back to 1877.
Public Versus Confidential Death Certificates
Florida issues two versions of each death certificate. The public version omits cause of death and redacts the first five digits of the Social Security number. Any adult can request this version for genealogy or basic proof of death. The confidential version contains cause of death and remains sealed for 50 years. Only a spouse, parent, adult child, adult sibling, or estate representative can request the confidential version. Form DH 1959 serves as the affidavit to prove eligibility for the sealed version.
Where to Search Broward County Florida Obituary Records
Several reliable sources hold Broward County obituary data. The state Department of Health stores the official certificates. Local funeral homes keep memorial notices for recent deaths. Newspapers like the South Florida Sun-Sentinel maintain paid obituary archives going back decades. National genealogy platforms also index Broward County records through partnerships with local newspapers and cemetery offices.
Florida Department of Health Vital Records Office
The Broward County branch of the Florida Department of Health handles in-person death certificate requests. The office sits at 2421-A S.W. 6th Avenue in Fort Lauderdale. Staff process requests Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except the third Thursday of each month when the office closes at 3:00 p.m. Death certificates from 2009 forward are available at this location. Older records must come from the state office in Jacksonville.
Broward County Library System Resources
The Broward County Library System offers free access to genealogy databases through its website. Library card holders can search newspaper archives, census records, and obituary indexes at no cost. The Main Library in Fort Lauderdale houses a Florida History and Genealogy collection with city directories, cemetery transcriptions, and local history books. Many of these materials cannot be found anywhere else online.
Local Newspaper Obituary Archives
The South Florida Sun-Sentinel publishes daily obituaries for Broward County residents. Its online archive holds notices going back to the 1980s with full text search by name. The Miami Herald covers southern Broward cities like Hollywood and Hallandale Beach. The Boca Raton News and Palm Beach Post carry northern Broward notices. Printed microfilm at the Broward County Library covers pre-digital era records from the 1940s onward.
Online Obituary Databases
Several commercial and free platforms index Florida obituary records. Ancestry.com holds the largest collection with Broward County obituary notices from newspapers and funeral homes. FamilySearch.org offers free access to Florida death records and obituary images contributed by users. Find a Grave and BillionGraves provide cemetery photos and memorial pages linked to Broward burial sites. Legacy.com aggregates notices from the Sun-Sentinel and other participating newspapers.
How to Request Death Certificates in Broward County
Death certificate requests in Broward County can be made three ways. You can visit the Fort Lauderdale office in person, mail a completed application to the state Bureau of Vital Statistics, or order online through VitalChek. Each method has different costs, processing times, and document requirements. Pick the option that fits your timeline and budget.
In-Person Requests at the Fort Lauderdale Office
Walk-in service is available at 2421-A S.W. 6th Avenue in Fort Lauderdale. Bring a valid government photo ID and a completed DH 727 application form. The form is available in English and Spanish on the Florida Department of Health website. You need the deceased person’s full legal name, date of birth, date of death, and county of death. Staff locate the record on file and process your request the same day for records from 2009 forward.
Mail-In Orders to the State Office
Mail requests for Broward County death certificates go to the Bureau of Vital Statistics at 1217 N. Pearl Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202. Include the completed DH 727 form, a photocopy of your photo ID, a check or money order payable to the Florida Department of Health, and a self-addressed stamped envelope for return. Mail orders take two to three weeks to process and ship back. This method works best for older records before 2009.
Online Orders Through VitalChek
VitalChek is the only state-authorized online vendor for Florida death certificates. The site accepts credit and debit cards for payment. Orders placed before 3:00 p.m. Eastern time on business days ship the same day. Standard shipping arrives in five to seven business days. Rush shipping options deliver within two to three business days for an added fee. The online system flags data mismatches before submission.
Required Documents and Information
Every death certificate request needs basic facts about the deceased. The state requires the full legal name at time of death, date of birth, date of death, place of death, and Social Security number if known. Applicants must show a valid driver license, state ID, or passport. Out-of-state applicants can submit a notarized affidavit along with a copy of their ID. A signed DH 1959 affidavit proves eligibility for confidential cause-of-death records.
Costs and Processing Times
Death certificate fees in Broward County follow the statewide fee schedule set by the Florida Department of Health. Costs vary based on the order method and how many copies you need. A standard search includes one certified copy. Extra copies ordered at the same time cost less per copy than separate orders.
Death Certificate Fee Schedule
| Service Type | Fee | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| State Search Fee | $5 | One certified copy |
| Additional Copies | $4 each | Same record, extra copies |
| Unknown Year Search | $2 per year | Maximum charge of $50 |
| VitalChek First Copy | $15 | Online order base fee |
| VitalChek Processing | $7 | Vendor service charge |
| Rush Shipping | $10 to $25 | Faster delivery option |
| State Rush Fee | $10 | Expedite older records |
Processing Times by Method
In-person requests for records from 2009 forward finish the same day at the Fort Lauderdale office. Mail requests through the Jacksonville state office take two to three weeks including return shipping. VitalChek online orders ship within 24 hours and arrive in five to seven business days with standard mail. Rush shipping cuts delivery to two to three business days. Plan ahead for estate deadlines and insurance claims that need quick turnaround.
Historical Broward County Obituary Records
Broward County was created in 1915 from parts of Palm Beach County and Dade County. Death records filed before that date in the region fall under Palm Beach or Miami-Dade jurisdictions. The state Bureau of Vital Statistics holds Florida death records back to 1877, which means genealogy researchers can trace ancestors who died anywhere in the state long before Broward County existed as its own entity.
Records Before 2009
The Broward County Department of Health office only holds death records from 2009 forward. For older Broward County death certificates, contact the state Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville. The state archive includes records from every Florida county and former territorial region. Some pre-1920 records have been digitized and indexed for online search through FamilySearch and Ancestry. Older records often contain handwritten cause of death notes with medical terms from the era.
Genealogy Research Tools
FamilySearch.org hosts free indexes of Florida death records from 1877 through 1939 and selected later years. Ancestry.com holds Broward County obituary clippings contributed by users and indexed from newspaper scans. The Broward County Historical Commission in Fort Lauderdale keeps cemetery records, funeral programs, and local memorial archives. The Fort Lauderdale Historical Society maintains biographical files on early settlers and prominent residents. Cemetery office records at locations like Lauderdale Memorial Park and Hollywood Memorial Gardens supply burial dates and next-of-kin details.
Florida Memory Project
The Florida Memory Project at floridamemory.com provides free access to digitized state records. The collection includes death certificates from 1877 to 1939, historical newspapers, photographs, and oral history recordings. Broward County materials focus on early Fort Lauderdale and the development of coastal communities. The site works well as a starting point for genealogy searches that connect local obituary notices with broader family history research.
Funeral Home Obituaries in Broward County
Funeral homes in Broward County publish obituary notices on their websites. These notices typically appear within 24 hours of the death and remain online for several years. Funeral home obituaries often contain more detail than newspaper notices, including surviving family members, service times, charity donations, and personal stories. Many funeral homes also keep guest books where visitors can leave condolence messages.
Major Broward County Funeral Homes
Major funeral homes serving Broward County include Kraeer Funeral Home and Cremation Center with locations in Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, and Margate. Fred Hunter Funeral Home operates sites in Hollywood and Fort Lauderdale. T.M. Ralph Funeral Homes serves the Davie, Plantation, and Sunrise areas. Baird-Case Jordan-Fannin Funeral Home in Fort Lauderdale has served the region since the 1930s. Cascading Funerals and Cremations in Fort Lauderdale handles modern and direct cremation services. Each home maintains its own obituary archive on its website.
How Funeral Home Obituaries Work
Families work with funeral directors to write obituary notices after a death. The funeral home submits the notice to local newspapers and posts it on its own website. Notices include the deceased’s full name, age, place of birth, surviving relatives, service details, and burial or cremation plans. Funeral home websites typically archive notices going back five to ten years. Older notices may only exist in printed newspapers and library microfilm collections.
Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald Archives
The South Florida Sun-Sentinel serves as the main daily newspaper for Broward County. Its obituary section runs in print and online at legacy.com/sunsentinel. The Sun-Sentinel archive holds paid obituary notices going back to 1986. Search results include the full text of each notice plus publication dates. The Miami Herald covers southern Broward cities and maintains its own archive at legacy.com/miamiherald. Both newspapers charge fees for full obituary text access beyond the initial free preview period.
Library card holders in Broward County get free access to Sun-Sentinel and Miami Herald archives through the Broward County Library website. The newspaper database covers full text of articles and obituaries from 1985 to the present. Genealogy researchers can also request older obituary scans through the library’s interlibrary loan program. Newspapers from the 1940s through 1970s exist only on microfilm at the Main Library in Fort Lauderdale.
Common Search Methods and Tips
Most obituary searches begin with a name. But smart searchers use multiple fields at once to narrow results fast. Combine name with date ranges, city, or newspaper name to cut through thousands of unrelated hits. Try alternate spellings and maiden names. Check both printed newspaper archives and funeral home websites since not every obituary appears in both places.
Search by Name
Start with the deceased’s full legal name. Common names produce long result lists, so add a middle name or initial to narrow the search. Try maiden names for married women and nicknames for veterans or public figures. Spelling variations matter in older records, especially for names with Italian, Hispanic, or Eastern European roots. Search tools like Ancestry and Newspapers.com include a Soundex option that matches names by sound rather than exact spelling.
Search by Date Range
Date filters speed up searches when you know the rough death year. Florida death certificates since 2009 require an exact or approximate date for faster lookup. Newspaper archives allow year and month filters. Genealogy researchers working on pre-1920 deaths should search five-year blocks because record-keeping accuracy varied. Browsing a full year of Broward obituaries in the Sun-Sentinel sometimes surfaces family members you did not know existed.
Search by City
Broward County cities include Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Pembroke Pines, Miramar, Coral Springs, Pompano Beach, Davie, Plantation, Sunrise, Deerfield Beach, Tamarac, Lauderhill, Weston, Margate, Coconut Creek, and Oakland Park. Filtering by city works well on Legacy.com and funeral home websites. Local libraries and historical societies also keep city-specific obituary indexes. Use city filters when you know the person lived and died in Broward County but the common name returns too many results.
Official Contact Information and Office Details
The Broward County vital records office handles all death certificate requests for deaths from 2009 forward. The Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville handles older records and state-wide requests. Mail all historical orders to the Jacksonville address listed below. Phone the Fort Lauderdale office for same-day certificate questions and walk-in service availability.
Broward County Department of Health Vital Records
Address: 2421-A S.W. 6th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315
Phone: (954) 467-4455
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Closed at 3:00 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month.
Website: broward.floridahealth.gov
Death Certificates Page: broward.floridahealth.gov/certificates/death-certificates/
Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics (for records before 2009)
Address: 1217 N. Pearl Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202
Phone: (904) 359-6900
Email: VitalStats@FLHealth.gov
Website: floridahealth.gov/certificates-records/death-certificates/
Frequently Asked Questions
People searching Broward County Florida obituary records often ask the same questions. The answers below cover the most common concerns about fees, timelines, eligibility, and historical record access. Use this section as a quick reference before placing your order or starting a genealogy search.
How Long Does a Broward County Death Certificate Request Take?
In-person requests at the Fort Lauderdale office finish the same day for records from 2009 forward. Mail requests through the state Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville take two to three weeks including return shipping. VitalChek online orders ship within 24 hours and arrive in five to seven business days with standard mail. Rush shipping through VitalChek delivers within two to three business days for an added fee of $10 to $25. Plan ahead for estate deadlines, insurance claims, and legal filings that need fast turnaround.
Can Anyone Request a Broward County Death Certificate?
Yes, any adult can request the public version of a Broward County death certificate. The public version omits cause of death and redacts the first five digits of the Social Security number. The confidential version contains cause of death and remains sealed for 50 years after the death. Eligible requesters for the confidential version include a surviving spouse, parent, adult child, adult sibling, or someone with a documented estate interest. Form DH 1959 serves as the affidavit to prove eligibility for confidential records. A court order can also authorize release of sealed records.
Are Broward County Obituary Records Free to Search?
Free search options exist for Broward County obituary records. The Florida Memory Project at floridamemory.com offers free access to digitized state death records. FamilySearch.org hosts free Florida death indexes and contributed obituary images. Legacy.com allows free preview of obituary notices from the Sun-Sentinel and Miami Herald. Full obituary text and death certificates carry fees ranging from $5 for a state search copy to $22 for an online order through VitalChek. The Broward County Library System provides free obituary database access for card holders.
Where Can I Find Obituaries From Before 2009 in Broward County?
Obituary notices from before 2009 exist in newspaper archives, funeral home records, and cemetery files. The Broward County Library holds Sun-Sentinel microfilm dating back to the 1940s. The state Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville keeps death certificates back to 1877. Florida Memory Project indexes death certificates from 1877 to 1939. FamilySearch and Ancestry hold contributed obituary clippings from Broward County newspapers. Local funeral homes like Baird-Case Jordan-Fannin and Kraeer keep archives of past services on their websites and in printed books.
What Information Do I Need to Request a Death Certificate?
You need the deceased person’s full legal name at time of death, date of birth, date of death, county of death, and Social Security number if known. The state requires this data to locate the correct record in the state database. You also need a valid government photo ID such as a driver license, state ID, or passport. For confidential records, you must complete DH Form 1959 to prove your eligibility as a spouse, parent, adult child, sibling, or estate representative. Out-of-state applicants can submit a notarized affidavit along with a copy of their photo ID.
Can I Get a Death Certificate Online for Broward County?
Yes, you can order Broward County death certificates online through VitalChek at vitalchek.com. VitalChek is the only state-authorized online vendor for Florida vital records. The site accepts Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express. Online orders cost $15 for the first certificate plus a $7 processing fee and $4 per extra copy. Rush shipping adds $10 to $25. Records from 2009 forward process through the Broward County office. Older records process through the Jacksonville state office and may take longer to arrive.
What Happens If the Death Year Is Unknown?
Florida charges $2 per year searched when the death year is unknown. The fee caps at $50 for any single search. The state searches indexes across multiple years to locate the record. Mail requests through the Jacksonville office work best for unknown-year searches because the state archive holds every Florida death certificate back to 1877. Online ordering through VitalChek requires an approximate year. Genealogy researchers can narrow the year range using census records, Social Security death indexes, and family documents before placing an official request.