In Florida, death records are useful for many things. These records provide a simple and yet important tool. They document the death of an individual, who that individual was related to as well as where he lived. Sometimes, the cause of death remains on these records, depending on the age of them. Siblings, parents, children and even other relatives are on these documents as well. For many people, these records are very rich in the information they provide and can be an ideal search choice for genealogy research.

For those who are looking for Florida death records, it is important to know how to get them. The state did not always keep this information on hand, though. Though it is very possible to find even very old records, Florida's long history of death, birth and marriage records is limited. The state mandated that these records begin being kept in 1899 for most records, including death records. For those who are looking for birth or death records from prior to 1917, this will be difficult since many of these records are inconsistently available. You will find them, but limitedly.

For those who need records that are from 1917 or after, the state collected them and it will continue to do so, at the Bureau of Vital Statistics. There are some registrations (which are like notations of an event occurring) from prior to 1917 through this agency as well. If you are looking for these records, one of the best ways to get them is to mail the Vital Statistics office. You can do that at the following address:

State of Florida Department of Health

Vital Statistics Department

1217 Pearl Street

PO Box 210

Jacksonville, Florida 32231

It is possible to make a formal request for Florida death records by phone through this office as well. To do that, you can call 904-359-6900. It is possible that some records are also available through other sources. For example, most Florida counties do gather this information locally. County clerk's offices are also the best way to find local records for those prior to 1917 in the state. Florida death records searches can be a bit difficult to obtain.

Many times, Florida death certificates from local county health organizations can be more informational than death registrations. Registrations, which are made with the state, often contain only a notation of the event, whereas certificates contain more information including information about the next of kin, cause of death and other details. In many situations, this information can be more helpful to answering your questions about things like family records.

The obtaining of Florida death records can help with details such as who bought and sold property, who was related to who and other things. These death records, along with associated birth and marriage records can help to answer many of the questions related to genealogy searches. If you are looking for this information in Florida, start with the Department of Vital Statistics. If you cannot find information there, turn to local sources for more information.

• Florida Child Death Rate

• Florida Death Certificates & Records

• Florida Drunk Driving Death Rate

• Florida Fatal Occupational Injuries