Lauderhill City Florida Obituary Records are death notices and memorial announcements published for residents of Lauderhill, a city of about 76,600 people in central Broward County, Florida. These records appear in local newspapers, funeral home websites, genealogy databases, and county vital records offices.
People search Lauderhill obituaries to confirm a death date, locate burial sites, trace family history, settle estates, or honor the memory of a loved one. Lauderhill sits inside Broward County, so most certified death records are handled through the Broward County Department of Health office in Fort Lauderdale. Obituary notices, however, come from many sources such as funeral homes, newspapers, online memorial pages, and family submissions. This page covers all places where Lauderhill obituaries can be searched, the fees, the laws, and the steps to get certified copies of death certificates tied to Lauderhill residents.
What Lauderhill Obituary Records Include
An obituary is a written tribute that shares basic facts about a person who has died. For Lauderhill residents, obituaries often list the full name, age, date of death, city of residence, family members, funeral service details, burial or cremation plans, and a short life story. Some notices include a photo, charity donations, or memorial service times. Obituaries are different from death certificates. Death certificates are official government documents. Obituaries are personal announcements written by families or funeral directors and published through newspapers, funeral homes, and memorial websites.
Obituaries vs Death Certificates
Obituaries give personal and family details. Death certificates give legal facts such as the official date, location, cause of death, and registration number. The Broward County Department of Health issues death certificates for Lauderhill. Obituaries appear in the Sun-Sentinel, Miami Herald, funeral home pages, and online databases. Both records work together for a complete Lauderhill search.
What Information Is Available
A typical Lauderhill obituary contains the deceased full name, nickname, birth date, age at death, death date, city of residence, names of parents, spouse, children, siblings, grandchildren, education, work history, hobbies, military service, and funeral or memorial service details. Older newspaper obituaries may have less detail. Funeral home websites often include the most current and complete notices.
Who Posts Obituaries for Lauderhill Residents
Funeral homes in and near Lauderhill post most modern obituaries. Newspapers like the Sun-Sentinel and Miami Herald reprint many of these. Family members sometimes submit paid notices directly to newspapers. Online memorial pages let families post free or paid tributes that include photos, videos, and guest books. Genealogy websites collect obituaries from old newspapers and funeral programs.
How to Search Obituaries by Name
Searching for a specific Lauderhill obituary by name is the most common task. Users can search free local sources, paid national databases, or funeral home archives. The best method depends on how recent the death is, how much detail is a certified copy is needed.
Free Local Search Sources
Free options for Lauderhill obituary searches include the Sun-Sentinel online archive, Florida Memory project from the State Archives, Find a Grave, and the Broward County Library System. A library card from the Broward County Library gives free access to genealogy databases including Ancestry Library Edition, HeritageQuest, and Fold3. The Lauderhill Towne Centre library branch on NW 19th Street helps residents with genealogy research.
Paid National Databases
Paid genealogy sites offer the largest collections of Florida obituaries. Ancestry.com has Florida obituary records spanning back to the early 1900s. Newspapers.com has scanned newspaper pages with search by name and date. MyHeritage, Findmypast, and GenealogyBank each carry Florida obituary archives. Most charge a monthly fee or a yearly subscription.
Using Lauderhill Funeral Home Websites
Funeral homes serving Lauderhill post current obituaries on their websites with photos, service times, and tributes. Searching the funeral home website by last name gives fast results for recent deaths. Funeral home archives stay online for years, so older notices can still be located. Many funeral homes also keep a printed archive of services.
Broward County Vital Records Office
The Broward County Department of Health vital records office handles all death certificate requests for Lauderhill. The office sits at 2421-A SW 6th Avenue in Fort Lauderdale, about a 15 minute drive south from Lauderhill. The office holds death records for Broward County from 2009 to the present. Older death certificates must be requested through the State Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville.
Office Location and Hours
The Broward County DOH vital records office is at 2421-A SW 6th Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315. Phone number is (954) 467-4455. Hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The office closes at 3:00 PM on every third Thursday of the month for staff training. Visitors should plan around this irregular schedule.
Death Certificate Fees
The first certified copy of a death certificate costs $12 at the Broward County DOH. Each additional copy at the same time costs $5. The $12 fee covers the search even if no record is found. Payment methods include cash, checks, money orders, and debit or credit cards. Same-day service is standard for in-person requests when the record is in the county system.
Request Methods Available
Three methods exist for requesting Lauderhill death certificates. Walk-in visits to the Broward County DOH office are the fastest. Mail requests use Form DH727 sent to the Fort Lauderdale address with a check and a copy of photo ID. Online orders go through VitalChek at vitalchek.com with a $15 fee plus a $7 processing charge and credit card payment.
Who Can Request Records
Florida law divides death certificates into two types. The short-form public version shows name, date, and location without cause of death. Any adult can request this version. The full version with cause of death stays restricted for 50 years. Only a spouse, parent, child, grandchild, sibling, or legal representative of the deceased estate may request the full version. Proof of relationship is required.
Lauderhill Funeral Homes and Cemeteries
Funeral homes near Lauderhill handle most local arrangements and post current obituaries on their websites. These funeral homes serve families across Broward County and maintain searchable archives online.
Major Lauderhill Funeral Homes
Funeral homes that frequently serve Lauderhill families include Kraeer Funeral Home and Cremation Center, T.M. Ralph Funeral Homes, Fred Hunter Funeral Home, Bailey Memorial Chapel, and McWhite Funeral Home. Each maintains a current obituary section on its website. Searching by last name on these sites gives the most recent Lauderhill death notices along with service schedules, addresses, and directions.
Cemeteries Near Lauderhill
Cemeteries that hold Lauderhill burials include Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Fort Lauderdale, Lauderdale Memorial Park in Fort Lauderdale, Woodlawn Cemetery in Miami, Hollywood Memorial Park, and Beth David Memorial Gardens in Hollywood. Find a Grave and BillionGraves list cemetery records with photos of headstones, GPS coordinates, and links to obituaries for many Lauderhill burials.
Recent Obituaries from Local Providers
Recent Lauderhill obituaries published through 2025 and 2026 appear on funeral home websites, the Sun-Sentinel online edition, and memorial aggregators like Legacy.com. Users can narrow results by date range, age, or first name. Local funeral homes typically keep notices online for at least five years. Older notices move into newspaper archive databases or genealogy collections.
Florida State Archives and History
The State Archives of Florida holds the oldest death records and newspaper archives in the state. For Lauderhill residents, the State Archives covers deaths before 2009 and historical vital records from 1877 onward.
Florida Memory Project
Florida Memory at floridamemory.com is a free digital archive run by the State Archives. It holds newspaper pages, photos, maps, and vital record indexes. The collection includes the Florida Death Index from 1877 to 1939 and the Florida Marriage Index plus other genealogy records. Searches for Lauderhill deaths in this index often lead to newspaper obituaries in the same online collection.
State Bureau of Vital Statistics
The State Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville handles death certificates for deaths that occurred before 2009 in Broward County or deaths that took place outside Florida. The address is 1217 N Pearl St, Jacksonville, FL 32202. Phone number is (904) 359-6900. The search fee is $5 with each additional copy costing $4. Rush processing adds $10.
Broward County Historical Commission
The Broward County Historical Commission keeps local history records, photographs, and obituary clippings related to notable Lauderhill residents. The commission sits in the Broward County Main Library in Fort Lauderdale. Researchers can request in-person access to old obituary scrapbooks and newspaper clippings.
Newspapers That Publish Lauderhill Obituaries
Newspapers remain a primary source of Lauderhill obituary records. The Sun-Sentinel is the main daily paper for Broward County. Other Florida newspapers cover Lauderhill deaths when family members live elsewhere or when residents have ties to other cities.
Sun-Sentinel Archives
The Sun-Sentinel posts Lauderhill obituaries daily in print and online at sun-sentinel.com. The online archive goes back to the 1980s for most notices. Recent obituaries are free to read. Older archived notices may require a subscription. The Sun-Sentinel also partners with Legacy.com for online memorial pages.
Miami Herald Coverage
The Miami Herald covers Lauderhill deaths through its Miami-Dade and Broward coverage. The Miami Herald obituary archive at miamiherald.com holds notices going back decades. Family members sometimes choose the Miami Herald when relatives live in Miami-Dade County. The newspaper also runs a paid tribute section.
Other Florida Newspapers
Other Florida newspapers that publish Lauderhill obituaries include the Tampa Bay Times, Orlando Sentinel, Jacksonville Times-Union, Palm Beach Post, Naples Daily News, Pensacola News Journal, and Tallahassee Democrat. These papers carry notices when Lauderhill residents have family ties to other parts of Florida. Each paper maintains an online obituary section.
Online Genealogy Platforms
Online genealogy platforms aggregate obituary records from across Florida. These sites let users search Lauderhill obituaries by last name, year, location, or newspaper title.
Find a Grave for Lauderhill
Find a Grave at findagrave.com lists cemetery burials with photos of gravestones, GPS coordinates, and linked obituaries. Volunteers add new Lauderhill memorials regularly. Search results show birth year, age at death, cemetery name, and any obituary text. Free accounts let users view records and add photos. Premium subscriptions unlock additional tools.
Ancestry Florida Records
Ancestry.com has the largest collection of Florida obituary databases. Collections include Florida Newspapers, U.S. Obituary Collection, Social Security Death Index, and Florida Death Index. A paid subscription unlocks full search access. Ancestry Library Edition is free at any Broward County Library branch for in-library research.
FamilySearch Florida Obituaries
FamilySearch at familysearch.org is a free genealogy site run by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The site has Florida obituary indexes, Broward County death records, and a large collection of newspaper images. Users can create a free account, build family trees, and view digitized records.
Step by Step Obituary Search Guide
A clear plan makes Lauderhill obituary searches faster. The four-step process works for any starting point and any level of detail about the deceased.
Step 1: Gather Basic Facts
Start with the full legal name of the person, approximate birth year, and date of death. Names of parents or a spouse help narrow results. The city of residence at the time of death matters. Lauderhill, Fort Lauderdale, Sunrise, or Plantation are all common. Even partial facts help a search.
Step 2: Choose Your Search Source
Recent deaths within the last five years are best found on funeral home websites and the Sun-Sentinel online edition. Deaths between 2000 and 2020 appear in Ancestry, Newspapers.com, and Find a Grave. Deaths before 2000 show up in Florida Memory, newspaper archive scans, and FamilySearch. Pre-1960 records need courthouse and historical society research.
Step 3: Verify the Record
Once an obituary is located, verify the details against a second source. Cross-check the death date, age, and family names. Compare the obituary with the death index entry or another obituary for the same person. Use the certified death certificate through the Broward County DOH for legal confirmation.
Step 4: Order Certified Copies
For legal purposes, order a certified death certificate from the Broward County DOH or the State Bureau of Vital Statistics. Walk-in visits give same-day copies. Mail orders take two to three weeks. VitalChek online orders take five to seven business days. Each certified copy costs $12 at the county or $5 at the state office plus mailing fees.
Florida Laws on Death Records
Florida state law controls who can view death records, what information is public, and how requests are handled. The main statutes are Florida Statute Chapter 382 for vital records and Chapter 119 for public records.
Public Access Rules
Florida Statute Chapter 119 makes non-confidential death records open to any adult. The public version of the death certificate lists name, date, location, and registration details. No family relationship is required. Requesters do not need to give a reason for the request. The state and county vital records offices must provide a copy when the fee is paid.
Confidential Records
The version that includes cause of death is restricted under Florida Statute Chapter 382. The restricted version stays closed for 50 years after the death. Only a spouse, parent, child, grandchild, sibling, or legal representative of the deceased estate may request it. A court order can grant access for valid legal reasons.
Identity Verification Requirements
All requesters must show a valid government photo ID at the counter or send a copy with mail requests. Accepted IDs include a Florida driver license, state ID, U.S. passport, military ID, or out-of-state driver license. The name on the ID does not need to match the deceased. The ID verifies the requester identity.
Fees and Processing Times
Fees for Lauderhill death certificates vary by source and method. Processing times range from same-day to four weeks depending on the office and request type.
Death Certificate Fees
Broward County DOH charges $12 for the first copy and $5 for each additional copy. State Bureau of Vital Statistics charges $5 for the search and first copy with $4 per extra copy. VitalChek charges $15 for the first copy plus a $7 processing fee. Mail orders add $1 for return postage.
Genealogy Database Costs
Ancestry.com charges about $25 per month or $250 per year for U.S. Discovery access. Newspapers.com charges about $13 per month or $80 per year. MyHeritage charges about $30 per month. Find a Grave is free for basic searches with paid upgrades available. FamilySearch is free.
Mailing and Rush Fees
Standard mail processing at the state bureau takes two to four weeks at no extra charge. Rush processing costs $10 extra and cuts the wait time to about one week. VitalChek rush shipping is available for an added fee. Broward County mail orders take two to three weeks with no rush option.
Common Search Problems and Fixes
Search problems happen often. Knowing the common fixes saves time and frustration when looking for Lauderhill obituaries.
Name Spelling Issues
Old newspaper typesetters often misspelled names. Common Lauderhill surnames like Lafrance, Lashley, or Lichtenstein have many variants. Try alternate spellings, phonetic search options, and wildcard searches. Check the Social Security Death Index for name variants tied to a Social Security number.
Missing Records
Some Lauderhill deaths have no published obituary. Common reasons include private family decisions, no surviving family, or deaths far from home. Fix the problem by checking the Florida Death Index, the Social Security Death Index, and cemetery records. Probate court records at the Broward County Clerk office list death dates for estate cases.
Delayed Processing
Recent deaths may not appear in databases for two to four weeks. Funeral homes post notices first, then newspapers reprint them. Genealogy databases lag behind by months. Check the funeral home website for the fastest update. Contact the Broward County DOH if a death certificate is missing for a death more than 30 days old.
Contact Details for Record Requests
Lauderhill residents and researchers can reach the Broward County Department of Health vital records office using the contact details below for death certificate requests. The office holds all death records for Lauderhill from 2009 to the present.
Broward County Department of Health Vital Records Office
Address: 2421-A SW 6th Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315
Phone: (954) 467-4455
Website: https://broward.floridahealth.gov/certificates/death-certificates/
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM (closes at 3:00 PM every third Thursday)
Florida State Bureau of Vital Statistics
Address: 1217 N Pearl St, Jacksonville, FL 32202
Phone: (904) 359-6900
Website: https://www.floridahealth.gov/certificates-records/
Hours: Mail requests only, no walk-in service
City of Lauderhill Official Website
Website: https://www.lauderhill> Phone: (954) 730-3000
Lauderhill Towne Centre Library Branch
Address: 6399 NW 29th Street, Lauderhill, FL 33319
Phone: (954) 357-6200
Hours: Monday through Thursday 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Friday and Saturday 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Frequently Asked Questions
The questions below cover the most common topics people ask about Lauderhill obituary records. Each answer gives practical steps, contact details, and current fees based on the latest 2026 information. These answers help anyone looking for a Lauderhill resident who has died, working on genealogy research, or needing certified death certificates for legal matters. The Broward County Department of Health handles all certified copies for deaths from 2009 to the present. Older records require a request to the State Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville.
How much does a Lauderhill death certificate cost in 2026?
The first certified copy of a Lauderhill death certificate costs $12 at the Broward County Department of Health office in Fort Lauderdale. Each extra copy ordered at the same time costs $5. The State Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville charges $5 for the search and first copy with $4 per extra copy. VitalChek online orders cost $15 for the first copy plus a $7 processing charge. Mail orders through the county or state office add a $1 return postage fee. Rush service at the state office costs $10 extra and cuts the wait time to about one week.
Where can I search free Lauderhill obituaries online?
Free sources for Lauderhill obituary searches include the Sun-Sentinel online archive at sun-sentinel.com, Find a Grave at findagrave.com, FamilySearch at familysearch.org, Florida Memory at floridamemory.com, Legacy.com, and individual funeral home websites like Kraeer, T.M. Ralph, Fred Hunter, Bailey Memorial, and McWhite. The Broward County Library gives free access to Ancestry Library Edition, HeritageQuest, and Fold3 with a library card. The Lauderhill Towne Centre library branch on NW 29th Street helps visitors use these tools.
Can anyone get a Lauderhill death certificate?
Any adult can request the public version of a Lauderhill death certificate under Florida Statute Chapter 119. The public version shows the name, date of death, location, and registration number. No cause of death appears on this version. The full version with cause of death stays restricted for 50 years after the death. Only a spouse, parent, child, grandchild, sibling, or legal representative of the deceased estate may request the full version with proof of relationship.
What is the fastest way to get a death certificate for a recent Lauderhill death?
The fastest method is a walk-in visit to the Broward County DOH office at 2421-A SW 6th Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315. Bring a valid photo ID and $12 cash, check, or money order. The office processes most requests within the hour when the record is in the system. Same-day pickup is standard. The drive from Lauderhill takes about 15 minutes via I-95 or US-441. Avoid visiting on the third Thursday of any month since the office closes at 3:00 PM.
Are Lauderhill obituaries from the 1800s and early 1900s available?
Lauderhill was not incorporated until 1959. Early Broward County records cover the area before incorporation. The Florida Memory project holds newspaper scans from the late 1800s. The State Archives holds the Florida Death Index from 1877 to 1939. Old newspaper pages from the Fort Lauderdale News, the Miami Herald, and other papers cover deaths in what became Lauderhill. FamilySearch has a Broward County probate and death collection going back to the early 1900s.
Can I search Lauderhill obituaries by date?
Yes. Sun-Sentinel online archive lets users search by date range. Find a Grave allows date range searches with name filters. Newspapers.com and Ancestry let users set date ranges for newspaper searches. Florida Memory lets users browse newspaper pages by publication date. Funeral home websites list current and archived obituaries sorted by date with the newest entries first.
What if I cannot find the obituary I need?
Some Lauderhill deaths have no published obituary. Check the Florida Death Index for the date and county. Check the Social Security Death Index through Ancestry or FamilySearch for a Social Security number match. Search the Broward County Clerk of Court probate records for estate filings that list death dates. Contact the funeral home that handled the arrangements. Old funeral home records sometimes hold obituaries that were never published online.