Highlands County Florida obituary records help families trace roots, settle estates, and close accounts after a death. This page shows how to get death certificates from the local health department, where to search for older obituaries, what each request costs, and which Florida state offices hold records that go back more than one hundred years.
Use the steps below to pull records from Sebring, Avon Park, Lake Placid, and the rest of Highlands County.
Where to Get Death Certificates in Highlands County
The Florida Department of Health in Highlands County handles all death certificates filed in the county since 2009. This office sits in Sebring, the county seat, and processes walk-in, phone, and mail requests. Anyone 18 or older can ask for a public death certificate. No family tie is required for that version.
Highlands County Department of Health Office
The county office sits at 720 South Commerce Avenue in Sebring, Florida 33870. Staff members help visitors fill out forms, check which records are on file, and process payments. The office also handles birth and marriage certificates. Death records are one of the most common requests at this location. Call before visiting if you want to confirm a specific file is on site.
| Office Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Office Name | Florida Department of Health in Highlands County |
| Street Address | 720 S. Commerce Ave., Sebring, FL 33870 |
| Phone Number | (863) 386-6040 |
| Office Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | highlands.floridahealth.gov |
Forms You Need to Fill Out
The main form for a death certificate request is DH 727. A Spanish version called DH 727S is available for Spanish speakers. The form asks for the full name of the person who died, the date of death, the place of death, the date of birth, and the Social Security number when known. Bring a valid photo ID with the form. Mail orders need a photocopy of the ID, not the original.
How to Request Death Certificates
Three methods work for getting a death certificate from Highlands County. Walk-in visits are the fastest. Mail orders take two to three weeks. Online orders go through the state-approved vendor. Pick the method that fits your timeline and budget.
In-Person Requests in Sebring
Walk-in requests are processed the same day in most cases. Go to 720 South Commerce Avenue, fill out the DH 727 form, show a photo ID, and pay the fee. The first certified copy costs $5. Each extra copy ordered at the same time costs $4. Some requests take three to five business days when staff need to check files from earlier years.
Mail-In Orders From Highlands County
Mail orders work for people who live outside the area. Send 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. Mail the packet to the Commerce Avenue address. Turnaround runs two to three weeks from the date the office receives the request.
Online Orders Through VitalChek
VitalChek is the only online vendor the state approves for Florida death records. The site charges $15 for the first copy plus a $7 processing fee. Extra copies cost $4 each. Standard delivery takes five to seven business days. Rush shipping is available at a higher price. Credit cards and debit cards are accepted.
Types of Death Certificates in Florida
Florida issues two versions of a death certificate. The public version leaves out cause of death. The confidential version lists the cause but stays restricted for fifty years after the death date. Your connection to the person who died decides which version you can get.
Public Death Certificates
Any adult can ask for a public death certificate in Florida. This version shows the name, date of death, place of death, date of birth, and other basic facts. The first five digits of the Social Security number are blocked under Florida Statute 119.071. Many people use this version for property work, insurance claims, banking matters, and genealogy.
Confidential Death Certificates
The confidential version adds cause of death. It stays restricted for fifty years. You can request this copy only if you are a surviving spouse, parent, adult child, adult grandchild, adult sibling, or someone with a legal or financial stake in the estate. A court order also grants access. Form DH 1959 confirms your right to the restricted details.
Death Records Before 2009 in Highlands County
The Highlands County office only keeps death records from 2009 forward. Older records live with the state office in Jacksonville. Florida has kept death records statewide since 1877, so most older files exist somewhere in the state system. Chapter 382 of the Florida Statutes requires every death to be registered within five days of the event.
Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics
The state bureau sits at 1217 North Pearl Street, Jacksonville, Florida 32202. The phone number is (904) 359-6900. The state office charges $5 for a search plus one certified copy. When the year of death is unknown, the fee is $2 per year searched, up to $50. Pre-2009 records carry a $10 rush fee and a $1 shipping charge.
State Archives and Historical Files
The Florida Memory Project at floridamemory.com holds scanned historical documents from across the state. Some early death records and cemetery files appear in this free collection. The State Archives in Tallahassee also holds older files that did not get filed with the Jacksonville office. Records from the 1800s may show less detail than modern certificates but still confirm death dates and places.
Obituary Sources Beyond Death Certificates
Death certificates show facts. Obituaries add names of family members, funeral dates, photos, and personal stories. Several sources carry obituaries for people who died in Highlands County. Funeral homes, local newspapers, and large online obituary platforms all keep archives going back many years.
Funeral Home Records in Sebring, Avon Park, and Lake Placid
Funeral homes in Highlands County keep their own obituary files. Most homes post recent obituaries on their websites and keep paper records for older ones. Calling the funeral home directly is the fastest way to check their files. Staff can confirm dates, share copies of the obituary, and point you to cemetery records.
Local Newspaper Archives
The Highlands News-Sun is the main local paper covering Sebring and the rest of the county. Many obituaries ran in this paper. The public library branches in Highlands County hold microfilm copies of the paper going back decades. Some issues are on digital databases through library subscriptions. Library staff can help you set up a free search session with a library card.
Online Obituary Platforms
Legacy.com is the largest obituary site in the country and pulls obituaries from most Florida newspapers. Tributes.com and Echovita also carry Florida death notices. Each site lets you search by name, city, and date range. Free searches show basic results. Full obituary text often requires a free account or a paid subscription.
Florida Obituary Records by County
Florida keeps death records at the county and state level. Each county has its own Department of Health office. The same forms and fees apply statewide. Large counties like Miami-Dade, Hillsborough, and Duval have bigger archives because of their larger populations.
Hillsborough County Obituaries (Tampa Bay)
Hillsborough County covers Tampa and the Tampa Bay area. The Tampa Bay Times obituary archive runs back to the 1980s online. Older Tampa obituaries appear on microfilm at the Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library. Death certificates since 2009 come from the Hillsborough County Department of Health office in Tampa.
Miami-Dade County Obituaries
Miami-Dade records cover Miami and the surrounding cities. The Miami Herald obituary archives hold the largest collection of South Florida death notices. The county health department in Miami processes death certificates for deaths since 2009. Spanish-language obituaries are common in this region and appear in local Spanish papers.
Broward and Palm Beach County Obituaries
Broward County covers Fort Lauderdale. The Sun Sentinel newspaper holds the main obituary archive for Broward. Palm Beach County covers West Palm Beach. The Palm Beach Post obituary archives run back many decades. Both county health departments process death certificates filed after 2009.
Pinellas and Orange County Obituaries
Pinellas County covers St. Petersburg and Clearwater along the Gulf Coast. Orange County covers Orlando in Central Florida. The Orlando Sentinel obituary archive covers Orange, Osceola, and Seminole counties. Both county health departments process modern death certificates through their main offices.
Costs, Fees, and Processing Times
Highlands County uses the same fee schedule as other Florida counties. The base fee is low, but extra services add up. Plan ahead so you do not pay rush fees when you do not need to. The table below shows what each method costs in 2026.
| Request Method | First Copy | Extra Copies | Processing Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walk-In at Sebring Office | $5 | $4 each | Same day in most cases |
| Mail Order | $5 | $4 each | 2 to 3 weeks |
| Online via VitalChek | $15 + $7 fee | $4 each | 5 to 7 business days |
| State Bureau (older records) | $5 search + copy | $4 each | 2 to 4 weeks |
Rush Processing Options
Rush service cuts wait times for an extra fee. The VitalChek rush option delivers in two to three business days for a higher shipping charge. The state bureau offers rush processing for pre-2009 records at a $10 fee. Walk-in requests at the Sebring office are already same-day in most cases, so rush service does not apply.
Genealogy and Family History Research
Genealogy researchers often need obituaries and death records from many counties. Florida keeps strong records going back to 1877. Free and paid databases give access to millions of Florida obituaries. The right mix of resources speeds up a family history search.
Free Online Obituary Databases
FamilySearch.org offers free Florida obituary indexes from multiple counties. The Florida Memory Project has scanned historical newspapers and death records. Find A Grave and BillionGraves hold cemetery photos and gravestone transcriptions. Legacy.com runs free obituary indexes with paid full-text options. Each site covers a different slice of Florida history.
Subscription Genealogy Sites
Ancestry.com holds the largest paid collection of Florida obituaries. Newspapers.com also has a large Florida newspaper obituary archive. MyHeritage carries obituary collections from Florida and other states. Each subscription site offers a free trial. Researchers who need regular access save money with annual plans over monthly plans.
Legal Use of Death Certificates in Florida
Death certificates are legal documents. Banks, insurance companies, courts, and federal agencies require certified copies. A regular photocopy does not work for legal matters. Only a copy with the raised seal or stamp from the issuing office counts as a certified copy.
Who Can Request Records in Florida
Anyone 18 or older can order a public death certificate in Florida. The public version stays open under Florida public records law. Restricted copies with cause of death need proof of a family or legal connection. Common accepted ties include spouse, parent, adult child, adult sibling, executor, or court-appointed representative.
Florida Public Records Law
Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes opens most government records to the public. Death certificates without cause of death fall under this rule. Section 382.025 of the same chapter covers access to death records. Section 119.071 lists specific blocks on Social Security numbers and other private details. Filing false information on a vital records form is a felony under Chapter 775.
Nearby Florida Counties With Records
Highlands County borders DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Okeechobee, Osceola, and Polk counties. Each of these counties has its own Department of Health office for death certificates since 2009. Older records from these counties go through the state bureau in Jacksonville.
| County | County Seat | Main Cities |
|---|---|---|
| DeSoto County | Arcadia | Arcadia |
| Glades County | Moore Haven | Moore Haven |
| Hardee County | Wauchula | Wauchula, Bowling Green |
| Okeechobee County | Okeechobee | Okeechobee |
| Osceola County | Kissimmee | Kissimmee, St. Cloud |
| Polk County | Bartow | Lakeland, Winter Haven, Bartow |
Office Contact Details and Map
The Highlands County Department of Health office sits at 720 South Commerce Avenue, Sebring, FL 33870. The phone number is (863) 386-6040. Office hours run Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The office closes on state and federal holidays. Visitors should arrive before 4:30 PM to allow time for same-day processing.
Website: highlands.floridahealth.gov
Phone: (863) 386-6040
Address: 720 S. Commerce Ave., Sebring, FL 33870
Common Questions About Florida Obituary Records
People searching for obituaries and death certificates in Florida often have questions about timing, costs, and access rules. The answers below cover the most common questions about Highlands County and statewide records. Each answer gives direct facts without extra steps. Use these answers to plan your request before calling the office.
How long does it take to get a death certificate in Highlands County?
Walk-in requests at the Sebring office are ready the same day in most cases. Mail orders take two to three weeks. Online orders through VitalChek take five to seven business days with standard shipping. Rush shipping cuts the online wait to two to three business days at a higher cost. Records from before 2009 take two to four weeks through the state office in Jacksonville.
Can I search Florida obituaries for free?
Yes. The Florida Memory Project, FamilySearch, Find A Grave, and Legacy.com all offer free obituary searches with basic results. Full obituary text sometimes requires a free account. Local libraries in Highlands County offer free access to newspaper archives through library logins. Paid sites like Ancestry.com and Newspapers.com hold larger collections but require a subscription.
What is the difference between a death certificate and an obituary?
A death certificate is a legal document filed with the state. It shows the name, date of death, place of death, cause of death (on the confidential version), and other facts. An obituary is a short notice published in a newspaper or online. Obituaries often list family members, funeral dates, and personal stories. Death certificates carry legal weight. Obituaries do not.
Who can request a Florida death certificate with cause of death?
The confidential version with cause of death stays restricted for fifty years after the death. Eligible requesters include surviving spouses, parents, adult children, adult grandchildren, adult siblings, and people with a legal or financial stake in the estate. A court order also grants access. Form DH 1959 confirms the requester’s right to the restricted details.
Where do I find Florida obituaries from before 2009?
The Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville holds death records statewide back to 1877. The Florida Memory Project has scanned historical newspapers and records. Local funeral homes keep their own obituary files. Local libraries hold newspaper microfilm. Subscription sites like Ancestry.com and Newspapers.com hold large Florida obituary collections going back to the 1800s.
Are Florida death records public?
Public death certificates without cause of death are open under Florida public records law. Any adult 18 or older can request this version. The confidential version with cause of death stays restricted for fifty years. After fifty years, the cause of death becomes public. Restricted records may be released early with a court order or proof of direct legal need.
What if I do not know the exact date of death?
The state bureau in Jacksonville offers a year-of-death search for $2 per year, up to $50 total. Local funeral homes can sometimes narrow down the date from their records. Cemetery records also help confirm dates. Newspaper archives often have funeral dates even when the death date is unknown. FamilySearch indexes can also confirm death years for many Florida residents.