Brevard County Florida obituary records are public documents that list people who died in Brevard County, Florida. These records include death notices, memorial notices, and full obituaries from local newspapers, funeral homes, and government offices.
You can search them by name, year, city, or funeral home. Many older records are free to view through state archives, library collections, and online databases. Newer records go back to 2009 at the county level, and the state has records from 1877 to today.
What These Records Include
Brevard County Florida obituary records come in three main forms. Each form has different facts and serves a different purpose. Knowing the difference helps you pick the right record for your search.
Death Notices
A death notice is a short paid announcement. The funeral home or family writes it. It lists the person’s name, age, date of death, and funeral details. Death notices often appear in the local paper within a few days of the death. They cost less than a full obituary and contain fewer details.
Full Obituaries
A full obituary tells the story of the person who died. It lists the person’s birth date, parents, siblings, spouse, children, work history, hobbies, and where they lived. Most full obituaries run between 200 and 600 words. Families write them with help from the funeral home. Florida Today and other Brevard County papers print these obituaries in print and online.
Death Certificates
A death certificate is a legal paper filed by the Florida Department of Health. It lists the person’s full name, date of birth, date of death, place of death, and cause of death. Death certificates cost money. The Florida Department of Health in Brevard County keeps them from 2009 to the present. The state Bureau of Vital Statistics keeps all older records.
Florida Memory and Free Archives
Several free sources hold old Brevard County Florida obituary records. These archives help with genealogy research and family history projects. No fee is needed for most of these searches.
Florida Memory Project
The Florida Memory Project is a free digital archive run by the State Library and Archives of Florida. It has old newspapers, photos, maps, and records from all 67 Florida counties. The site covers Brevard County papers from the 1900s forward. You can search by name, date, or paper name. The site also has the Florida Photographic Collection with pictures of people, places, and events from the Space Coast.
FamilySearch
FamilySearch is a free genealogy site run by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It has Florida death records, cemetery records, and obituary indexes. The Brevard County collection on FamilySearch includes records from the early 1900s. You need a free account to view most records. The site lets you save records to a family tree and share them with relatives.
Brevard County Library System
The Brevard County Library System has 17 branches across the county. The Central Brevard Library and Reference Center in Cocoa holds the local history and genealogy collection. The collection has microfilm rolls of Florida Today going back to 1966. It also has census records, city directories, and high school yearbooks. Library staff can help you set up a free guest pass to paid databases like Ancestry Library Edition and Newspapers.com.
Local Newspaper Obituaries
Newspapers publish most obituaries in Brevard County. Florida Today is the main daily paper. Other papers cover Brevard County as well.
Florida Today
Florida Today is the daily paper for Brevard County. It started in 1966 and covers Titusville, Cocoa, Melbourne, Palm Bay, and the Space Coast. The paper publishes obituaries each day. Online obituaries go back to the early 2000s. You can view recent obituaries for free on the Florida Today website. Older obituaries need a paid subscription or a library visit. The paper keeps a print archive at the Central Brevard Library in Cocoa.
Other Local Papers
Smaller papers cover parts of Brevard County. The Hometown News has editions for Brevard County with local obituaries. The Brevard Times and Space Coast Daily also publish death notices. Each paper has its own website with an obituary section. You can search these sites by name, date, or city. Funeral homes often link to the paper that ran the obituary.
Major Funeral Home Obituaries
Funeral homes in Brevard County post obituaries on their own websites. These pages stay online for years and form a key part of the local record.
Beach Funeral Homes
Beach Funeral Homes serves families in Melbourne, Palm Bay, and the southern part of Brevard County. The website lists obituaries going back more than ten years. Each post has the full obituary text, a photo, and service details. You can search by name or date. The site also has a sympathy book where visitors leave notes for the family.
Brownlie & Maxwell Funeral Home
Brownlie & Maxwell Funeral Home is in Melbourne. The site has obituaries and service records for families in Melbourne and the surrounding area. Each post lists the person’s life story, family members, and where to send flowers. The funeral home updates the site each day. Older posts stay online in the archive section.
Other Local Funeral Homes
Other funeral homes in Brevard County include Ammen Family Cremation & Funeral Care in Palm Bay, Funeral Services by Wylie in Cocoa, and North Brevard Funeral Home in Titusville. Each site has its own obituary section. The funeral home that handled the service usually writes the obituary. Most funeral homes in Brevard County work with Legacy.com to share obituaries on a national feed.
Online Obituary Databases
National obituary databases pull records from newspapers, funeral homes, and state archives. They help you search across many sources at once.
Legacy.com
Legacy.com is the largest obituary database in the United States. It works with more than 1,500 papers, including Florida Today, Miami Herald, and Orlando Sentinel. You can search for Brevard County obituaries by name, year, or city. Recent obituaries are free to view. Older obituaries need a paid subscription. Legacy.com also has a guest book feature for leaving messages.
Ancestry.com
Ancestry.com has Florida obituary records, death indexes, and cemetery records. The Florida Death Index covers 1877 to 1998. The U.S. Cemetery and Funeral Home Collection has records from funeral homes across the state. A paid subscription is needed to view most records. Ancestry.com partners with FamilySearch to share some free records.
Newspapers.com
Newspapers.com is a paid database with historical papers from all 50 states. It has Florida papers going back to the 1800s. The site covers small town papers from Brevard County and other parts of Florida. You can search by name, year, or keyword. A paid subscription is needed for full access. Many Brevard County libraries offer free access to Newspapers.com on site.
Death Certificate Orders
Death certificates are the legal part of the record. You need them for insurance, estate, and other legal matters. Brevard County handles certificates through the Florida Department of Health.
How to Order
You can order a Brevard County death certificate three ways. You can visit the Viera office in person. You can mail a request to the Viera address. You can order online through VitalChek. Each method costs a different amount and takes a different amount of time. Pick the method that fits your needs and timeline.
Fees and Payment
The base fee for a death certificate is $5. This covers the search and one certified copy. Each extra copy ordered at the same time costs $4. Mail orders take 2 to 3 weeks. Online orders through VitalChek cost $15 for the first copy plus $7 for processing. VitalChek orders take 5 to 7 business days by mail. Rush delivery costs more.
What You Need
Bring a valid photo ID when you order in person. Fill out Form DH727. List the person’s full name, date of birth, date of death, and place of death. The Social Security number helps the office find the record faster. Mail orders need a copy of your photo ID, a check or money order, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Make the payment out to the Florida Department of Health.
Historical and Genealogy Records
Brevard County has records going back to the 1800s. The county formed in 1855. Older records sit at the state level. The county level holds newer records.
Pre-2009 Records
For deaths before 2009, contact the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville. The address is 1217 N Pearl St, Jacksonville, FL 32202. The phone number is (904) 359-6900. The email is VitalStats@FLHealth.gov. The state keeps all Florida death records from 1877 to the present. Pre-2009 records cost a little more. The state adds $2 per year searched when the year is not known. Pre-2009 records pulled from the state archive cost a $10 rush fee.
Brevard County History
Brevard County formed in 1855 from parts of St. Lucie and Brevard counties. The county seat is Titusville. The county sits along the Space Coast and covers more than 1,000 square miles. Cocoa, Melbourne, and Palm Bay are the largest cities. The Kennedy Space Center sits within the county. Death records from the early 1900s often list a cause of death. Common causes included tuberculosis, flu, and accidents.
Florida Laws and Privacy Rules
Florida law controls who can see death records. The rules protect privacy but allow public access for most records.
Public Records
Florida law makes death certificates public records. Any adult 18 or older can get a copy without showing a family tie. Section 119.071 of the Florida Statutes black out the first five digits of the Social Security number. This version of the record has the name, dates, and place of death. It does not list the cause of death.
Cause of Death Records
The full record with cause of death is closed for 50 years. Only certain people can see it. Allowed people include a surviving spouse, parent, adult child or grandchild, adult sibling, or someone with a legal interest in the estate. DH Form 1959 is the affidavit used to request this version. A court order can also give access. Insurance companies and lawyers need this version to settle claims and close estates.
Penalties for False Requests
Florida law makes it a third-degree felony to give false facts on a vital records request. The penalty can include prison time and fines. Always give your real name and bring current photo ID. The state tracks false requests and does press charges in serious cases.
Brevard County Office Details
The Florida Department of Health in Brevard County runs the local vital records office. The main office sits in Viera.
Main Office
The Brevard County DOH main office is at 2555 Judge Fran Jamieson Way, Viera, FL 32940. The phone number is (321) 633-2100. The website is brevard.floridahealth.gov. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Parking is free. The office sits near the Brevard County Government Center. You can call ahead to check wait times or confirm a record is on file.
Satellite Offices
Brevard County has satellite offices in Titusville, Melbourne, and other parts of the county. Not every office handles death certificates. Call the main Viera office first to find the closest location that handles vital records. The county stretches more than 70 miles from north to south, so satellite offices save driving time for many residents.
Tips for Your Search
These tips help you find the records you need faster. Use more than one source for the best results.
Search Tips
Start with the person’s full legal name. Try spelling variations if you do not find the record. Search by year, then by city, if the name is common. Use a date range of 2 to 3 years for people born before 1930. Look at funeral home websites in the city where the person lived. Check the local library for microfilm records that are not online yet.
Spelling Variations
Old records often have spelling variations. Names like Smith, Schmidt, and Smidt can show up in the same family. Search for all three spellings if you cannot find the record. First names had different spellings too. Margaret, Margret, and Marguerite were all common. The state death index uses the spelling on the death certificate, which may differ from what the family used later.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are common questions people ask about Brevard County Florida obituary records. These answers cover the most asked topics about searches, fees, and rules.
How far back do Brevard County death records go?
Brevard County death records at the local DOH go back to 2009. The state Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville keeps all Florida death records from 1877 to the present. The Florida Memory Project has old newspaper obituaries from the 1900s. FamilySearch has Florida death indexes covering 1877 to 1998. Use the state office for records before 2009, and use libraries or online databases for older obituary text.
Can I get a death certificate the same day?
Same day service is rare. The Viera office does not promise same day orders. In-person orders take 3 to 5 business days for standard processing. Mail orders take 2 to 3 weeks. Online orders through VitalChek take 5 to 7 business days. Rush service through VitalChek can speed up shipping but not the search itself. Plan ahead for legal needs like insurance claims.
Are Brevard County obituaries free?
Many obituary searches are free. Florida Memory, FamilySearch, and funeral home websites let you view records at no cost. Florida Today lists recent obituaries on its website for free. Legacy.com shows recent obituaries for free. Older obituaries on Legacy.com, Ancestry.com, and Newspapers.com need a paid subscription. Death certificates always cost money, starting at $5 for the first copy.
What if I do not know the exact year of death?
The state adds $2 per year searched when the year is not known. The max search fee is $50. Use a date range to lower the cost. Try a 5 to 10 year range based on the person’s age. The Florida Death Index 1877-1998 on Ancestry.com and FamilySearch lets you search by name without a year. This helps you find the year before you order a certificate.
Can anyone get a death certificate in Florida?
Any adult 18 or older can get a death certificate without the cause of death. No family tie is needed. The certificate shows the name, dates, and place of death. The Social Security number has the first five digits blocked out. Cause of death records need a family tie or legal interest. The full record is closed for 50 years from the date of death.
What is the difference between an obituary and a death notice?
A death notice is a short paid announcement. It lists the name, age, date of death, and funeral details. A full obituary tells the life story. It lists parents, siblings, spouse, children, work, and hobbies. Death notices cost less. Full obituaries cost more. Funeral homes write most full obituaries with input from the family. Local papers print both forms.
How do I find old obituaries from the early 1900s?
Old obituaries from the early 1900s sit in newspaper archives. The Florida Memory Project has many of these papers online. The Brevard County Library has microfilm rolls at the Central Brevard Library in Cocoa. FamilySearch has indexes that point to the right paper and date. Newspapers.com has paid access to historical papers. A local librarian can help you find records that are not online yet.