Duval County Florida obituary records give people a way to learn about someone who has passed away. These records list the names of people, their ages, when they died, and where their funeral was held. Many obituaries also share family names and where the person lived. Jacksonville is the main city in Duval County. The Florida Times-Union newspaper has printed obituaries there for more than one hundred years. You can search old and new obituaries through libraries, funeral home websites, and online databases.
What Are Duval County Obituary Records
Duval County obituary records are short notices about people who died in Duval County. These notices are usually printed in newspapers like the Florida Times-Union. They tell the story of a person’s life. Most obituaries include the full name of the person who died. They also show the date of death, the age, and the city where the person lived. Family members often write obituaries. They share where the person was born, what job they had, and who is still alive in their family. Many obituaries also list the date, time, and place of the funeral or memorial service.
Types of Obituary Records Available
There are different kinds of obituary records you can look at in Duval County. The most common type is the newspaper obituary. These appear in daily or weekly papers. Funeral home obituaries are another type. Funeral homes post these on their own websites. Memorial websites are also popular. Sites like Legacy.com let families post obituaries for free. Old obituaries from the 1800s and early 1900s may only exist on microfilm at libraries. Some have been scanned and placed online. Court probate records sometimes mention obituaries too. These records come from the Duval County Clerk of Court.
Obituaries Versus Death Certificates
Obituaries and death certificates are not the same thing. A death certificate is a legal paper from the state of Florida. It shows the cause of death and is signed by a doctor. The Florida Department of Health keeps these records. An obituary is a short story about the person. A funeral home or family writes it. Anyone can read an obituary. Death certificates have rules about who can see them. In Florida, the cause of death is hidden for fifty years. Obituaries do not show the cause of death in most cases. Both records help with family research, but they serve different jobs.
Where to Search for Duval County Obituary Records
Several places hold obituary records for Duval County. Each place has its own search method. Some are free. Others charge a fee or require a paid subscription. The most complete source is the Florida Times-Union newspaper archive. The Jacksonville Public Library also has a strong collection. Funeral home websites give recent obituaries. Large genealogy websites cover older records from across the state. The Florida State Archives in Tallahassee also hold some records from Duval County.
Florida Times-Union Newspaper Archive
The Florida Times-Union is the main newspaper in Jacksonville. It has been printed since the 1800s. The paper has printed death notices and obituaries for over one hundred years. The full archive can be searched on the newspaper’s website for recent records. Older issues are on microfilm at the Jacksonville Public Library. The library also has digital scans of many issues. You can search the archive by name, year, or section. Many libraries across the United States also keep microfilm copies of the Times-Union.
Jacksonville Public Library Resources
The Jacksonville Public Library has a large local history section. This is on the third floor of the Main Library in downtown Jacksonville. Staff there can help you look up old obituaries in the Florida Times-Union. The library has microfilm readers and printers. You can also use online databases for free with a library card. These include Newspapers.com and Ancestry Library Edition. Library staff can show you how to search by name, date, or page number. They also have books about Jacksonville families that may help your search.
Online Genealogy Platforms
Several online websites collect obituary records for Florida. Ancestry.com has a large collection. So does Newspapers.com. Find a Grave is another free site. It lists cemetery burials and often links to obituaries. Legacy.com gathers recent obituaries from newspapers across the country. FamilySearch.org is a free service from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It holds death records, family trees, and indexed records. Each site works a little differently. Some let you search for free. Others ask for a paid membership to see full records.
Funeral Home Websites
Funeral homes in Duval County post obituaries on their own websites. Each home runs its own list of recent deaths. Major funeral homes in Jacksonville include Hardage-Giddens, Naugle Funeral Home, and George H. Hewell and Son Funeral Home. You can visit each home’s website to see the names of people who died recently. Most sites let you search by name. They also show service dates and burial locations. Funeral home obituaries often include photos and short life stories that do not appear in newspapers.
How to Search for Obituaries in Duval County
Searching for obituaries in Duval County is simple when you know where to look. Most searches start with the full name of the person who died. A date of death or year of death helps narrow the search. The city or neighborhood can also help. Many people use more than one search method to find an obituary. A name search may show no results. A date search may show ten names. Using both gives the best chance of a match.
Search by Name
A name search is the most common method. Type the full legal name of the person who died into the search box. Add a middle name if you know it. Try different spellings. Old records may spell names in new ways. Some people use nicknames or short forms. Search both married and maiden names for women. Search using first and last name only. Then search using last name with first initial. Each search may show different records.
Search by Date
You can search obituaries by the date of death. Newspapers print obituaries a few days after a person dies. Look at the date the person died and the date you want to search. Search the newspaper archives for one week after the death. Check the funeral home website for the same week. Some obituaries appear several days later. A date search works best when you know the exact day of death. You can also search by year if you only know the year the person died.
Search by City or Zip Code
Many obituary searches let you filter by city. Duval County includes Jacksonville and the nearby beach towns. These are Jacksonville Beach, Neptune Beach, Atlantic Beach, and Baldwin. Each town has its own zip code. Adding the city to your search can help. The Florida Times-Union lists the city in many obituaries. Funeral home websites also show which city the person lived in. A zip code filter helps when names are common.
Search by Newspaper
The Florida Times-Union is the main paper for Duval County. Other local papers include the Jacksonville Free Press and the Jacksonville Business Journal. Smaller community papers also exist. Each paper has its own archive. Searching by newspaper helps when you know which paper printed the obituary. Most obituary databases let you pick the paper. You can also search Newspapers.com by publication name to narrow your results.
| Search Method | Best Source | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Name search | Funeral home websites, Legacy.com | Free |
| Date search | Florida Times-Union archive | Free to $1 per record |
| City search | Jacksonville Public Library | Free with library card |
| Newspaper search | Newspapers.com | Subscription required |
| Cemetery search | Find a Grave | Free |
Duval County Death Certificates and Vital Records
Death certificates are legal records. The Florida Department of Health keeps these for Duval County. Death certificates show the official cause of death. They also list the person’s full name, date of birth, and date of death. You can use these records along with obituaries to build a full picture of a person’s death. The main office is in Jacksonville. Another office in Tallahassee handles older records from across Florida.
Florida Department of Health Office
The Duval County Department of Health runs the local Vital Statistics office. The address is 3225 University Blvd S, Suite 100, Jacksonville, FL 32216. The phone number is (904) 253-1000. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. This office can give you death certificates for deaths from 2009 to today. Deaths before 2009 go through the state Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville. That office is at 1217 N Pearl Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202. The phone number is (904) 359-6900.
Fees and Processing Times
The Duval County office charges fifteen dollars for the first death certificate. Each extra copy is ten dollars. The state Bureau of Vital Statistics charges five dollars for the first copy. Each extra copy is four dollars. If you do not know the year of death, the state charges two dollars per year searched. This search fee is capped at fifty dollars. VitalChek is the fastest online option. They charge fifteen dollars for the first copy plus a seven dollar fee. Each extra copy is four dollars. Mail orders add one dollar for shipping.
Who Can Request Death Records
Any adult eighteen or older can ask for a public death certificate in Florida. The public version does not show the cause of death. You must show a photo ID. The confidential version includes the cause of death. Florida law hides this for fifty years from the date of death. Only certain people can ask for the confidential version. These include the spouse, parents, adult children, adult grandchildren, adult siblings, people named in the will, and insurance beneficiaries. A court order also gives you the right to ask. You must fill out Form DH 1959 to prove your relationship.
Historical Obituary Records in Duval County
Historical obituaries go back to the 1800s in Duval County. Jacksonville was first called Cowford. The name changed in 1822. Old obituaries from this time are rare. They appear in old newspapers like the Florida Union and the Jacksonville Daily Courier. Many of these papers are on microfilm at the Jacksonville Public Library. The Florida State Archives in Tallahassee also hold copies. Older obituaries often give less detail than modern ones. They may only list the name, age, and date of death.
19th Century Records
Obituaries from the 1800s are hard to find. Few newspapers from this time still exist. The Florida Times-Union began in 1864. Earlier papers are lost. The Florida Memory project at the University of Florida holds scans of many old Florida newspapers. You can search these for free. The Jacksonville Historical Society also has files about early residents. These files sometimes include death dates. Cemetery records are another good source for deaths from this time period. Many Jacksonville cemeteries have their own archives.
20th Century Records
Obituaries from the 1900s are easier to find. The Florida Times-Union printed many every day. Microfilm copies exist at libraries across the country. Newspapers.com has scanned many of these old issues. The Jacksonville Public Library has a strong collection on microfilm. You can also search the Social Security Death Index for free. This federal list shows deaths reported to the Social Security Administration. It covers most deaths from the 1960s to today. Each record shows the name, date of birth, and date of death.
Florida Memory Project
Florida Memory is a free service from the State Library and Archives of Florida. The website is floridamemory.com. It holds scanned newspapers, photographs, letters, and military records. You can search the site by name or topic. Many old obituaries appear in the scanned newspapers. The site also holds death records from the Florida State Archives. These include records from World War I and World War II. They also cover civilian deaths from the 1800s and 1900s. The site is free to use. You do not need an account to search.
Free Versus Paid Obituary Search Options
You can search for Duval County obituaries for free. You can also pay for faster or deeper results. Each choice has good points. Free searches take more time but cost nothing. Paid searches give more records but require a subscription or one-time fee. Many researchers use both. They start with a free search to see what exists. Then they pay for a deeper search if needed.
Free Search Methods
Several places let you search obituaries for free. Legacy.com lets you read recent obituaries at no cost. Find a Grave has burial records and obituaries for free. The Jacksonville Public Library lets you use Newspapers.com and Ancestry for free with a library card. FamilySearch.org is also free. The Florida Memory project lets you search old newspapers at no cost. The Social Security Death Index is free on many websites. Each free site has limits, but together they give a strong search base.
Paid Database Subscriptions
Paid sites give access to more records. Ancestry.com charges about twenty-five dollars per month. Newspapers.com charges about twenty dollars per month. MyHeritage is another paid option. Each site has different records. Ancestry has the strongest collection of Florida death records. Newspapers.com has the best newspaper archive. MyHeritage has records from many countries. You can pay for one month and cancel after your search. Some libraries also offer free access to these sites on library computers.
Duval County Funeral Homes and Obituary Services
Funeral homes in Duval County handle most local obituaries. They write the obituary notice with the family. They also place it in the newspaper. Each home posts the obituary on its own website. Funeral home websites are often the first place a new obituary appears. They show the full text, photos, and service details. The funeral home also keeps a record of every service it handles. Some homes keep records going back many decades.
Major Funeral Homes in Jacksonville
Several large funeral homes serve Duval County. Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home has locations across Jacksonville. Naugle Funeral Home and Cremation Services is another well-known home. George H. Hewell and Son Funeral Home has served Jacksonville for many years. Other homes include Quinn-Shalz Funeral Home and Aaron Allen Burial and Cremation Service. Each home has a website with an obituary section. You can search by name or date. The sites are free to use.
How Funeral Homes Help With Searches
Funeral homes can help you find old obituaries. Call the home that handled the service. Give them the name and date of death. They can look in their records for the obituary text. They can also tell you which newspaper ran the notice. Funeral homes keep records for many years. State law in Florida does not require them to keep records forever, but many homes keep decades of files. A phone call to a funeral home often solves a hard search.
Genealogy Research With Duval County Obituaries
Obituaries are powerful tools for family history research. They show family connections. They name parents, brothers, sisters, and children. They list the city where the person was born. Many obituaries name the cemetery where the person is buried. This helps you find grave records too. Obituaries fill in gaps between census records. They give a snapshot of one person’s life at the time of death.
Building a Family Tree
Obituaries help build a complete family tree. Each obituary may name three or four generations. You can use these names to search census records. Census records give full family groups. Death certificates show parents’ names. Marriage records show spouses. Obituaries tie these records together. They confirm that the right person has been found. Many researchers start with an obituary and work backward to other records.
Connecting Obituaries to Other Records
Obituaries work well with other Florida records. They match with death certificates from the Florida Department of Health. They match with cemetery records on Find a Grave. They match with newspaper articles about the person. They match with probate records at the Duval County Courthouse. Probate records show wills and estate papers. These records list heirs and property. An obituary often names the same heirs. This confirms the family connection.
Contact Information and Office Location
The main office for death certificates in Duval County is the Florida Department of Health office in Jacksonville. You can visit the office in person, mail your request, or order online. The Vital Statistics office handles all death certificate orders for the county. The address, phone, and hours are listed below for your reference.
Duval County Department of Health – Vital Statistics
3225 University Blvd S, Suite 100
Jacksonville, FL 32216
Phone: (904) 253-1000
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Website: duval.floridahealth.gov
Frequently Asked Questions
This section covers common questions about Duval County Florida obituary records. Each answer gives clear facts about how to search, where to look, and what to expect. The questions below come from people who search for obituaries in Jacksonville and the rest of Duval County. They cover free searches, paid records, old obituaries, and family research.
How Do I Find a Free Obituary Search in Duval County?
You can search for free obituaries in Duval County on Legacy.com, Find a Grave, and FamilySearch.org. The Jacksonville Public Library also lets you search Newspapers.com and Ancestry for free with a library card. Each site has different records. Start with Legacy.com for recent deaths. Try Find a Grave for cemetery records. Use FamilySearch for older records. The library gives you the deepest free search. Staff can help you use the microfilm readers and online databases.
What Is the Difference Between a Public and Confidential Death Certificate?
A public death certificate does not show the cause of death. Any adult eighteen or older can ask for one in Florida. A confidential death certificate does show the cause of death. Florida law hides the cause of death for fifty years from the date of death. Only certain people can ask for the confidential version. These include the spouse, parents, adult children, adult grandchildren, adult siblings, people named in the will, and insurance beneficiaries. A court order also gives the right to ask.
Can I Search Old Florida Obituaries From the 1800s?
Yes, you can search old Florida obituaries from the 1800s. The Florida Memory project at the University of Florida has scanned old newspapers. Jacksonville Public Library has microfilm of the Florida Times-Union going back to the 1860s. The Florida State Archives in Tallahassee also hold old records. You can also search cemetery records on Find a Grave. Old obituaries from the 1800s often give less detail than modern ones. They may only show the name, age, and date of death.
How Much Does a Death Certificate Cost in Duval County?
The Duval County Department of Health charges fifteen dollars for the first death certificate. Each extra copy is ten dollars. The state Bureau of Vital Statistics charges five dollars for the first copy. Each extra copy is four dollars. VitalChek charges fifteen dollars for the first copy plus a seven dollar fee. Each extra copy is four dollars. Mail orders add one dollar for shipping. If you do not know the year of death, the state charges two dollars per year searched. This fee is capped at fifty dollars.
Where Can I Search Jacksonville Obituaries by Name?
You can search Jacksonville obituaries by name on Legacy.com, Florida Times-Union online, and funeral home websites. The Jacksonville Public Library also lets you search by name using Newspapers.com and Ancestry Library Edition. FamilySearch.org lets you search by name for free. For best results, try each site with different spellings of the name. Add a year or city to narrow the search. A library card from the Jacksonville Public Library gives you free access to most paid sites.
Are Duval County Obituary Records Public Records?
Obituaries are public once they are published. You do not need to ask for permission to read them. Funeral homes and newspapers post obituaries for anyone to read. Death certificates are different. Florida law treats death certificates as restricted records for fifty years. Only certain people can see the cause of death. Probate records at the Duval County Courthouse are also public. These records often include the death certificate and the will.
Which Newspapers Print Obituaries in Duval County?
The Florida Times-Union is the main newspaper that prints obituaries in Duval County. The Jacksonville Free Press also prints obituaries. The Jacksonville Business Journal prints death notices for business leaders. Small community papers also run obituaries. Funeral homes often place obituaries in the Times-Union by default. You can search the Times-Union archive on the paper’s website or through Newspapers.com. The Jacksonville Public Library also keeps microfilm copies of past issues.