Pinellas County Florida obituary records are public files that list people who died in this region. These records cover deaths from the early 1900s through today.
You can search them through local offices, newspaper archives, funeral homes, and free online databases. This page shows you every place to search and how to get a copy of a death certificate.
Pinellas County Vital Records Office Location
The Pinellas County vital records office sits inside the Florida Department of Health building in Largo. This office handles all death certificates filed in the county since 2009. The office also helps with birth and marriage records. It serves the entire county, including St. Petersburg, Clearwater, and Largo.
Office Address and Hours
The office sits at 8751 Ulmerton Road, Suite 1700, Largo, FL 33771. Parking is free. Office hours run Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The office is closed on weekends and state holidays. The main phone number is 727-507-4330, extension 6316.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Office Name | Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County |
| Street Address | 8751 Ulmerton Road, Suite 1700 |
| City and Zip | Largo, FL 33771 |
| Phone | 727-507-4330 ext 6316 |
| Hours | Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Website | pinellas.floridahealth.gov |
The office sits near the Largo Mall area off Ulmerton Road. Staff can confirm if a death record is on file. They can also tell you what papers to bring for your request.
How to Make an Appointment
You should call ahead before visiting the office. Appointments are the only way to skip the wait. Walk-in visitors are served after all scheduled appointments finish. Calling 727-507-4330 ext 6316 sets up your time slot. The staff can also answer questions by phone during business hours.
The Pinellas County DOH main page is the starting point for death record services. This portal connects Pinellas County residents with health department services and vital records.
How to Request a Death Certificate
You can get a death certificate in three ways. Each method has its own cost and timeline. Pick the one that fits your needs and budget. All methods give you a certified copy that works for legal matters.
In-Person Requests
Go to the Pinellas County DOH office at 8751 Ulmerton Road in Largo. Bring a valid photo ID. Fill out the DH727 form. You will need the full name of the person who died, the date of death, and the county of death. Date of birth and Social Security number help but are not required. Most same-day requests are done while you wait. Some take 3 to 5 business days.
Mail-In Requests
Mail your request to 8751 Ulmerton Rd, Suite 1700, Largo, FL 33771. Include a completed DH727 form. Add a photocopy of your photo ID. Send a check or money order for $9 made out to the Florida Department of Health. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope. Mail requests take 2 to 3 weeks. Never mail cash.
This section covers forms, fees, and instructions for all certificate orders in Pinellas County. The certificates page shows the full process.
Online Requests Through VitalChek
VitalChek is the only online vendor the state approves. Go to vitalchek.com to start your order. The first certificate costs $15 plus a $7 processing fee. Extra copies cost $4 each. Pay with a credit or debit card. Standard delivery takes 5 to 7 business days. Rush shipping costs more but speeds up delivery.
Death Certificate Costs in Pinellas County
Fees change based on where you order. The Pinellas County office, the state office in Jacksonville, and VitalChek all charge different prices. Always call to confirm the current fee before sending payment.
Local Office Fees
The first certified copy of a death certificate costs $9 at the Largo office. Each extra copy ordered at the same time costs $8. A rush fee of $5 may apply for fast service. These rates apply for both in-person and mail requests made directly to the county office.
State Office Fees
The state Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville charges $5 for a search that includes one copy. Extra copies cost $4 each. If you do not know the exact year of death, the state charges $2 per year searched, up to a $50 cap. Pre-2009 records may carry a $10 rush fee. A $1 shipping fee applies to each order.
VitalChek Online Fees
VitalChek charges $15 for the first certificate. A $7 processing fee applies. Extra copies cost $4 each. One copy totals $22 through VitalChek. This is the most costly route but the only online option the state allows.
| Source | First Copy | Extra Copies | Other Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pinellas DOH Office | $9 | $8 each | $5 rush fee |
| State Office Jacksonville | $5 | $4 each | $1 shipping, $2 per year searched |
| VitalChek Online | $15 | $4 each | $7 processing fee |
Call the Pinellas County DOH at 727-507-4330 ext 6316 to confirm the latest fees before you send your request.
Death Certificate Types
Florida issues two types of death certificates. The type you can get depends on who you are and why you need it. Each type has different rules about who can request a copy.
Standard Death Certificate
A death certificate without cause of death is a public record. Anyone 18 or older can request it. No family tie is needed. The certificate shows the name, date of death, place of death, and other facts. Social Security numbers are partly hidden under Florida law. This type works for most legal, property, and admin tasks.
Death Certificate With Cause
A death certificate with cause of death stays private for 50 years. Only certain people can request this type. Eligible requesters include a surviving spouse, parent, child or grandchild 18 or older, sibling 18 or older, or someone with an estate or insurance claim. A court order also qualifies. You may need to fill out DH Form 1959 to prove you qualify.
Pinellas County Obituary Sources
Obituaries are short death notices published in newspapers or online. They often list family names, funeral dates, and life stories. Pinellas County has many places to search for these notices.
Tampa Bay Times Obituaries
The Tampa Bay Times is the main daily paper for Pinellas County. It publishes obituaries every day. You can search current notices on tampabaytimes.com. Past notices are available through the paper’s archive and library databases. The paper also ran as the St. Petersburg Times until 2012.
Local Funeral Home Notices
Funeral homes in Pinellas County post obituaries on their own websites. These notices often have more detail than newspaper versions. Major funeral homes in the area include Anderson McQueen, Bay Pines, and Garden of Memories. Each home keeps records going back many years.
St. Petersburg Times Archive
Old St. Petersburg Times issues are scanned and searchable through library tools. The Pinellas Public Library Cooperative offers free access to newspaper databases. You can use these at any branch library in the county. The Tampa Bay Times also keeps its own archive online with a paid subscription.
Free Online Obituary Databases
Several websites let you search Florida obituaries for free. These tools pull from newspapers, funeral homes, and public records. They work well for both recent and old death notices.
Find a Grave Florida
Find a Grave is a free website with millions of grave records. You can search by name, county, or cemetery. Each listing often has a photo of the headstone plus an obituary. The site covers every Florida county. Volunteers add new records each day. The site also links to family trees on Ancestry.
FamilySearch Florida
FamilySearch is a free genealogy site run by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It has Florida death records, obituaries, and cemetery listings. The site also offers free how-to guides for new users. You can search from any computer with internet access.
Florida Memory Project
The Florida Memory Project is a free online resource from the State Library and Archives of Florida. It has historical documents, photographs, and records that can help with family research. The site covers all Florida counties, including Pinellas. The collection goes back to the early 1800s.
Paid Genealogy Services
Paid sites offer deeper records and better search tools. They cost money but often have what free sites miss. Many libraries give free access to these sites from their computers.
Ancestry.com Death Records
Ancestry.com has Florida death indexes, obituary scans, and cemetery records. A paid subscription gives you full access. Many libraries offer free Ancestry use inside their buildings. The Florida Death Index on Ancestry covers deaths from 1877 to recent years.
Newspapers.com Archives
Newspapers.com scans old newspaper pages from across the country. It includes Florida papers like the Tampa Bay Times, Orlando Sentinel, and Miami Herald. A paid subscription lets you search and read full pages. The site is great for old obituaries that free sites do not have.
Historical Records Before 2009
Pinellas County death records at the DOH office start in 2009. For anything older, you need to look at state and national sources. The state has kept Florida death records since 1877.
State Bureau of Vital Statistics
The state Bureau of Vital Statistics holds all Florida death records. The office sits at 1217 N Pearl St, Jacksonville, FL 32202. Call (904) 359-6900 for help. You can also email VitalStats@FLHealth.gov. The state can search for records you cannot find at the county level.
Florida State Archives
The State Library and Archives of Florida holds old death records, newspapers, and other documents. The archives sit in Tallahassee. Many records are scanned and free to view online. The collection includes Pinellas County records from before the county was formed in 1912.
Florida Death Records Laws
Florida has rules about who can see death records and when. These laws protect privacy while still letting the public get basic records.
Public Records Access
Florida law gives the public broad access to government records. This is called the Sunshine Law. It covers state, county, and city agencies. Death records without cause of death fall under this law. Anyone 18 or older can get a copy.
Privacy Rules
Cause of death stays private for 50 years from the date of death. Social Security numbers are always hidden on public copies. Giving false facts on a vital records application is a third-degree felony. Always bring proper ID and tell the truth on all forms.
Cities in Pinellas County
Pinellas County contains several large cities. Death records for all cities in the county are processed through the Largo office. The city where a death happened does not change which office handles the record.
- St. Petersburg
- Clearwater
- Largo
- Pinellas Park
- Dunedin
- Tarpon Springs
- Safety Harbor
- Oldsmar
- Gulfport
- Seminole
Each of these cities is part of Pinellas County. The Largo vital records office handles all death certificates for people who died in these cities.
Nearby Counties
Pinellas County borders two other Florida counties. Each neighbor has its own DOH office. If a death happened in a bordering county, you need to contact that county’s office instead.
| County | Main City | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hillsborough County | Tampa | Borders Pinellas to the east |
| Pasco County | New Port Richey | Borders Pinellas to the north |
If you are not sure which county a death happened in, call the Pinellas County DOH first. Staff can help you figure out the right office to contact.
Florida Obituary Search Tips
A good search takes time and a few tries. Most people find what they need by checking more than one source. These tips help you get better results.
Use Multiple Names
Search for nicknames and maiden names. Many older records use a middle name or initials. Try every name a person may have used. Spouses’ names also appear in many obituaries, so search those too.
Check Date Ranges
Death dates can be off by a year in older records. Search a range of years around the date you think is right. Funeral dates and burial dates can also help narrow the search when the death date is not known.
Verify With Death Certificates
Obituaries sometimes have small errors in names or dates. A death certificate has the legal facts. If you need correct data for legal matters, order a certified copy from the vital records office.
Contact Information and Hours
Pinellas County vital records office contact details are listed below for your use. The office is open during regular business hours on weekdays.
- Office: Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County
- Address: 8751 Ulmerton Rd, Suite 1700, Largo, FL 33771
- Phone: 727-507-4330 ext 6316
- Website: pinellas.floridahealth.gov
- Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
State Bureau of Vital Statistics contact for older records: 1217 N Pearl St, Jacksonville, FL 32202. Phone: (904) 359-6900. Email: VitalStats@FLHealth.gov.
FAQ
The questions below cover common issues people face when searching for obituary and death records in Pinellas County. Each answer gives clear steps you can take right away.
How do I find a free obituary in Pinellas County?
Start with Find a Grave and FamilySearch, both free websites. Search by the full name and the county. Next, check the Tampa Bay Times website for recent notices. Old Tampa Bay Times notices are free at any Pinellas County library branch through the newspaper database. Funeral home websites also post free obituaries. The Florida Memory Project has older records for genealogy work. If these free tools do not work, the state archives in Tallahassee may have what you need.
What is the difference between a death certificate and an obituary?
A death certificate is a legal file filed by a doctor or funeral home. It has the name, date of death, place of death, and cause of death. An obituary is a short notice a family writes and sends to a newspaper or funeral home. Obituaries often list family members, jobs, and funeral details. Death certificates work for legal matters. Obituaries work for family research and life stories. Both can be useful for different reasons.
Can I get a death certificate the same day in Pinellas County?
Yes, most in-person requests at the Largo office are done while you wait. You need to fill out the DH727 form and show a photo ID. The cost is $9 for the first copy and $8 for each extra copy ordered at the same time. Mail and online orders take longer. Mail takes 2 to 3 weeks. Online through VitalChek takes 5 to 7 business days for standard delivery. Rush options are available for extra cost.
How far back do Pinellas County death records go?
The Pinellas County DOH office keeps death records from 2009 to today. For older records, contact the state Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville. The state has Florida death records going back to 1877. Pinellas County was formed in 1912. Before that date, the area was part of Hillsborough County. Old records may be filed under Hillsborough County instead of Pinellas.
Are Florida death records public to everyone?
Death certificates without cause of death are public records in Florida. Anyone 18 or older can request a copy. No family tie is needed. Death certificates with cause of death are private for 50 years. Only close family members, estate representatives, and people with a court order can get a copy with cause of death. Social Security numbers are always hidden on public copies under Florida law.
What if the person died in another Florida county?
You must contact the vital records office in the county where the death happened. Each Florida county has its own DOH office. The state Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville can also help you find records from any county. They can search for you and send a copy. If you do not know which county, the state office can help you figure it out based on the city or zip code.
Can I search Tampa Bay Times obituaries from 1980 or earlier?
Yes, old Tampa Bay Times issues are searchable through library databases. The Pinellas Public Library Cooperative gives free access to these tools at any branch. The Tampa Bay Times was called the St. Petersburg Times until 2012. Old issues are scanned and full-text searchable. Some issues from the early 1900s are also on Newspapers.com, but that site requires a paid subscription for full access.