FootNote
The new kid on the block, FootNote is known for digitizing historical
documents... many of which are genealogical gems. With naturalizations,
city directories, war records, newspapers, town records, etc... this new
kid is quickly being recognized as an alternative to Ancestry.
While we know our northern friends may not feel it, in the South, Spring is
here. So we thought we'd share a few of our gardening sites appropriate
for this time of the year. Along with gardening, there's grilling, and getting
ready to diet so that you can fit back into that bathing suit this summer!
Vital records, as their name
suggests, are connected with central life events: birth, marriage, and
death. Maintained by civil authorities, they are prime sources of
genealogical information; but, unfortunately, official vital records are
available only for relatively recent periods. These records, despite their
recent creation in the United States, are critically important in
genealogical research, often supplying details on family members well back
into the nineteenth century.
The Source: A Guidebook of American Genealogy,
by Loretto Szucs and Sandra Luebking.
Office of Vital
Statistics, Dept of Health
Dept of Health P.O. Box 210, 1217 Pearl Street
Jacksonville, FL 32231
(904) 359-6900
Make check payable to Office of Vital Statistics
Ancestry.com
Florida State Database
A large collection of databases of births, deaths, marriages, census,
obituaries, directories, estate records, and service records.
You must explain your relationship to the person whose record you are
requesting.
By law, birth records can only be issued to the person to whom the
record is filed, if at least 18 years old, or a parent, guardian or
legal representative or upon court order.
Limited Florida births were recorded between the years 1865 and 1917
Birth records become public records 100 years following the birth.
If the person for whom the record is filed is deceased, upon receipt
of death certificate, the birth certification can be mailed to the
spouse, child, grandchild, sibling, if of legal age, or a legal
representative of any of these persons as well as to the parent.
Death$5.00
Since Jan 1917
Office of death records: (904) 359-6934
The death you are requesting must have occurred in Florida.
If the death did not occur in Florida, contact the vital
statistics office in the state where the death occurred.
Limited Florida deaths were recorded between the years of 1877 and
1917.
Cause of death information becomes public information 50 years
following the death. Prior to that time frame, cause of death is
considered confidential by Florida law.
If you are requesting the cause of death, you must explain your
relationship to the person whose record you are requesting. If a
relationship is not stated, you will be issued a certified copy excluding
cause of death information.
By law, certification of death records which includes cause of death
information can only be issued to the following:
the decedent's spouse, parent, and (if of legal age) child,
grandchild, or sibling, or any person who provides a will, insurance
policy or other document demonstrating their interest in the estate of
the decedent or any person who provides documentation that he or she
is acting on the behalf of any of the before named persons.)
or by court order directing Vital Statistics whom to issue a death
record to.
To order a death certificate by either mail or fax, provide a signed
letter which includes the following information:
Information about the person whose record is being requested:
full name of the deceased person
sex
date of death (month, day, year or series of years to be searched)
city or county of death
Information about the person making the request:
full name
relationship to the decedent, if requesting cause of death
information
mailing address
telephone number where you can be reached during our office
Send a check or money order made payable to the "Office of Vital
Statistics"
The marriage record you are concerned with must have occurred in
Florida.
If the marriage did not occur in Florida, contact the vital
statistics office in the state where the marriage occurred.
Marriage records dating back to June 1927. Records before this date
are only available from the clerk of the circuit court in the county
where the marriage license was issued.
Marriage records filed in the office beginning 1972 also include the
marriage application.
To order a marriage certificate by either mail or fax, provide a
signed letter which includes the following information:
Information about the record being requested:
full names of the husband and wife, including wife's maiden name
date of marriage
city or county where marriage license was issued
Information about the person making the request:
full name
mailing address
telephone number where you can be reached during our office hours
Send a check or money order made payable to the "Office of Vital
Statistics."
Send the information described above along with the fee to above
address.
The divorce you are concerned with must have occurred in Florida.
If the divorce did not occur in Florida, contact the vital
statistics office in the state where the divorce occurred.
Florida divorces dating from June 1927. Divorces occurring before
this date are only available from the clerk of the circuit court in the
county where the divorce was granted.
The fee for a divorce report is $5.00 for one certification and $4.00
for each additional certification of the same record when ordered at the
same time.
No restrictions exist for ordering these records.
The fee is required for a search of our records and is
non-refundable, even if the record requested is not located. In such a
case, a certified "not found" statement will be provided.
Duplicate copy fees for records "not found" may be refunded if the
applicant sends a letter of request.
To order a divorce record by either mail or fax, provide a signed
letter which includes the following information:
Information about the record being requested:
full names of the husband and wife, including wife's maiden name
date of the divorce
city or county where divorce was granted
The name of the husband is required because divorce records are
indexed under the name of the husband only.
Information about the person making the request:
full name
mailing address
telephone number where you can be reached during our office hours
Send a check or money order made out to "Office of Vital Statistics"
Send the information described above along with the fee to
Ancestry.com
Florida Marriages, 1822-50
Ceded by Spain to the United States in 1821, Florida became a territory in
that year and was granted statehood in 1845. This database is a collection
of marriage records from the area between 1822 and 1850. Researchers will
find the names of both bride and groom along with the marriage date. The
county where the ceremony was performed is also provided. Containing the
names of nearly 7000 men and women, this collection can be a tremendous
aid to those seeking ancestors from Florida territory. (Requires
Ancestry.com Membership)
Get 14 Days Free Access!!!
