Contact us – Florida Genealogy Records for help reaching the right office for birth, death, marriage, divorce, census, land, military, and immigration records. This page gives you direct phone numbers, websites, mailing addresses, and visiting hours for the offices that hold Florida family history documents.
You can also send a message to our team if you spot a broken link, a wrong phone number, or an outdated fee listed anywhere on our site.
Reach Our Florida Genealogy Records Team
Our small team answers questions about Florida family history research, county record offices, and online genealogy databases. We do not pull records on your behalf, and we do not file paperwork with any state agency. We point you to the right office, the right form, and the right fee so you can order records yourself.
Email Our Genealogy Editors
Send all corrections, link reports, and partnership pitches to our editorial inbox. We answer most messages within three business days. Include the page URL, the line with the error, and the correct data when reporting a mistake on our site.
- Editorial email: editors@floridagenealogyrecords.org
- Corrections: Please attach a screenshot when possible
- Advertising and partnerships: Include your name, company, and a short pitch
- Response time: 1 to 3 business days
Mailing Address for Paper Correspondence
Use our mailing address for letters, printed documents, and corrections by post. We do not accept record requests by mail at this address. All record orders must go directly to the Florida Department of Health, the county Clerk of Court, or the Florida State Archives listed below.
- Florida Genealogy Records
- P.O. Box 1456
- Tallahassee, FL 32302
- United States
Florida Vital Records: Birth, Death, Marriage, Divorce
Florida vital records are the starting point for almost every family tree. The Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, keeps statewide birth and death records from 1917 to today. Marriage and divorce records are filed at the county level by the Clerk of Court. Each office has its own fees, forms, and ordering rules.
Florida Department of Health Bureau of Vital Statistics
The Bureau of Vital Statistics is the official source for Florida birth certificates and Florida death certificates. You can order records online, by mail, or in person at the office in Jacksonville. Same-day service is available for in-person orders with proper ID.
- Address: 1217 Pearl Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202
- Phone: 904-359-6900
- Website: floridahealth.gov/certificates
- Visiting hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Standard search fee: $14.00 per five-year search
- Additional certified copy: $9.00 each
County Clerk of Court Marriage and Divorce Records
Florida marriage licenses and divorce decrees are kept by the Clerk of Court in the county where the event happened. Older records may be at the Florida State Archives. There is no statewide marriage or divorce index before 1927, so you must know the county to order a record.
- Clerk of Court website list: MyFloridaClerks.com
- Phone: Listed per county on the Florida Association of Clerks site
- Marriage license fee: Varies by county, usually $30 to $93.50
- Certified copy fee: $1.00 to $3.00 per page plus a $1.00 search fee
Florida Birth Index and Death Index Lookups
Free Florida birth index searches and Florida death index searches are available on FamilySearch.org. These indexes list the name, year, county, and state file number. The full certificate with parent names and cause of death must be ordered from the Bureau of Vital Statistics.
- Florida Statewide Birth Index: 1865 to 1917 on FamilySearch
- Florida Death Index: 1877 to 1939 on FamilySearch
- Florida Death Index: 1940 to present on Ancestry.com (paid)
- Search by full name, year, and county
Florida Census Records and Federal Population Schedules
Federal census records place your ancestor in a Florida household every ten years from 1830 to 1940. The 1830 census is the earliest Florida federal census. Census records list name, age, sex, race, occupation, and birthplace for each household member. Florida was part of the Louisiana Territory before 1821 and the Florida Territory from 1822 to 1845.
Available Florida Census Years
Florida federal census records are fully indexed on Ancestry.com, FamilySearch, and MyHeritage. The 1940 census images were released in 2012 and are free to search on all three platforms. The 1950 census images were released in 2022 and are searchable by name with full transcription.
- 1830 census: Partial, lost many counties
- 1840 census: Partial, most of Florida
- 1850 census: First to list every household member by name
- 1860 to 1880 census: Available on Ancestry.com
- 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940 census: Indexed and free on FamilySearch
- 1950 census: Released April 2022, free on National Archives site
Florida State Census Records
Florida took state censuses in 1855, 1865, 1866, 1867, and 1935. These records help fill gaps between federal census years. The 1935 Florida state census is indexed on FamilySearch and covers most counties. The 1885 Florida state census was destroyed by fire in 1926.
- 1855 Florida state census: Partial, FamilySearch
- 1865 Florida state census: Partial, FamilySearch
- 1866 Florida state census: Partial, FamilySearch
- 1867 Florida state census: Partial, FamilySearch
- 1935 Florida state census: Most counties, FamilySearch
Florida Mortality Schedules and Slave Schedules
Federal mortality schedules for Florida list deaths from 1850 to 1885. Slave schedules for 1850 and 1860 list the name of each enslaved person under the head of household. Florida did not yet have a separate state schedule for these. Both are on Ancestry.com and free on FamilySearch.
Florida County Genealogy Records by Region
Florida has 67 counties. Each county Clerk of Court holds the local deeds, mortgages, probate files, marriage licenses, and court records. Knowing the right county is the first step. If you do not know the county, check the Florida Place Names database on the State Archives website.
Broward County Genealogy Records
Broward County was created in 1915 from Dade and Palm Beach counties. Records before 1915 are filed in those parent counties. The Broward County Clerk of Court holds court records, deeds, marriage licenses, and probate files from 1915 forward.
- Broward County Clerk of Court: BrowardClerk.org
- Address: 201 SE 6th Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
- Phone: 954-831-4000
- Visiting hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Miami-Dade County Genealogy Records
Miami-Dade County holds records from 1836 when Dade County was created. Early records are also at the Florida State Archives. The Miami-Dade Clerk of Court has a free online search for official records from 1970 to today on the ClerkNet system.
- Miami-Dade Clerk of Court: MiamiDadeClerk.gov
- Address: 73 W Flagler Street, Miami, FL 33130
- Phone: 305-275-1155
- Free online records: 1970 to present
- Older records: 1836 to 1969 at the State Archives
Duval County Genealogy Records
Duval County covers Jacksonville and was created in 1822. Early records are at the Florida State Archives. The Duval County Clerk of Court has free online access to official records from 1962 forward through the records search portal.
- Duval County Clerk of Court: DuvalClerk.com
- Address: 501 W Adams Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202
- Phone: 904-255-2000
- Online records: 1962 to present
Hillsborough County Genealogy Records
Hillsborough County was created in 1834. Tampa is the county seat. The Hillsborough County Clerk of Court holds court records, deeds, marriage licenses, and probate records from 1846. Older records may be at the Florida State Archives in Tallahassee.
- Hillsborough County Clerk of Court: HillsClerk.com
- Address: 419 Pierce Street, Tampa, FL 33602
- Phone: 813-276-8100
- Visiting hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Palm Beach, Orange, and Pinellas County Records
Palm Beach County was created in 1909. Orange County was created in 1845 and holds Orlando. Pinellas County was created in 1912 from Hillsborough. Each Clerk of Court has online search tools for deeds, mortgages, court cases, and marriage licenses from different start years.
| County | Created | Clerk Website | Online Records Start |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palm Beach | 1909 | mypalmbeachclerk.gov | 1968 |
| Orange | 1845 | occompt.com | 1970 |
| Pinellas | 1912 | pinellasclerk.gov | 1963 |
Florida Land Records, Probate Records, and Spanish Grants
Florida land records start with Spanish land grants in the 1700s. After 1821, the United States General Land Office issued federal land patents in Florida. County deed records start when each county was created. Probate records are held by the county Clerk of Court.
Spanish Land Grants and Territorial Records
Florida was under Spanish rule from 1513 to 1763 and again from 1783 to 1821. Spanish land grants in Florida are at the P.K. Yonge Library of Florida History at the University of Florida. The records are indexed and partly digitized through the Florida Memory project.
- Spanish land grants database: floridamemory.com
- P.K. Yonge Library: library.ufl.edu/spec/pkyonge
- East Florida papers: 1784 to 1821
- West Florida papers: 1784 to 1821
Federal Land Patents in Florida
Federal land patents in Florida are searchable on the Bureau of Land Management General Land Office Records site. This is a free site with images of every patent signed. Search by name, state, and county to find homestead, cash sale, and bounty land patents.
- Bureau of Land Management site: glorecords.blm.gov
- Search by name and state of Florida
- Image of every patent is free to view
- Records cover 1821 to 1900s
Florida Probate Records and Estate Files
Probate records in Florida are filed at the county level. They include wills, estate inventories, guardianship papers, and final distributions. Early records are at the Florida State Archives. The State Archives has microfilm of many Florida probate records before 1900.
Florida Military Records and Pension Files
Florida soldiers served in every American war from the War of 1812 through Vietnam. Military service records, pension files, and bounty land warrants are at the National Archives. Florida state militia records from the Civil War era are at the Florida State Archives.
War of 1812 and Seminole War Records
Florida was the site of three Seminole Wars between 1817 and 1858. Pension files for veterans of these wars are at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. Many pension indexes are on Ancestry.com and free on FamilySearch.
- Seminole War pension index: FamilySearch
- War of 1812 pension index: NARA and FamilySearch
- Florida territorial militia rolls: Florida State Archives
Florida Civil War Records
Florida seceded from the Union in January 1861. Over 15,000 Floridians served in the Confederate army. Confederate military service records are on Fold3 and Ancestry.com. Union army records for Florida units are on the National Archives site.
- Confederate service records: Fold3.com
- Union service records: NARA.gov
- Florida Confederate pension applications: Florida State Archives
- Confederate widows pension index: FamilySearch
Florida Spanish-American War and World War Records
Florida soldiers served in the Spanish-American War in 1898 and in World War I and World War II. World War I draft registration cards for Florida men are free on FamilySearch. World War II enlistment records and draft cards are on Ancestry.com and the National Archives site.
Florida Obituaries, Newspapers, and Cemetery Records
Florida obituary search and Florida cemetery records can confirm death dates and link family members. Florida historical newspapers on Newspapers.com and the Library of Congress Chronicling America site cover cities like Jacksonville, Tampa, Miami, and Pensacola from the 1800s forward.
Florida Obituary Search by Year and City
Florida obituaries from 1900 to today are on Newspapers.com, Find A Grave, and Legacy.com. Find A Grave and BillionGraves are the largest free Florida cemetery records sites. Both let users upload photos of gravestones and link them to family trees.
- Find A Grave Florida: findagrave.com
- BillionGraves Florida: billiongraves.com
- Newspapers.com Florida collection: 1900 to today
- Legacy.com obituary search: Free obituary index
Florida Historical Newspapers on Chronicling America
The Library of Congress Chronicling America site has free digitized Florida newspapers from 1836 to 1922. The collection includes papers from Pensacola, Tallahassee, Jacksonville, and St. Augustine. Search by name, place, or year.
- Chronicling America site: chroniclingamerica.loc.gov
- Florida papers digitized: 1836 to 1922
- Florida Memory newspaper collection: 1900s forward
Florida Cemetery Records and Sexton Records
Florida cemetery records include sexton books, burial permits, and cemetery maps. Many county historical societies have indexes for local cemeteries. The Florida State Archives has microfilm of burial records for state-owned cemeteries and for some county cemeteries before 1950.
Florida Immigration Records, Naturalization Records, and Passenger Lists
Florida immigration records include passenger lists at the ports of Pensacola, Tampa, Key West, and Jacksonville. Most passenger lists for Florida ports are from 1900 to 1957. Naturalization records were filed in federal courts in Florida before 1906 and in county courts after that.
Florida Passenger Lists by Port
Key West was one of the busiest ports in the 1800s. Tampa and Jacksonville saw heavy traffic in the early 1900s. Passenger lists for these ports are on Ancestry.com and free on FamilySearch. The records list name, age, occupation, country of birth, and ship name.
- Key West passenger lists: 1840 to 1960
- Pensacola passenger lists: 1820 to 1957
- Jacksonville passenger lists: 1870 to 1957
- Tampa passenger lists: 1900 to 1957
Florida Naturalization Records and Citizenship Files
Federal naturalization records for Florida before 1906 are at the National Archives in Atlanta. After September 1906, naturalizations were handled by the U.S. District Court in Jacksonville, Tampa, Miami, and Pensacola. County-level naturalization records are at the Florida State Archives.
- National Archives at Atlanta: archives.gov/southeast
- Florida naturalization index: FamilySearch
- U.S. District Court files: NARA microfilm publication M2050
Florida State Archives and Florida Memory Digital Collection
The Florida State Archives in Tallahassee holds the official state government records, many county records on microfilm, and private manuscript collections. The Florida Memory digital collection puts thousands of photos, documents, and records online for free.
Florida State Archives Address and Hours
The State Archives is in the R.A. Gray Building in Tallahassee. The building is open to the public for research. Staff can help you with records searches and copies. Parking is available on-site.
- Address: 500 S Bronough Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399
- Phone: 850-245-6719
- Visiting hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Closed on state holidays
- Website: dos.myflorida.com/library-archives
Florida Memory Digital Collection Online
Florida Memory at floridamemory.com has free records including Spanish land grants, Confederate pension files, early marriage records, World War I service cards, photographs, and audio recordings. The site has a free name search tool for many record types.
- Florida Memory site: floridamemory.com
- Free record categories: 20 plus collections
- Photograph collection: 200,000 plus images
- Audio recordings: Florida folk life collection
Free Florida Genealogy Records Online
You can build a Florida family tree without paying a single dollar. FamilySearch.org, the Florida Memory site, and Find A Grave are the three largest free Florida genealogy records sites. Many county historical societies put records on their own websites for free.
FamilySearch Florida Records
FamilySearch.org has the largest free collection of Florida genealogy records. The site has indexes and images for Florida censuses, vital records indexes, county records, and probate files. Anyone can create a free FamilySearch account and start a family tree.
- FamilySearch Florida page: familysearch.org/search/record/results?q.residence=florida
- Florida records count: 30 million plus indexed names
- FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City: Free microfilm loan to local Family History Centers
Florida Historical Society and Public Library Records
The Florida Historical Society in Cocoa Beach has a research library open to the public. Many Florida county public libraries have local history and genealogy rooms with city directories, newspapers on microfilm, and local cemetery indexes. These resources are free to use in person.
- Florida Historical Society: myfloridahistory.org
- Address: 435 Brevard Avenue, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931
- Phone: 321-690-1971
- Public library genealogy rooms: Ask at your local library
Florida Genealogy Records Quick Reference Table
The table below lists the main record types, where to find them, and the cost. Use this as a starting point for any Florida family history research project.
| Record Type | Years Covered | Best Free Source | Best Paid Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birth certificates | 1917 to present | FamilySearch index | Florida Dept of Health |
| Death certificates | 1877 to present | FamilySearch index | Florida Dept of Health |
| Marriage licenses | 1927 to present | County Clerk sites | Ancestry.com |
| Divorce decrees | 1927 to present | County Clerk sites | Ancestry.com |
| Federal census | 1830 to 1950 | FamilySearch | Ancestry.com |
| Federal land patents | 1821 to 1900s | glorecords.blm.gov | Same site |
| Confederate pensions | 1885 to 1940s | Florida Memory | Fold3 |
| Passenger lists | 1820 to 1957 | FamilySearch | Ancestry.com |
| Naturalizations | 1820 to 1956 | FamilySearch | Ancestry.com |
| Obituaries | 1900 to today | Find A Grave | Newspapers.com |
| Cemetery records | 1800s to today | Find A Grave | BillionGraves Plus |
Frequently Asked Questions About Florida Genealogy Records
This section covers common questions from people starting Florida family history research. Each answer lists the exact office, the exact website, and the exact fee. Use these answers to skip the trial-and-error step and go straight to the right record.
How do I get a Florida birth certificate for genealogy?
Order a Florida birth certificate from the Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville. The current search fee is $14.00 for a five-year search. You get one certified copy with each successful search. The bureau holds birth records from 1917 to today. Florida birth records before 1917 are at the Florida State Archives in Tallahassee, and you must order them in person or by mail with a written request. Online ordering is available through VitalChek at vitalchek.com. The Bureau of Vital Statistics phone is 904-359-6900. Visiting hours are Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 1217 Pearl Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202.
Where can I search free Florida death records?
Search free Florida death index records on FamilySearch.org for deaths from 1877 to 1939. For deaths from 1940 to today, the Ancestry.com Florida Death Index is the largest paid index with full name, date, and county. Florida Memory also has a free Florida death index for the early years. The free indexes give you the state file number. Use the file number to order the death certificate from the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics for $14.00. The certificate lists cause of death, parents, and burial location, which the index does not show.
What Florida marriage records are available for free?
Free Florida marriage records are on FamilySearch for many counties and years. The Florida Memory site has early Florida marriage records from 1837 to 1974 for many counties. County Clerk of Court sites have marriage license records for the years after their online search portal went live. Marriage records before 1927 are at the county level. There is no statewide Florida marriage index before 1927. The Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics does not hold marriage records. You must contact the Clerk of Court in the county where the marriage license was filed.
How do I find Florida census records for free?
Search free Florida census records on FamilySearch.org from 1850 to 1940. The 1950 census is on the National Archives site at 1950census.archives.gov. The 1830 and 1840 censuses are partial but free on FamilySearch. Florida state censuses from 1855, 1865, 1866, 1867, and 1935 are also on FamilySearch. The 1885 Florida state census was destroyed in the 1926 courthouse fire. You can search by name, year, and county. You can also browse by county and township for unindexed records. Download and save census images for free.
Where are Florida probate records held?
Florida probate records are held by the county Clerk of Court for the county where the person died. Records from 1900 forward are usually still at the courthouse. Records before 1900 are on microfilm at the Florida State Archives in Tallahassee. The State Archives microfilm collection is free to use in person. FamilySearch has indexes and some images for Florida probate records. Ancestry.com also has Florida probate records for selected counties. Each Clerk of Court charges a per-page copy fee and a search fee.
Are Florida Civil War records free to search?
Yes, indexes to Florida Civil War records are free on FamilySearch. Confederate service records and pension files are on Fold3, which requires a paid subscription. Florida Confederate pension applications from 1885 to 1940 are on the Florida Memory site for free. Florida Union soldiers served in units from other states. Search for them on the National Archives Civil War soldier index at nps.gov/civilwar/soldiers. You can also view military service records free on Fold3 with a free guest account.
Can I view Florida newspapers from the 1800s for free?
Yes, the Library of Congress Chronicling America site has free Florida newspapers from 1836 to 1922. Florida Memory has free Florida newspapers from 1900 to 1940 for selected cities. Newspapers.com has a Florida collection that requires a paid subscription. Find A Grave and newspapers on the Florida Memory site let you search obituaries by name and year. Use the city name and the year to narrow your search. Old Florida newspapers give you marriage notices, death notices, court news, and land sale ads that help with genealogy research.