Melbourne City Florida genealogy records help you trace family lines that lived in Brevard County since the 1800s. These files include birth certificates, death files, marriage licenses, land deeds, and church books kept at the county clerk office and the Florida State Archives.
You can search most files from home using free online databases, paid sites, and the Brevard County public library genealogy section. This page covers each record type, where to search for it, and how to use it for your Melbourne ancestors. Each section gives the office name, the file dates, and the search method.
What Melbourne Records Can Tell You
Genealogy records for Melbourne cover a wide range of file types. They list names, dates, places, and family ties that help build a family tree. The files cover lives from birth to death. Some files go back to the 1800s. Each file gives different facts. Together they form a clear picture of your kin.
Record Types You Can Search
Birth, death, marriage, and divorce files sit at the county and state level. Land deeds, probate files, and court papers sit at the Brevard clerk office. Church records, cemetery files, and military records sit at libraries and archives. Adoption files go through the Florida Department of Children and Families. Naturalization files sit at the National Archives and the State Archives.
Why Records Start in 1855 for Brevard County
Brevard County formed in 1855. It was first called Mosquito County. The name changed that year to honor Judge Theodore Brevard. County files start in 1855. Older files exist at the State Archives in Tallahassee for the territorial period from 1821 to 1845. These older files cover what is now Brevard, St. Lucie, and Indian River counties.
Brevard County Life Event Files
Life event files cover the key events of life. The State of Florida started keeping statewide files in 1877 for deaths. Birth files started in 1917. Older files exist at the county level. The Florida Department of Health keeps the state copy. The Brevard County Clerk keeps the local copies. You can order certified copies from both offices.
Birth Certificates for Florida Genealogy
Florida birth files began statewide in 1917. You can order a certified copy from the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics. Old files before 1917 exist at the county level. The State Archives has indexes and copies for many early births. Birth files name the parents, the date, and the hospital or midwife. Files from 1917 to 1939 may list the date of birth of each parent. This helps link generations.
Death Records Search From 1877
Florida death files began in 1877. Chapter 382 sets the rules for access. Old files are open to the public. You can search free indexes at the State Archives. You can order a certified copy from the Florida Department of Health for legal use. Death files name the dead, the date, the cause, and the burial place. They often list parents and spouses.
Marriage Records Online
Brevard County marriage licenses start in 1855. The clerk keeps the files in Viera. You can search the clerk’s online index. Files name the bride and groom, their ages, and parents. FamilySearch has scanned many early Florida marriage files for free. Marriage files also show the judge or clergy who performed the ceremony.
Divorce Records Lookup
Divorce files start in 1847 across Florida. Brevard County divorces sit in the circuit court clerk’s office. Files list the grounds, the children, and the property split. You can search the clerk’s case index online. Older files sit at the State Archives. Final divorce decrees give the date the divorce was final.
Record Locations and Cost at a Glance
Different records sit at different offices. The table below shows the main record types, where to search for them, the years they cover, and the cost to get a copy. Use this table as a quick reference for your research plan.
| Record Type | Office | Years Covered | Copy Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birth Certificates | Florida Department of Health | 1917+ | $9 to $30 |
| Death Records | Florida Department of Health | 1877+ | $9 to $30 |
| Marriage Licenses | Brevard County Clerk | 1855+ | $3 to $10 |
| Divorce Decrees | Brevard County Clerk | 1847+ | Varies |
| Probate Files | Brevard County Clerk | 1855+ | Varies |
| Land Deeds | Brevard County Clerk | 1855+ | $1 per page |
| Federal Census | National Archives | 1830+ | Free |
| Church Records | Florida State Archives | 1800s+ | Free |
| Cemetery Records | Local Cemeteries / Find A Grave | Varies | Free |
Florida State Archives Holdings
The State Archives of Florida sits in Tallahassee. It holds Brevard County files. Many files are online. You can search from home. The archives keeps the Florida Memory blog with scanned photos, maps, and papers. The archives holds over 40,000 cubic feet of records. The collection grows each year with new donations.
How to Search the State Archives Catalog
The online catalog at floridamemory.com lets you search by name, place, and topic. You can browse the Brevard County collections. You can view scanned files. You can copy them for personal use. Most files are open under Florida public records law. The catalog has a section for family papers, business records, and government files.
Records Specific to Brevard County
The archives holds county commission minutes, school records, and tax rolls. These papers help trace who lived where. They list occupations and land ownership. Tax rolls from the 1800s help track families before census years. The archives holds road petitions, voter registrations, and estate files.
Federal Census Records 1820 to 1950
Federal census records cover all U.S. states. Florida census files started in 1830. Some territorial counts exist from 1820. The 1950 census came out for public use in 2022. Each census names every person in a home. They give age, sex, race, and state of birth. Census files help track a family every ten years.
Florida Census Coverage Years
Florida has census files for 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890 (partial), 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940, and 1950. The 1890 census was mostly lost to fire. State census files exist for 1885 and 1935. Special census files exist for the 1880 mortality schedule and the 1890 veterans schedule. Each census gives new facts about the head of household and each family member.
Information in Each Census Year
1850 was the first census to name every person. 1880 listed parents’ birthplaces. 1900 gave month and year of birth. 1910 and later gave immigration year. 1940 told where the person lived in 1935. 1850 to 1870 gave real estate value. 1880 to 1900 gave parents’ birthplaces. Each year adds new facts for family research.
Court, Land, and Probate Records
Court, land, and probate files sit at the Brevard County Clerk of Courts. The clerk keeps files from 1855 to today. You can visit the office in person or use the online search system. Many old files have been scanned. Older files sit at the State Archives in Tallahassee.
Property Deeds and Land Patents
Property deeds show who owned each piece of land. Files name buyers, sellers, and witnesses. Wives often signed with husbands. This proves the wife’s name. Land patents for federal land sit at the Bureau of Land Management. They show homestead claims and cash entries. Many Brevard homestead patents were filed in the 1870s and 1880s.
Probate Files and Wills Search
Probate files open when someone died with or without a will. The files name the heirs, the children, and the property. Inventories list household goods. You can trace the family ties through the estate papers. The clerk keeps probate files from 1855 forward. Files include wills, letters of administration, and final distributions.
Naturalization Records for Immigrants
Naturalization files show when a foreign-born person became a U.S. citizen. Florida circuit courts handled the papers before 1906. After 1906, federal courts took over. Files give birth country, arrival date, and ship name. The State Archives holds many early Florida naturalization files. Federal files sit at the National Archives in Atlanta.
Church and Cemetery Records
Church records cover baptisms, marriages, and burials before civil files began. Cemetery records show burials and tombstone text. These records help trace families before state files began. Many Florida churches stopped keeping full records in the 1900s.
Baptist and Methodist Church Books
Baptist and Methodist churches kept the most complete early records in Brevard County. Books list baptism dates, parents, and sponsors. Many Brevard church books sit at the State Archives or the Baptist State Convention archives. Some local churches still hold their old books. You can write to the church office for older records.
Cemetery and Tombstone Searches
Cemetery records list burials by name, date, and plot. Find A Grave and BillionGraves have millions of Florida tombstone photos. You can search by last name. You can search by cemetery name. Local funeral homes keep burial files. The Brevard Historical Society has files for old Brevard cemeteries.
Military Records for Melbourne Ancestors
Military records cover service files, pension papers, and draft cards. These files give birth dates, physical descriptions, and family ties. They cover service from the Civil War to the Gulf War. Service files list the unit, the battles, and the discharge date.
Civil War Florida Soldiers
Florida joined the Confederacy in 1861. Many Brevard men served in Florida regiments. Service files sit at the National Archives. Confederate pension files sit at the State Archives. The State Archives has indexes for Florida Confederate soldiers. Files list the company, the enlistment date, and the death date.
World War Draft Registration Cards
The U.S. ran draft registrations in 1917, 1918, and 1940. Cards name the man, his address, his birth date, and his employer. Many Florida draft cards sit on FamilySearch and Ancestry. They help search men between census years. The fourth registration in 1918 covered men up to age 45.
Newspapers and Obituaries
Newspapers and obituaries give obituaries, marriage notices, and family news. They help prove ties. They give names of kin not in other files. Florida historical newspapers sit at the State Archives and on paid sites. Melbourne newspapers started in the 1890s.
Florida Historical Newspapers Online
Chronicling America at the Library of Congress has free Florida papers from 1821 to 1963. The State Archives has the Florida Digital Newspaper Library with papers from 1831 to the 2000s. Newspapers.com and GenealogyBank have paid Florida paper collections. You can search by name, year, and city.
How to Search Old Obituaries
You can search obituaries by name and year. You can search by city. Melbourne obituaries sit in the Florida Today and the Melbourne Times. Old files sit at the State Archives. Many old Florida obituaries sit on paid genealogy sites. Find A Grave has memorial pages with obituaries.
Free Florida Genealogy Databases
Free databases let you search without paying. FamilySearch has the largest free Florida collection. Public libraries have free genealogy sections. The Brevard County Library System has a genealogy room at the Melbourne library branch. The Brevard room has books, microfilm, and computers.
FamilySearch Free Florida Records
FamilySearch.org has Florida birth, marriage, death, census, and church records. The site is free with a free account. New scans go up each week. You can view files from home. You can save copies to your own family tree. FamilySearch has user-contributed family trees.
Library Genealogy Collections
The Brevard County Public Library has a genealogy room in Melbourne. The room has books, microfilm, and databases. Library staff can help you start your search. The Florida State Library in Tallahassee has Florida genealogy books and microfilm. You can order microfilm through your local library.
Adoption Records in Brevard County
Florida adoption files are sealed by law. You can request non-identifying details through the Florida Department of Children and Families. Adult adoptees can request their original birth certificate through the court. The Brevard County Clerk has the court orders for adoptions in the county.
Adoption Files and the Clerk’s Office
Adoption files give birth parents’ names and medical history when opened. Many older adoptions sit in court files. You can search the clerk’s case index for adoption file numbers. Adoptees must file a court request to open the file. The State Archives holds sealed index files for early adoptions.
How Adult Adoptees Request Records
Adult adoptees born in Florida can request their original birth certificate by filing a court form with the Brevard County Clerk. The clerk then contacts the Florida Department of Health to release the file. Non-identifying medical history sits at the adoption agency. The Department of Children and Families can help with this request.
Spanish Colonial and Territorial Records
Florida was a Spanish colony from 1513 to 1763 and again from 1783 to 1821. Records from this period sit at the State Archives and the Library of Congress. They cover land grants, church records, and military files. The territorial period from 1821 to 1845 has English records at the National Archives.
Spanish Land Grant Files
Spanish land grants were issued from St. Augustine. The files name the grantee, the acreage, and the date. Many grants cover what is now Brevard County. The State Archives holds indexes for these Spanish land grants. You can search by name and date in the catalog.
Territorial Period Records 1821 to 1845
Florida became a U.S. territory in 1821 and a state in 1845. Territorial records sit at the State Archives and the National Archives. They cover land sales, court papers, and militia rolls. The State Archives has indexes for territorial probate files. These papers help trace families who lived in Florida before statehood.
Office Locations and Contact Details
You can visit the Brevard County Clerk of Courts in person. The clerk keeps the local files. You can also visit the State Archives of Florida in Tallahassee. Both offices help with genealogy research. You can call ahead to check file availability before you travel.
Brevard County Clerk of Courts
400 South Street
Viera, FL 32940
Phone: (321) 637-2000
Website: brevardclerk.us
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Florida State Archives
500 S. Bronough Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399
Phone: (850) 245-6713
Website: floridamemory.com
Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Frequently Asked Questions
This FAQ covers common questions about Melbourne City Florida genealogy records. Each answer gives clear steps and sources. Use these answers to plan your own search for ancestors in Brevard County. The answers point to offices, websites, and file types you can use right away.
Can I Get a Florida Birth Certificate for a Deceased Relative?
Yes, you can order a Florida birth certificate for a deceased relative. The Florida Department of Health keeps birth files from 1917 to today. You can order a certified copy through their online portal or by mail. You must prove the death of the relative. You must show your own proof of identity. Older birth files before 1917 may sit at the county level or the State Archives. The State Archives has indexes that can help you search for the right county. You can use the indexes for free before you pay for the certified copy. Birth certificates help prove parents’ names and birth places. They help prove citizenship for past generations. You may need the file for legal matters like pension claims or dual citizenship applications. The fees range from $9 to $30 for a certified copy depending on the year and the type of request. You can pay by credit card or check. Mail orders take 5 to 10 business days to complete. Online orders complete in 1 to 3 business days. The clerk’s office in Viera can help if you need same-day service for an in-county birth.
Are Melbourne Marriage Records Free to View Online?
Yes, many Melbourne marriage records are free to view online. FamilySearch has scanned many Brevard County marriage files from 1855 to the 1900s. You can view them with a free account. The Brevard County Clerk has an online index that lists the names and dates. You can use the index to search for the file number. You may need to visit the clerk’s office in Viera for the full image. Older files before state recording started may sit at the State Archives. Certified copies cost a small fee that ranges from $3 to $10. Marriage records give you the bride and groom’s full names, ages, birth places, and parents’ names. They help prove two lines of your family at once. Marriage licenses were required by Florida law starting in 1822. You can search the FamilySearch catalog for scanned Florida marriage files by county. The catalog shows which years have been scanned. Many old Brevard marriage files have been indexed by volunteers on FamilySearch.
How Far Back Do Brevard County Probate Files Go?
Brevard County probate files go back to 1855 when the county formed. The files cover wills, estates, and guardianships. You can search the clerk’s index online by name. You can visit the Viera office for older files that have not been scanned. The State Archives has indexes for many early files. Probate files name the heirs, the children, and the property. They give birth places and ages. They help build family ties across many generations. Estate inventories list livestock, tools, furniture, and crops that show how the family lived. Files include debt papers and sale bills. You can see who bought items from the estate and how much they paid. Probate files are open to the public once the case closes. You can order copies from the clerk’s office for a small fee. Files for closed estates can take 30 to 60 days to complete.
What Is the Best Free Site for Florida Obituaries?
The best free sites for Florida obituaries are Chronicling America and the Florida Digital Newspaper Library. Chronicling America at the Library of Congress has Florida papers from 1821 to 1963. The Florida Digital Newspaper Library at the State Archives has papers from the 1830s forward. Both sites let you search by name and date. They let you view the scanned page. Find A Grave has free memorial pages with obituaries. Many Brevard obituaries sit on Find A Grave from local funeral homes. Newspapers.com and GenealogyBank have Florida papers, but they need a paid plan. Old Brevard papers include the Melbourne Times, the Eau Gallie Record, and the Cocoa Tribune. You can check the Florida Today archive for recent obituaries. The State Archives keeps a card index of Florida obituaries from the 1800s to the 2000s. You can search the index by name and date.
Can I Search Florida Census Records Without a Subscription?
Yes, you can search Florida census records without a subscription. FamilySearch has free indexes and images for the 1850 to 1950 census. The 1950 census went public in 2022 and sits on the National Archives site for free. The 1940 census sits free on the National Archives site. HeritageQuest at the Brevard library gives free access at the library. You only need a subscription if you want to use Ancestry.com, which has extra search tools. Census records name every member of a household. They give ages, birth places, occupations, and real estate values. You can use the records to track a family across ten-year spans. Florida state census files for 1885 and 1935 sit at the State Archives. The 1890 federal census for Florida was destroyed in a fire. Some Brevard towns had special census files for veterans and widows. You can search these files at FamilySearch.
Where Are Old Brevard County Church Records Held?
Old Brevard County church records sit at the State Archives, local churches, and the Baptist State Convention archives. The State Archives has microfilm of many Baptist, Methodist, and Episcopal church books. Local churches in Melbourne still hold some old books in their offices. The Brevard Historical Society has files from closed churches. Some church records have been scanned and put on FamilySearch. You can search by county and church name in the FamilySearch catalog. Church records list baptism dates, parents, sponsors, and witnesses. They help prove ties before civil files started. Many early Florida churches closed and merged, so the records moved to new offices. You may need to call ahead to set up a visit to see old books. Some churches charge a small fee for copies. Other churches share their files for free with active members of the church.