Official and practical resources for families in Melbourne, West Melbourne, Palm Bay, Eau Gallie, Indialantic, Satellite Beach and the rest of Brevard County. Listings are informational; apart from our featured funeral home partner, no organization listed here has a commercial relationship with this website. Please confirm hours and details with each organization.
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Featured funeral home partner
Hospitals
- Health First Holmes Regional Medical Center, Melbourne. hf.org
- Orlando Health Melbourne Hospital (formerly Melbourne Regional Medical Center), Melbourne. orlandohealth.com
- Health First Palm Bay Hospital, Palm Bay. hf.org
When a death occurs in a hospital, ask the nursing staff or the hospital’s patient services or chaplain’s office about next steps. Hospital death: what to expect.
Hospice
- Hospice of Health First, including the William Childs Hospice House on the Palm Bay Hospital campus. hf.org/hospice
- VITAS Healthcare, Brevard County. vitas.com
Hospice programs provide bereavement support to the families of their patients, and some offer grief groups open to the wider community. Ask what is available.
Medical examiner
Brevard County is served by the District 18 Medical Examiner, located in Rockledge. The office investigates sudden, unexpected, accidental and unattended deaths and reviews every death before cremation. Funeral homes coordinate with the office routinely. Brevard County Medical Examiner’s Office
Death certificates
- Florida Department of Health in Brevard County, Vital Statistics, 2565 Judge Fran Jamieson Way, Viera, FL 32940. Bring a valid photo ID. Death certificates in Brevard
- Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics (statewide, by mail or online through VitalChek). floridahealth.gov
Your funeral home normally orders the first set of certified copies. How many to order and who can get one.
Cemeteries
- Cape Canaveral National Cemetery (VA), 5525 U.S. Highway 1, Mims, FL 32754, 321-383-2638. For eligible veterans and family members. cem.va.gov
- Buggs Street Community Cemetery, 2685 Bruce D. Buggs Street, Melbourne, FL 32901. Owned by our featured funeral home partner. Cemetery services
Brevard County also has municipal, church and private cemeteries. To check whether a private cemetery is licensed by the state, use the Florida Department of Financial Services license search. Questions to ask a cemetery.
Veterans
- Brevard County Veterans Services Office, 2725 Judge Fran Jamieson Way, Building B, Suite 102, Viera, FL 32940. Free help with survivor and burial benefits. brevardfl.gov
- National Cemetery Scheduling Office: 1-800-535-1117
- Military records (DD-214): National Archives, archives.gov
Veterans funeral benefits guide
Social Security
Call 1-800-772-1213 or use the Social Security office locator to find the office that serves your ZIP code. The funeral home usually reports the death. Survivor benefits basics.
Probate and estate
- Brevard County Clerk of the Circuit Court: probate filings and deposit of original wills (required within 10 days of learning of a death). brevardclerk.us
- Brevard County Property Appraiser: homestead exemption changes after a death. bcpao.us
- Brevard County Tax Collector: vehicle titles and registrations. brevardtaxcollector.com
- Florida Courts self-help for probate basics. flcourts.gov
Probate questions are best answered by a Florida-licensed attorney. The Florida Bar Lawyer Referral Service can help you find one.
Grief support
- Hospice bereavement programs (see Hospice above) often offer groups and one-on-one support open to the community.
- 211 Brevard: dial 211 for referrals to local support groups, counseling and financial help. 211brevard.org
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988 any time if grief becomes a crisis.
Grief support resources and reading
Travel and lodging for family
- Melbourne Orlando International Airport (MLB) is a few miles from downtown Melbourne. mlbair.com
- Orlando International Airport (MCO) is about an hour’s drive. flymco.com
- Space Coast Area Transit runs bus service across the county. ridescat.com
- Hotels: Melbourne has hotels near the airport, along U.S. 1 and at the beaches. Some hotels offer bereavement rates; ask when booking. The Space Coast Office of Tourism lists lodging.
Florists and houses of worship
Most funeral homes can arrange flowers through local florists, and many let friends order flowers from the online obituary. If the service will be held at a church, synagogue, mosque or other house of worship, the funeral director can coordinate with the clergy and the facility.
Florida agencies
- Division of Funeral, Cemetery, and Consumer Services (licensing and consumer complaints). myfloridacfo.com
- Florida Statutes, Chapter 497 (funeral, cemetery and consumer services). leg.state.fl.us
- Federal Trade Commission Funeral Rule. consumer.ftc.gov
Know a local resource that should be listed? Let us know.