To get a Florida death certificate, order online through VitalChek, mail an application to the Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville, walk into the Bureau’s Jacksonville office, or visit a county health department if the death occurred in 2009 or later. The first certified copy costs $5 and includes a one-year search; each additional copy ordered at the same time is $4.1Florida Department of Health. Death Certificates Before you apply, decide which of the two versions Florida issues you actually need, because eligibility and paperwork depend on it.
Which Version You Need
Florida issues two versions of the death certificate. The version without cause of death is a public record, and any person 18 or older can request one. It’s often enough for closing bank accounts or handling other routine notifications.1Florida Department of Health. Death Certificates
The version with cause of death is confidential for 50 years after the date of death and is restricted to eligible individuals.2Official Internet Site of the Florida Legislature. Florida Code 382.025 – Fees Life insurance companies, estate attorneys, and courts almost always require this version, so most families end up needing it. After 50 years, the full certificate becomes public.
Who Can Request the Cause-of-Death Version
If the death occurred within the last 50 years, only people with a qualifying relationship or legal interest can order the confidential version:
- The deceased’s spouse, parent, child, grandchild, or sibling, if 18 or older
- Anyone who can show a financial interest in the estate through a will, life insurance policy, or similar document
- Anyone acting on behalf of one of the eligible people above, with documentation
- Anyone with a court order directing release of the record
Licensed funeral directors and attorneys can also request the cause-of-death version, but they must supply the name of the person they represent, that person’s relationship to the deceased, and their own professional license number. A funeral director who wasn’t the funeral home of record must also submit a notarized Affidavit to Release Cause of Death Information (DH Form 1959).3Florida Department of Health. Affidavit to Release Cause of Death Information
One point that catches families off guard: a power of attorney ends the moment the principal dies.4Official Internet Site of the Florida Legislature. Florida Code 709.2109 – Termination or Suspension of Power of Attorney or Agent’s Authority If you held someone’s POA while they were alive, it gives you no authority to request their death certificate. You’d need to qualify through one of the categories above, or be appointed as personal representative by a court.
What to Gather Before You Apply
The application form (DH 727) asks about both the deceased and the requester. For the deceased, pull together as much of this as you can:
- Full legal name
- Date of death, or a range of years if you’re not sure
- City and county where the death occurred
- Date of birth
- Social Security number
- Name of the surviving spouse or the funeral home that handled arrangements
If you don’t know the year of death, the Bureau will search multiple years, but each additional year adds a $2 search fee.1Florida Department of Health. Death Certificates A name and an approximate year is the bare minimum.
For yourself, provide your name, relationship to the deceased, mailing address, and phone number. Anyone requesting the cause-of-death version must submit a valid government-issued photo ID. For mail requests, that means a copy of both the front and back of the ID. If you’re applying on behalf of an eligible person rather than qualifying yourself, include a notarized DH Form 1959 signed by the eligible person, plus photo ID copies for both of you.3Florida Department of Health. Affidavit to Release Cause of Death Information
The Four Ways to Order
Online Through VitalChek
VitalChek is the only vendor approved by the Department of Health for online orders, and it’s the way to pay by credit card (the Bureau itself doesn’t take credit cards for mail-in orders).5Florida Department of Health. Application for Florida Death or Fetal Death Certificate DH 727 VitalChek charges its own processing fee on top of the state fees, so your total will be higher than ordering direct.
By Mail
Send the completed DH 727, a photo ID copy if you’re requesting cause of death, and payment to:
Florida Department of Health, Vital Statistics
P.O. Box 210
Jacksonville, FL 32231-00421Florida Department of Health. Death Certificates
Payment is by check or money order payable to “Vital Statistics.” Write “RUSH” on the outside of the envelope if you’re paying the $10 rush fee. Orders ship by standard USPS unless you include a prepaid express envelope.
In Person in Jacksonville
The Bureau’s walk-in office is at 1217 N. Pearl Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202, open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Walk-ins can pay with cash, check, money order, Visa, or Mastercard (no contactless or tap-to-pay). Same-day service is possible for records from 2009 forward if your paperwork is complete. For deaths before 2009, same-day service requires the $10 rush fee and depends on availability.1Florida Department of Health. Death Certificates
County Health Departments
Local county health departments across Florida can process death certificate requests, but only for deaths from 2009 onward. If the death occurred before 2009, you have to go through the Bureau of Vital Statistics directly. Confirm the year of death before making a county office trip.
Fees
- First certified copy: $5 (includes a one-year search, nonrefundable even if no record is found)
- Each additional copy ordered at the same time: $4
- Unknown year of death: $2 per extra calendar year searched, up to a $50 maximum
- Rush processing: $10 (moves your request up in the queue; does not include faster shipping)
- Dishonored checks: $15 service charge
VitalChek adds its own processing and shipping fees on top of these amounts, and some county health departments may add a small administrative surcharge. Confirm the total before paying.1Florida Department of Health. Death Certificates
How Long It Takes
For deaths from 2009 to the present, mail-in requests take about 3 to 5 business days to process, not counting shipping. Older records need extra processing time because they may be pulled from archives.1Florida Department of Health. Death Certificates
In-person requests at the Jacksonville office can often be filled same-day for post-2009 records. Pre-2009 records at the counter require the $10 rush fee for same-day processing, and even then it depends on availability. Online orders through VitalChek typically take 5 to 10 business days plus shipping, and the $10 rush fee is available online as well.
Several things can extend these timelines: incomplete applications, missing ID copies, medical examiner involvement, or a temporary certificate that hasn’t been finalized yet.
When the Cause of Death Is Still Pending
If a medical examiner or attending physician hasn’t finalized the cause of death, the funeral director files a temporary death certificate that lists the cause as pending. The death certificate itself must be filed within 5 days of death under Florida law, so the temporary version exists precisely to meet that deadline.6Florida Senate. Florida Code 382.008 – Death, Fetal Death, and Nonviable Birth Registration
Toxicology results and complex investigations can push the final cause of death out by weeks or months. During that time you can still order the temporary certificate, and it may satisfy some institutions, but life insurance companies and courts often insist on the final version before they’ll act. When a temporary certificate is filed, the physician or medical examiner is required to give an estimated date for completing the permanent one, which is worth asking about.
If You Need the Certificate for Use Abroad
A Florida death certificate used in another country that’s party to the Hague Apostille Convention needs an apostille from the Florida Department of State. It’s a two-step process: get the certified certificate from the Bureau of Vital Statistics first, then send it to the Department of State, Division of Corporations, for the apostille at $10 per document.7Florida Department of Health. Apostille Certificates8Florida Department of State. Authentications – Apostilles and Notarial Certifications – Division of Corporations VitalChek offers a combined service that handles both steps for an additional $7 processing fee. Contact the receiving country’s embassy or consulate before starting, since some countries have specific formatting requirements.