How to Get a Death Certificate in Florida: Costs, Copies, and Corrections

To get a death certificate in Florida, you can order through the funeral home handling arrangements, walk into any county health department, mail an application to the state Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville, or order online through VitalChek. Fees start at $5 for the first certified copy by mail and $4 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. The Bureau of Vital Statistics, part of the Florida Department of Health, is the agency that issues these records.

Choose the Right Version First

Florida issues two versions of a death certificate, and the one you need depends on who will be reading it.

The public-record version is available to anyone 18 or older. It shows the decedent’s name, date and place of death, and other identifying details, but it leaves off the cause of death and redacts the first five digits of the Social Security number. For most estate work, banks, title transfers, and benefits claims, this version is enough.

The confidential version includes the cause of death and is restricted for 50 years from the date of death. Only the decedent’s spouse, parent, child, grandchild, or sibling (if 18 or older) can request it directly. Beneficiaries named in a will or life insurance policy, and attorneys representing an eligible person, also qualify by showing a direct and tangible interest in the record.¹

If you need the cause-of-death version but don’t personally qualify, an eligible family member can sign a notarized Affidavit to Release Cause of Death Information (Form DH 1959) authorizing you to receive it. You submit the affidavit with copies of both your photo ID and the eligible person’s photo ID.¹

Four Ways to Order

Through the Funeral Home

This is usually the fastest route. Most Florida funeral homes order the initial batch of certified copies for the family as part of their services. The funeral director files the death record with the local registrar and requests copies once it’s registered. Decide how many copies you want when making arrangements so they go in with the first order. When a funeral director orders on your behalf, they must provide your name, your relationship to the decedent, and their professional license number.¹

In Person at a County Health Department

Any county health department in Florida can issue certified death certificates for deaths from 2009 to the present. Walk-in service is the quickest option if you need copies in hand right away. Fees vary by county and may differ from the state schedule, so call ahead.¹ For deaths before 2009, you must order from the state Bureau instead.²

By Mail From the Bureau of Vital Statistics

Mail is the cheapest option. Download the Application for a Death Record (Form DH 727) from the Department of Health website, complete it, and mail it with your payment to:

Florida Department of Health, Vital Statistics
P.O. Box 210
Jacksonville, FL 32231-0042¹

Processing takes 3 to 5 business days for records from 2009 forward, not counting mail time either direction. Older records take longer. Pay by check or money order made payable to “Vital Statistics.” Do not send cash.¹

Online Through VitalChek

VitalChek is the only online vendor authorized by the Florida Department of Health.¹ It’s convenient but noticeably more expensive. The state fee through VitalChek is $15 for the first certificate (versus $5 by mail), plus a $7 VitalChek service fee. A $10 rush fee and UPS shipping also apply.³ Additional copies ordered at the same time are $4 each.

The Department of Health warns against using any other online vendor. Others may charge higher fees, deliver unofficial copies, or simply take your money.¹

What You’ll Need on the Application

Form DH 727 asks for identifying details about the deceased:

Full legal name as it appears on the death record
Date of death (or a range of years if unknown)
Place of death, including city or county
Social Security number
Date of birth
Surviving spouse’s name
Funeral home name

The more fields you can complete, the faster the Bureau can locate the record. Spouse name and funeral home are optional but help narrow the search.⁴

If you’re requesting the confidential version with cause of death, include a copy of your valid photo ID. A state driver’s license, state ID card, passport, or military ID will work.⁴ You may also need documentation proving your relationship to the decedent or your interest in the estate, such as a marriage certificate, birth certificate, will, or insurance policy.

What It Costs

First certified copy ordered directly from the Bureau: $5, which includes a nonrefundable search fee covering one calendar year¹
First certified copy through VitalChek: $15 state fee plus a $7 service fee, so at least $22 before shipping³
Each additional copy ordered at the same time: $4 through either channel¹
Unknown year of death: an extra $2 per additional calendar year searched, up to a $50 search-fee maximum¹

County health department fees vary and may differ from the state schedule. County offices and walk-in locations generally accept cash, checks, money orders, and credit cards; VitalChek takes credit cards only. If no record is found, the search fee is nonrefundable, but the Bureau will issue a certified “No Record Found” statement.²

How Many Copies to Order

Order more than you think you need. Each bank, insurance company, pension plan, brokerage, and government agency with an account in the decedent’s name typically requires its own certified copy. Some institutions return them, but many don’t, and waiting for a single copy to cycle back slows every claim behind it.

Eight to 12 certified copies is a reasonable starting point for most families. If the decedent owned real estate in several counties, held multiple financial accounts, or had more than one life insurance policy, you may need more. Extra copies ordered in the same batch cost only $4 each, far less than placing a second order later.¹

Fixing an Error on the Certificate

Errors with names, dates, and demographic details are more common than people expect, and an incorrect certificate can stall probate or trigger an insurance claim denial. Check every field on the copies as soon as you get them.

Florida splits corrections into two categories. Demographic amendments cover factual details like the decedent’s name, date of birth, marital status, or place of death. You file Form DH 524 (Application for Amendment) with Form DH 433 (Affidavit of Amendment), plus supporting documents such as a birth certificate, marriage certificate, or other official record showing the correct information. The nonrefundable processing fee is $20 and includes one certified copy of the corrected record.⁵

Medical amendments involve the cause of death or other medical certification information. The family cannot start one. The certifying physician or medical examiner must complete and file a notarized Form DH 434A (Affidavit of Amendment to Medical Certification of Death). There’s no processing fee, but standard copy fees apply if you want a certified copy of the corrected record afterward: $5 for the first and $4 for each additional.⁵

Using the Certificate Abroad

If you need a Florida death certificate in another country, most foreign governments require an apostille, a standardized authentication stamp confirming the document is genuine. Countries not party to the 1961 Hague Convention receive a notarial certificate instead, which serves the same function.

The Florida Secretary of State is the only authority that can issue apostilles. The process has two steps: order a certified death certificate from the Bureau of Vital Statistics using the special Form DH 727A rather than the standard application, then send the certificate to the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations, for the apostille.⁶ The Department of State charges $10 per document for the apostille itself.⁷

You can handle each step separately by mail, or order through VitalChek, which collects payment for both steps, forwards the certificate to the Department of State, and ships the finished apostilled document to you. VitalChek charges its standard $7 service fee on top of both agency fees, plus two separate UPS shipping charges for the combined service.⁶ Before ordering, contact the consulate or embassy of the destination country. Some have specific requirements for the type of vital record they’ll accept, and confirming those first saves you from ordering the wrong document.

1
Florida Department of Health. Death Certificates
2
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Where to Write for Vital Records – Florida
3
Florida Department of Health. Order Certificates From VitalChek
4
Florida Department of Health. Application for Florida Death or Fetal Death Certificate
5
Florida Department of Health. Amendments and Corrections
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Florida Department of Health. Application for Florida Death Certificate for Purpose of Obtaining an Apostille or Notarial Certificate
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Florida Department of State. Authentications – Apostilles and Notarial Certifications