To obtain St. Petersburg, FL death records, apply through the Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County for any death that occurred in Florida from 2009 to the present, or through the state Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville for deaths before 2009. A certified copy without the cause of death is available to any adult; the full certificate with medical details is restricted to close family and certain legal representatives for 50 years after the death. The local fee is $5 for the first copy and $4 for each additional copy ordered at the same time.
Where to Request the Record
St. Petersburg sits in Pinellas County, so the local office is the Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County. It holds records for deaths that occurred anywhere in Florida from 2009 forward.1Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County. About Death Certificates Walk-in and mail requests go to the Mid-County location at 8751 Ulmerton Road, Largo, FL 33771.
For deaths before 2009, the record lives with the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics. Mail those requests to the Florida Department of Health, Vital Statistics, P.O. Box 210, Jacksonville, FL 32231-0042.2Florida Department of Health. Death Certificates The eligibility rules and the application form are identical at either office.
Which Version You Can Get
Florida treats the death certificate as two documents. The version without cause of death is a public record, and any person of legal age can order it for any reason.3Florida Senate. Florida Code 382.025 – Certified Copies of Vital Records; Confidentiality; Research It is usually enough to close bank accounts, transfer a vehicle title, or handle other routine administration.
The full certificate including cause of death is confidential for 50 years from the date of death. During that period, cause-of-death information is exempt from Florida’s public records law.4The Florida Legislature. Florida Code 382.008 – Vital Records Only the following requesters qualify:
- The deceased person’s spouse, parent, adult child, adult grandchild, or adult sibling.
- An attorney or agent acting for an eligible family member, with documentation of the relationship.
- Anyone who can show a financial interest in the estate through a will, insurance policy, or similar document.
- State, local, or federal agencies for official purposes, or any court of competent jurisdiction by order.
If you are not an immediate family member but are acting on behalf of one, you need a notarized Affidavit to Release Cause of Death Information (DH Form 1959) signed by the eligible relative, plus photo identification for both of you.5Florida Department of Health. Application for Amendment to Florida Death or Fetal Death Certificate
Power of Attorney Ends at Death
If you held power of attorney for the person who died, that authority ended the moment they passed away.6The Florida Legislature. Florida Code 709.2109 – Termination or Suspension of Power of Attorney or Agents Authority You cannot use the old POA to order the certificate. That role passes to the personal representative named in the will or appointed by the probate court. If you are also a qualifying relative, apply on that basis instead.
What to Gather Before You Apply
The application is Form DH 727. Pull this information together first:
- About the deceased: full legal name, date of death, and county where the death occurred (Pinellas County for St. Petersburg deaths).
- About you: full name, mailing address, phone number, and relationship to the deceased.
- Reason for the request, especially if you are asking for cause-of-death information.
Requesting the full certificate also requires a copy of valid photo ID, front and back. A driver’s license, state ID card, passport, or military ID will do.7Florida Department of Health. Application for Florida Death or Fetal Death Certificate The public version without cause of death does not require photo ID.
How to Submit the Request
In Person in Largo
Walk-in requests go to the Mid-County Health Department at 8751 Ulmerton Road, Largo, FL 33771. This is the fastest route because staff can review your form and ID on the spot. The local office charges $5 for the first certified copy and $4 for each additional copy ordered at the same time.2Florida Department of Health. Death Certificates
By Mail
Mail the completed DH 727, a copy of your photo ID if you are requesting cause of death, and payment to the Pinellas County office at the Largo address above. For records older than 2009, send the same packet to the Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville. The state office charges $15 for the first certificate (a $5 search fee plus a $10 expedited processing fee) and $4 for each additional copy, with $1 for shipping and handling per application.2Florida Department of Health. Death Certificates Fees are nonrefundable even if no matching record is found, though fees for additional copies when no record exists can be refunded on written request.
Online Through VitalChek
VitalChek is the only third-party vendor the Florida Department of Health has contracted for vital records orders.8Florida Department of Health. Certificates and Records You place the order on the VitalChek website, pay by credit card, and the certificate ships to you. VitalChek adds its own service fee on top of state charges, and offers overnight UPS shipping at a discounted rate of around $19.9VitalChek. Express Shipping Services Expect to pay noticeably more online than walking into the county office.
Fees at a Glance
Florida law sets a range, and the Department of Health sets the actual dollar amounts within it.10Florida Senate. Florida Code 382.0255 – Fees The current schedule:
- Local county office (2009-present): $5 for the first certified copy, $4 for each additional copy.
- State Bureau of Vital Statistics: $15 for the first certified copy ($5 search fee plus $10 expedited processing), $4 for each additional copy.
- Shipping and handling: $1 per mail-in application.
- VitalChek: the state fees above, plus VitalChek’s service fee and any express shipping.
The search fee is nonrefundable. If the office cannot find a matching record, you receive a certified “not found” statement rather than a refund. Pay by check or money order for mail requests; the county office and VitalChek also accept credit cards.2Florida Department of Health. Death Certificates
Fixing an Error on the Certificate
Mistakes happen, especially with name spellings and dates. Corrections use a separate form, DH 524 (Application for Amendment to Florida Death or Fetal Death Certificate), and the cost depends on what needs fixing.5Florida Department of Health. Application for Amendment to Florida Death or Fetal Death Certificate
- Non-medical corrections (name, date of birth, marital status, and the like) carry a $20 fee. You will need supporting documents such as a birth certificate, marriage license, or other official record showing the correct information.
- Medical corrections (cause of death, manner of death, time of death, place of death) have no amendment fee. These changes are typically initiated by the certifying physician or medical examiner rather than a family member.
No amended certificate issues until the department has all required evidence, forms, fees, and signatures. A $5 search fee is included in every amendment order and is nonrefundable. Additional certified copies of the corrected record cost $4 each.5Florida Department of Health. Application for Amendment to Florida Death or Fetal Death Certificate
Using the Certificate in Another Country
A Florida death certificate used abroad usually needs an apostille (for countries in the 1961 Hague Convention) or an authentication certificate (for countries that are not members).11USAGov. Authenticate an Official Document for Use Outside the U.S.
There is a catch worth knowing before you order: for apostille certification, the death certificate must come from the Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville and bear the signature of the State Registrar. Copies from your local county health department are not accepted.12Florida Department of State. Procedure for Notarial or Apostille Certification The apostille itself is $10 per document, payable by check or money order to the Department of State. Send the request with a cover letter naming the destination country to: Department of State, Division of Corporations, Apostille Certification, P.O. Box 6800, Tallahassee, FL 32314-6800.