Death certificates in Florida
In Florida, a certified copy of a death certificate costs $5 from the Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics. Each extra copy ordered at the same time costs $4. You can order online, by mail or in person. The funeral home can often order the first copies for you.
Last checked on the Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics site. General information, not legal advice. Fees change, so confirm before you pay.
How to order in Florida
| Office | Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics |
|---|---|
| First certified copy | $5 |
| Each extra copy, same order | $4 The $5 fee covers a one-year search and one certified copy. Rush service adds $10. Online and phone orders through VitalChek add a vendor fee. County health department fees vary by county. |
| Who can order | Anyone 18 or older can order a death certificate without the cause of death. For deaths less than 50 years old, copies with the cause of death are limited to the spouse, parent, adult child, grandchild, or sibling, a person with a documented interest in the estate, someone acting for an eligible person, or anyone with a court order. |
| ID you need | A valid photo ID is required when you ask for the cause of death. |
| Ways to order | Online, by mail or in person. The state takes online orders only through VitalChek, a private company, which adds its own fee. By mail or in person costs only the state fee. At the state office in Jacksonville, or at county health departments for deaths from 2009 to the present. |
| How long it takes | Mail orders for deaths from 2009 to the present usually take 3 to 5 business days, plus shipping time. |
Do funeral homes order the first copies?
Often, yes. The funeral director files the death certificate with the state, so ordering copies at the same time is common. The FTC lists death certificates among the cash advance items a funeral home may buy for you and add to its bill. Ask what it charges per copy.
Funeral directors and attorneys must give the name of the person they represent, that person's relationship to the deceased, and their professional license number.
For more copies later, order from the office above. How many copies do you need? Our calculator counts one for each bank, insurer and agency.
Questions people ask
- How much is a death certificate in Florida?
- $5 for the first certified copy from the Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, and $4 for each extra copy ordered at the same time. The $5 fee covers a one-year search and one certified copy. Rush service adds $10. Online and phone orders through VitalChek add a vendor fee. County health department fees vary by county.
- Who can order a death certificate in Florida?
- Anyone 18 or older can order a death certificate without the cause of death. For deaths less than 50 years old, copies with the cause of death are limited to the spouse, parent, adult child, grandchild, or sibling, a person with a documented interest in the estate, someone acting for an eligible person, or anyone with a court order.
- How do I order a death certificate in Florida?
- You can order online, by mail or in person. Online orders go through VitalChek, a private company the state uses, which adds its own fee. A valid photo ID is required when you ask for the cause of death.