State Vital Records in Florida
The Florida Department of Health - Bureau of Vital Statistics issues certified copies of death certificates for deaths that occurred in Florida. Executors and surviving family order certified copies to close accounts, file insurance claims, and transfer titles; the office sets the fees, eligibility rules, and processing times.
Administering agency
Florida Department of Health - Bureau of Vital Statistics
State Vital Records in Florida: key facts
- Administering office
- Florida Department of Health - Bureau of Vital Statistics.
- Contact
- Phone 904-359-6900; email VitalStats@flhealth.gov.
- Mail orders
- Vital Statistics, P.O. Box 210, Jacksonville, FL 32231-0042.
- Certificate fee
- $5 for the first certified copy; $4 for each additional copy ordered at the same time; expedited processing adds $10.
- Processing time
- 3-5 business days (2009-present), plus shipping.
- Who may order
- Any person 18+ may request copy WITHOUT cause of death; For copies WITH cause of death: spouse, parent, child, grandchild, sibling 18+, or person with demonstrated legal interest.
- Filing deadline
- The death certificate must be filed within 5 days.
- Public record
- Death records become public 50 years after the death.
- Records available from
- 1917.
Steps to take when someone dies
- Confirm the death occurred in Florida — the record belongs to the state where the death occurred, regardless of where the deceased lived.
- Order certified copies through any of the office's channels:
- Online: Order through VitalChek - the only contracted vendor (adds $7 processing fee)
- By phone: Call VitalChek at 1-877-550-7330
- By mail: Mail request to State Vital Statistics Office ($5 first copy + $4 each additional)
- In person: Visit local county health department (for deaths 2009-present only); pre-2009 records require $10 rush fee for same-day walk-in at the Bureau lobby in Jacksonville
- Include what the office requires with the order:
- Valid photo ID
- Will, insurance policy, or other document showing interest in estate (for copies with cause of death)
- Allow the office's processing time (3-5 business days (2009-present), plus shipping).
Florida Department of Health - Bureau of Vital Statistics
Phone: 904-359-6900
Visit the agency website →Frequently asked questions
by phone: Call VitalChek at 1-877-550-7330. by mail: Mail request to State Vital Statistics Office ($5 first copy + $4 each additional). in person: Visit local county health department (for deaths 2009-present only); pre-2009 records require $10 rush fee for same-day walk-in at the Bureau lobby in Jacksonville. Mail orders go to Vital Statistics, P.O. Box 210, Jacksonville, FL 32231-0042.
The death certificate must be filed within 5 days. The funeral director or person in charge of disposition files the certificate with the state; the family orders certified copies once the record is registered.
Valid photo ID; Will, insurance policy, or other document showing interest in estate (for copies with cause of death). The office also asks for the deceased's full name, date of death, and place of death to locate the record.
The record belongs to the state where the death occurred, not the state of residence. Order from the state of death, following its fees and eligibility rules.
Sources
Data sourced from State Vital Records in Florida primary sources (1 page reviewed). How we research.
Administering agency
Florida Department of Health - Bureau of Vital Statistics