Death Certificates

Without Cause of Death: Any person of legal age (18 or over) may apply for a certified copy of a death record without the cause of death. The first five digits of the decedent’s social security number will be redacted.

With Cause of Death: Death records less than 50 years old with the cause of death and full social security number are confidential and may only be issued to:

• Decedent’s spouse or parent
• Decedent’s child, grandchild or sibling, if of legal age
• Any person who provides a will, insurance policy or other document that demonstrates his or her interest in the estate
• Any person who provides documentation that he or she is acting on behalf of any of the above-named persons
• By Court Order

Valid photo identification is required when requesting cause of death.

If applicant is not one of the above, the application must be accompanied by a notarized Affidavit to Release Cause of Death Information (DH Form 1959) signed by one of the above, along with any supporting documentation and a copy of valid photo ID of both the person authorizing release and the applicant.

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER (Section 119.071 Florida Statutes): Social security numbers held by the Department of Health on death certificates are confidential and will only be issued to an eligible party requesting a confidential record, regardless of the date of death. Therefore, the first five digits of the decedent’s social security number will be redacted when issuing a public record request.

Ordering a Florida Death Certificate 

Any person who willfully and knowingly provides any false information on a certificate, record or report required by Chapter 382, Florida Statutes, or on an application or affidavit, or who obtains confidential information from any Vital Record under false or fraudulent purposes, commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in Chapter 775, Florida Statutes.

Please note that limited deaths were recorded between 1877 and 1917.

Fees

Death Certificates 2009 through present - Statewide:

• Fee for Death Certifications: $10.00
• Payment in cash, check, Visa, Mastercard, or Debit

Death Certificate Application