The paperwork · Florida
Almost everything that comes after a death, from the bank to the life insurance company, asks for a certified copy. Here is what a copy costs in Florida, where to order it, and how many to get.
Order about 10 certified copies at the start. It costs less to buy them together than to come back for more later, and nearly every office will want an original, not a photocopy.
From the state vital records office
Cost of a certified copy: $5.00
Mail requests to: Department of Health Bureau of Vital Statistics P.O. Box 210 North 1217 Pearl Street Jacksonville, FL 32231-0042
Cause-of-death information on Florida death records less than 50 years old is confidential by law. The Bureau of Vital Statistics has limited death records dating back to 1877. The majority of records date from 1917. The fee is $5.00 for the first year searched and includes one certification of the record. Additional copies are $4.00 each when requested at the same time. If no record is found, a certified “No Record Found” statement will be issued. If the exact date of death is unknown and additional years need to be searched, a fee of $5.00 for the first year searched and $2.00 for each additional year (up to a maximum of $50.00) will be charged. When requesting cause of death all applications or letters must include the signature, relationship to decedent, and a copy of a valid PHOTO ID (Driver’s License, Passport, Military ID, or State ID) of the eligible applicant. Remittance by personal check or money order should be made payable to Bureau of Vital Statistics. Please visit our website or call (904) 359-6900 for ordering information, eligibility requirements, and to verify current fees.
If the family cannot afford a funeral, call the county burial assistance program before signing anything with a funeral home. Find your county on the Florida help page, and see what else is owed to you in the first 48 hours checklist.
Questions families ask
The state vital records office lists the cost of a certified copy as: $5.00 Fees can change, so confirm on the official site before you send payment.
Most families need about 10. Banks, life insurance, Social Security, the vehicle title office, retirement accounts, and property transfers each tend to want an original certified copy, and many will not accept a photocopy.
Yes. Funeral homes file the death record for you and can usually order certified copies at the same time. If you are using a county burial program instead, ask the caseworker how copies are ordered.
Eligibility rules are set by Florida. Spouses, children, parents, and the executor named in the will are commonly eligible, and you may be asked for photo ID and proof of your relationship. The state office confirms the exact rules.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Costs and rules come from the official Florida vital records listing and can change; confirm with the office before you send payment.
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Reviewed by the Final Steps Help research team.
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