Florida Death Records

Florida death records include official death registrations within the state. An average of 230,512 people die in the state annually, indicating a mortality rate of 720.4 per 100,000 residents. This is lower than the United State's average of 793.7 deaths per 100,000 total population. Death registrations were not required by law in Florida until 1899. However, only limited death events were recorded and statewide conformity was not seen until 1917.

Florida issues two types of death records/certificates:

• Long Form Death Certificate - This shows detailed information, including a decedent's social security number and the cause of death, typically for vital statistics and perhaps, family medical history.
• Short-Form Death Certificate - Only basic details are contained in a Florida short-form death certificate. Unlike the long form, a short-form death certificate does not list the cause of death

In Florida, an original death certificate is issued by a medical professional once a person is certified dead. It is generally filed with the Bureau of Vital Statistics, a division of the state's Department of Health where it is retained. On the other hand, the copy of any death certificate received from the Florida Health Department is a certified copy of the original death certificate filed with the Bureau of Vital Statistics.

How Do I Get a Certified Copy of a Death Certificate in Florida?

In Florida, certified copies of death certificates, whether long form or short form, are issued by the state's Department of Health through the Bureau of Vital Statics. The following options are available to anyone looking to get a certified copy of a death certificate in the state:

• Mail-in Application - Take the following steps to order the certified copy of a Florida death certificate by mail:
• Complete the Application for a Death Record Form (Form DH727)

• Mail the completed form, payment, and a copy of a valid photo identification (driver's license, Military ID, passport, or state ID) to the Bureau of Vital Statistics at:

  Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics

  P.O. Box 210

  Jacksonville, FL 32231-0042

• Walk-in Application - Submit a completed Form DH727, payment, and a copy of valid ID to the Bureau of Statistics in person at:

  Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics

  1217 N Pearl Street

  Jacksonville, FL 32202

  Lobby Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Interested persons can submit walk-in or mail-in requests for deaths occurring from 2009 to the present at any local county health department near them. The Florida Department of Health allows requesters who are unable to access the application form to submit their requests in writing. However, they must include the following details along with a copy of their ID (if requesting a long-form death certificate):

• Requester's Information - Full name, mailing address, relationship to the decedent, phone number, and signature. If the requester is an attorney or a funeral director, they must include the name of the person they represent and the person's relationship to the decent. They must also provide their professional license number.
• Decedent's Information - Full name on death certificate, date of birth, sex, date of death, social security number, and the city or county of death. If the exact date of death is unknown, the requester should specify the range of years to be searched. This costs $2 for each calendar year searched.

It takes the Bureau of Statistics between 3 to 5 working days to process requests for certified copies of death certificates from 2009 to the present (excluding shipping time). Additional processing time is usually required for death records before 2009. Payment should be made by money order or check payable to Vital Statistics. The fees involved in obtaining the certified copy of a Florida death certificate:

• Search fee for one calendar year and one certified copy of death certificate - $5
• When the exact date of birth is unknown, the search fee per calendar year - $2, subject to a maximum of $50
• Additional certified copies - $4
• Shipping and handling fee - $1

Are Florida Death Records Public?

Per Section 382.025(2) of the state's Statutes, certified copies of Florida death certificates that do not contain any confidential information, including the cause of death, are generally public and may be accessed by any individual of legal age (18 years or over). These are known as short-form death certificates. However, a long-form death certificate in Florida, which typically contains private information like the social security number and cause of death, is generally closed to the public for 50 years after a death event. Only authorized individuals may access or obtain certified copies of the certificate during this period.

Who Can Request an Original Death Certificate in Florida?

Original death certificates in Florida are permanently retained at the state's Bureau of Vital Statistics, where interested and eligible individuals may obtain certified copies of the original. Generally, anyone 18 years or older can request certified copies of a short-form death certificate in the state since they contain no confidential information. On the other hand, access to death certificates less than 50 years old with confidential information like the full Social Security number and cause of death is limited to the following individuals:

• The decedent's child, sibling, or grandchild, provided they are of legal age.
• The decedent's spouse.
• Anyone who provides an insurance policy, a will, or any other document that proves their interest in the decedent's estate.
• The decedent's parents.
• Any individual with documentation demonstrating they are acting on behalf of eligible persons.
• Anyone or entity with a court order.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Death Certificate in Florida?

Once filed with the Bureau of Vital Statistics, it typically takes between 3 to 5 business days to get the certified copy of a Florida death certificate for deaths that occur naturally and under normal circumstances. However, where foul play is suspected in the event of a person's death, it could take a longer time before the death certificate is ready. Under such unusual or suspicious circumstances, the Medical Examiner's Office will conduct an autopsy to investigate the final cause of death, which generally causes delay in getting death certificates.

In Florida, it takes at least 15 weeks for an autopsy report to be finalized, depending on the complexity and number of tests that need to be conducted. The death certificate of a person whose death is being investigated will not be prepared until the autopsy report is finalized, and in some cases, certain factors may cause a delay.

Can I View Florida Death Records online for free?

The Florida Department of Health does not offer self-managed online services for death records requests. However, several third-party sites are available to anyone looking to view the state's death records online. For instance, Familysearch.org and Ancestry.com provide an online option for individuals who wish to view historic Florida death records. Similarly, some historical death records in the state are housed at the State Library and Archives.

Furthermore, third-party websites like Floridapublicrecords.us provide unlimited access to several Florida death records. However, users may have to pay a small fee to view or access records on third-party sites. In some cases, especially where official death records do not exist, substitute records may be used to locate and view information about such death events free of charge. Anyone may find such information in records such as newspapers, obituaries, cemetery records, probate records, Social Security death index, and tax records.

When Would You Require A Death Certificate in Florida?

In Florida, there are several reasons, especially for legal purposes, an individual may want to obtain a death certificate. These include:

• Ending social services and benefits.
• Handling a decedent's estates and property distribution.
• Tracing family trees.
• Closing a decedent's debit/credit cards, cell phone, auto loan/lease, and utilities.
• File estate tax returns.
• Filing insurance claims.
• Closing a decedent's bank accounts to protect against identity theft.
• Discovering medical histories.

How Many Death Certificates Do I Need in Florida?

The number (or copies) of certified death certificates a person needs in Florida is largely determined by the number of business transactions requiring a death certificate that needs to be addressed. Under normal circumstances, copies ranging from 8 to 12 should cater to all such business or legal transactions.

Factors that may influence how many death certificates to get in Florida include family size, funeral services, potential unforeseen circumstances, and the need to fulfill several other legal and administrative purposes. Legal and administrative purposes generally include managing a decedent's assets, transferring title of real property, claiming retirement pensions, and filing life insurance claims.