Where to order a Florida death certificate
You order a Florida death certificate from the Florida Department of Health, Office of Vital Statistics. This is the only official source. You cannot order one from a funeral home, county clerk, or hospital — they will direct you to the state office or tell you how to contact it yourself.
The Office of Vital Statistics accepts orders by mail, phone, fax, and in person. The mailing address is Office of Vital Statistics, P.O. Box 210, Jacksonville, FL 32231-0210. The phone number is 904-359-6900. You can also visit in person at 2585 Merchants Row, Jacksonville, FL 32207 during business hours (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed state holidays).
Processing time depends on the method. Phone and fax orders usually take 5 to 7 business days. Mail orders take 7 to 10 business days. In-person orders can sometimes be completed the same day if you arrive early, but call ahead to confirm availability.
Key Takeaways
- The Florida Department of Health, Office of Vital Statistics is the only place to order an official death certificate, and you can order by mail, phone, fax, or in person.
- You need the full name of the deceased, the date of death, and the county where the death occurred to place an order.
- Certified copies cost $30.50 each (as of the last update), and you can order multiple copies at once to avoid reordering later.
- Payment is by check, money order, or credit card, depending on the method you use to order.
- If you do not know the exact date of death or county, the office can search for the record, but this takes longer and may cost extra.
What information you need before ordering
Have the full name of the deceased, the date of death, and the county where the death occurred. These three pieces of information are required to locate the record quickly. If you do not have the exact date, provide the month and year, or the best estimate you can make.
If you do not know the county, you can still order, but the office will need to search multiple counties, which adds time and cost. The search fee is typically $5 to $10 per county searched, on top of the certificate fee. If you know the city where the death occurred, you can call the office and they will tell you which county it is in.
You will also need to state your relationship to the deceased or your reason for needing the certificate. The office uses this to determine whether you are authorized to receive a certified copy. when ready family members (spouse, parent, child, sibling) can order without restriction. Others may need to provide additional documentation or a court order.
Cost and payment methods
A certified copy of a Florida death certificate costs $30.50. This is the price for one certified copy. You can order multiple copies at the same time for $30.50 each, which is often worth doing because you may need more than one for insurance claims, probate, or other purposes.
Payment methods vary by how you order. By mail, send a check or money order payable to the Florida Department of Health. By phone or fax, you can pay by credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover). In person, you can pay by cash, check, money order, or credit card.
Do not send cash by mail. If you are ordering by mail and do not have a check or money order, call the office to pay by credit card over the phone instead.
How to order by mail
Write a letter or use the state's order form (available on the Florida Department of Health website). Include the full name of the deceased, date of death, county of death, your full name, your relationship to the deceased, your mailing address, and a phone number or email where they can reach you if there is a problem.
Enclose a check or money order for $30.50 per copy, payable to the Florida Department of Health. Mail the letter and payment to Office of Vital Statistics, P.O. Box 210, Jacksonville, FL 32231-0210.
The office will mail the certified copy to your address. Processing takes 7 to 10 business days, plus mail delivery time. If you need the certificate faster, use phone, fax, or in-person ordering instead.
How to order by phone or fax
Call 904-359-6900 during business hours (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time, closed state holidays). Have the deceased's full name, date of death, county of death, and your credit card information ready. The staff will take your order and process payment over the phone.
Processing takes 5 to 7 business days. The office will mail the certificate to the address you provide. If you need it faster, ask about expedited shipping options when you call.
To order by fax, fill out the order form (available on the state website), include your credit card information, and fax it to 904-359-6911. Fax orders are processed the same way as phone orders and take 5 to 7 business days.
How to order in person
Visit the Office of Vital Statistics at 2585 Merchants Row, Jacksonville, FL 32207. Bring a photo ID and payment (cash, check, money order, or credit card). Have the deceased's full name, date of death, and county of death ready.
Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time, closed state holidays. Arrive early if possible, as the office can sometimes issue a certified copy the same day, but this is not may provide. Call 904-359-6900 before you visit to confirm they can process your order that day.
If you cannot visit Jacksonville, some county health departments in Florida can process orders on behalf of the state office. Call your local county health department to ask whether they offer this service.
What to do if the record cannot be found
If the death occurred in Florida but the office cannot locate the record, ask them to search a wider date range (for example, if you are unsure of the exact date, ask them to search the entire month). This costs extra but may find the record if the date was slightly different than you remembered.
If the death occurred outside Florida, you will need to order from the state or county where the death happened. The Florida office cannot issue a certificate for a death that occurred elsewhere. Call them and they can tell you which state or county office to contact.
If the death is very recent (within the last few days), the record may not yet be filed with the state office. Ask the funeral home or the hospital where the death occurred — they can tell you when the record will be available and which office to contact.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many certified copies should I order?
Order at least three to five copies. You will likely need one for probate, one for insurance claims, one for Social Security, and possibly one for the bank or other institutions. Since each copy costs $30.50, ordering extras at the same time is cheaper than reordering later.
Can someone else order a death certificate on my behalf?
Yes. The person ordering does not have to be related to the deceased. However, they will need the same information (full name, date of death, county) and will need to state their relationship to the deceased or their reason for needing the certificate. Some relationships may require additional documentation.
What if I need the certificate urgently?
Call the office at 904-359-6900 and explain your situation. They may be able to expedite processing or suggest alternatives. In-person ordering is the fastest option if you can travel to Jacksonville. Some funeral homes can also provide temporary documents while you wait for the official certificate.
Is a certified copy the same as a regular copy?
Yes. A certified copy has the state seal and signature and is the official version. Most institutions (banks, insurance companies, courts) require a certified copy, not a photocopy. The office only issues certified copies, so you do not have to choose.
What if the name on the death certificate is spelled differently than I expected?
Contact the Office of Vital Statistics at 904-359-6900. If there is an error, you may be able to request a correction. This requires documentation and can take additional time, so ask the office what proof they need before you submit a correction request.