Death certificates vs. death certifications

The State of Florida issues two types of death records: death certifications and death certificates.

Death certifications are public record without cause of death. Anyone may obtain certified copies without the cause of death information. The cause of death becomes public information after 50 years from the date of death. By Florida law, the cause of death is considered confidential prior to that time. 

Death certificates which include the cause of death may only be issued to the decedent's spouse, parent, and (if of legal age) child, grandchild, or sibling, or anyone who provides a will, insurance policy or other document that demonstrates their interest in the estate of the decedent or anyone who provides documentation that he or she is acting on the behalf of any of the previously mentioned persons, or by court order.

The Florida Department of Health, Office of Vital Statistics (Florida Vital Records) issues certified copies of Florida death certificates for events which occurred in the State of Florida. You may order a certified copy of a Florida death certification (without cause of death) with an apostille through Foreign Documents Express on an expedited basis. If you need a certified copy of the death certificate with cause of death, we recommend using VitalChek.com or obtaining the document directly through the Florida Office of Vital Statistics.

To start the process of getting an apostille for a Florida death certificate, you must first have a certified copy. If you need several death certificates apostilled, for each Florida apostille you will need a certified copy. Please note that, under no circumstances, can a Florida vital record (including death certificates) be notarized. If the Secretary of State sees any kind of notarization on your document, the document will be rejected for an apostille.

Please note that 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.