DH 727A (Apostille), 01/2022, Florida Administrative Code Rule 64V-1.0131 (Obsoletes Previous Editions)
INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR FLORIDA DEATH CERTIFICATE APPLICATION
If you need assistance, please call our Apostille Unit at 904-359-6900, ext. 9006.
Foreign embassies or consulates often require an apostille or notarial certificate for vital record certificates. The 1961 Hague Convention established the apostille as a form of
authentication for its member states. The apostille certifies the authenticity of the issuing official’s signature. Countries that are nonmembers of the 1961 Hague Convention
are issued notarial certificates, which also authenticates the issuing official’s signature. The Florida Secretary of State is the only designated Competent Authority to issue
Before ordering, we urge you to contact the nearest consulate or embassy for the country in which you will be using the apostille or notarial certificate to obtain
their requirements for the vital record certificate.
Obtaining an Apostille or Notarial Certificate is a two-step process:
If you wish to expe
dite this two-step
process, you may or
der online at
www.vitalchek.com/flastorefront VitalChe
k is our only c
ontracted vendor
. VitalChek w
ill collect
your ordering information and credit card payment for both steps of the process. Our office will forward your vital record certificate via UPS to the Florida Department of
State, Division of Corporations for the apostille process. Once the process is completed, the Florida Department of State will send the certificates via UPS to you. Please note,
VitalChek charges an additional $7 processing fee in addition to both agency fees and 2 UPS shipping fees.
To order by mail, you must complete both steps separately:
1. Complete this application to obtain a death certificate from the Bureau of Vital Statistics.
2. Once the death certificate is received, you must forward it to the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations for the Apostille/ Notarial Certificate.
Please visit their website at www.dos.myflorida.com or contact 850-245-6945 for information regarding their application, requirements, processing time, fees, etc.
Mailing: Department of State, Division of Corporations, Apostille Certificate, P.O. Box 6800, Tallahassee, FL 32314-6800
Walk in/Courier Delivery: Department of State, Division of Corporations, Apostille Certificate, 2415 N. Monroe Street, Suite 810, Tallahassee, FL 32303.
AVAILABILITY: Some records are on file dating back to 1877, but not all events were registered.
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 issue
d to an eligi
ble person requesting a c
onfidential re
cord, regardless
of the date of dea
th. Therefor
e, the f
irst five digits of the decedent’s social security number will be redacted when issuing a public record request.
ELIGIBILITY (Section 382.025, Florida Statutes):
WITHOUT CAUSE OF DEATH: Any person of legal age (18) may be issued a certified copy of a death record without the cause of death on the record.
CAUSE OF DEATH INFORMATION: Cause of Death for any record over 50 years old may be issued to any applicant of legal age. Death records less than 50 years old
1. The decedent’s spouse or parent
2. The decedent’s child, grandchild or sibling, if of legal age
3. To any person who provides a will, insurance policy or other document that demonstrates an interest in the estate of the decedent
4. To any person who provides documentation that he or she is acting on behalf of any of the above-named persons
5. By court order
All requests for a death certificate that includes the cause of death information must state the qualifying eligibility or be accompanied with a notarized Affidavit to Release
Cause of Death Information form (DH 1959) signed by an eligible person (form is available on our website) and a copy of valid photo identification of both the person
authorizing release and the applicant.
If requesting cause of death, the f
uneral home of re
cord or attor
ney represen
ting an eligible pers
on as define
d above must in
clude th
eir professional lic
ense number,
and the
name and relationship of the person they are representing. If funeral home is not representing an eligible person or not the funeral home of record, then a completed Affidavit
to Release Cause of Death Information form (DH 1959) must accompany the request.
UNKNOWN DATE OF DEATH: If date of death is unknown, the entire year specified will be searched. If the year is unknown, specify the span of years to be searched
(Example: 1970 to present) and include payment of $2.00 per year for each year to be searched. Maximum fee is $50.00 regardless of the number of years to be searched.
REQUIREMENT FOR ORDERING: Eligible applicant must provide a completed application. A copy of a valid photo identification and any supporting documentation is
required when requesting the cause of death portion.
ACCEPTABLE FORMS OF IDENTIFICATION: Driver License, State Identification Card, Passport, Military Identification Card. For mail-in requests, include a
copy of the front and back of the ID. A foreign issued driver license, identification card, consular card, or Matricula card require two additional forms of identification, such
as a vehicle title or registration, health insurance card, employment ID, school ID, tax document, or mail with current address.
FEES: Check or Money Order Payable to: Vital Statistics. DO NOT SEND CASH. International payments must be made by Cashier’s Check or Money Order in U.S. Dollars
drawn upon a U.S. Bank. Florida Law imposes an additional service charge of $15.00 for dishonored checks. Fees are nonrefundable, except fees paid for additional copies
OPTIONS FOR ORDERING:
O
NL
I
N
E:
To expedite this two-step process, you may order online at www.vitalchek.com/flastorefront with a credit card. VitalChek is our only contracted vendor. VitalChek charges an additional $7 processing fee in addition to both agency fees and 2 UPS shipping fees.
MAIL IN (FOR VITAL RECORD CERTIFICATE ONLY): Normal processing time is 5-7 business days. If requesting RUSH service mark the outside of your envelope
“RUSH”. Rush Orders are given priority processing. Expedite shipping is NOT included in rush fee. All orders require a $1.00 Shipping and Handling Fee and are mailed
Standard U.S. Postal delivery unless a special prepaid express delivery envelope is provided.
WALK-IN SERVICE (FOR VITAL RECORD CERTIFICATE ONLY): Visit 1217 North Pearl Street, Jacksonville, Florida, between 8:00 am – 4:30 pm. Eligible
applicants must present a valid ID when requesting confidential records. Photocopy certificates (records prior to 2009) require the $10 rush fee and may not be available for
MAIL THIS APPLICATION WITH PAYMENT TO:
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, BUREAU OF VITAL STATISTICS
ATTN: APOSTILLE UNIT, P.O. BOX 210, JACKSONVILLE, FL 32231-0042
Express Mail and Courier Deliveries to: 1217 North Pearl Street, Jacksonville, Florida, 32202
PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE: www.floridahealth.gov/certificates