Death Certificates

The Florida Department of Health in Lee County is able to issue certified copies of death certificates for any death in the State of Florida from 2009 to the present. 

Who can request a death certificate?

Death and fetal death certificates without the cause of death are public records. Anyone can get them without showing ID.

Death and fetal death certificates with the cause of death are private. Only certain people can get them if they have valid ID, required documents, and pay the correct fee. These people include:

• A spouse, parent, sibling, child, or grandchild.
• Someone with documents showing they are a beneficiary of an insurance policy, part of a will, or have a legal claim to the estate.
• A guardian or legal representative of one of the people listed above, with proper documents or a court order.

If you are eligible, you can allow someone else to get the death certificate with the cause of death for you. To do this, you need to:

• Print and complete the Application for Florida Death Record.
• Print and complete the Affidavit to Release Cause of Death Information.
• Give the person a copy of your valid ID.
• All required documents, if applicable.

Note: The original affidavit must be submitted with a completed Application for Florida Death Record.

How to request a death certificate

 In person:

• Print and complete the Application for a Florida Death Record. (English) (Spanish)(Creole)
• Copy of your ID.
• Proper fee amount.
• Other documents, if required.
• Visit the Office of Vital Statistics located at:

By mail:

For deaths that happened between 2009 to the present:

• Print and complete the Application for a Florida Death Record. (English) (Spanish)(Creole)
• A copy of one of the following valid identifications
  • Driver's License
  • Passport
  • Military ID
  • State ID
• Proper fee amount. Payment method’s accepted: money order, cashier check or  business check. Personal checks are not accepted.
• Other documents, if required.
• A self-addressed stamp envelope (for regular processing service)
• Mail to:

For deaths that happened before 2009:

• Print and complete the Application for Florida Death Record or Fetal Death Certificate. (English)(Spanish) (Creole )
• A copy of one of the following valid identifications
  • Driver's License
  • Passport
  • Military ID
  • State ID
• Proper fee amount.
• Other documents, if required.
• Mail to:

 For UPS/FedEx/Overnight use this address:

Bureau of Vital Statistics
Attn: Client Services
1217 North Pearl St.
Jacksonville, FL 32202
 

By phone or online:

Order online or by phone with a credit card via VitalChek^®. VitalChek^® is our only contracted vendor to accept orders billed to a credit card. 

 Visit the VitalChek^® website to place your order online.

Speak with VitalChek^®  a customer representative to place your order by telephone at 800-669-8312.  

 You will need the following to process your order:

• A copy of one of the following valid identifications
  • Driver's License
  • Passport
  • Military ID
  • State ID
• Your daytime telephone number
• Credit card information
  • American Express
  • Discover Card
  • Master Card
  • Visa 

If you experience problems with your online order, please call the VitalChek^®customer service number at 1-888-219-3786 for assistance, or visit their website.