ELIGIBLE Requestors
Births less than 125 years old are confidential and may only be issued to:
- Registrant (name on the record) if of legal age (18)
- Parent(s) listed on the birth record
- Legal guardian (must provide guardianship papers)
- Legal representative of one of the above persons (must provide documentation)
- By court order (must provide copy of court order)
Photo ID Required
Valid photo identification is required when requesting a birth record. If the applicant is not an eligible requestor, the application must be accompanied with a notarized Affidavit to Release a Birth Certificate signed by an eligible requestor, along with supporting documentation and a copy of valid photo ID of both the person authorizing release and the applicant.
Upon receipt of registrant’s death record, a birth certificate marked “Deceased” may be issued to the spouse, child, grandchild, or sibling, if of legal age. Notate “Registrant Deceased” on the application and include a photocopy of the death certificate
Ordering a Florida Birth Certificate
Any person who willfully and knowingly provides any false information on a certificate, record or report required by Chapter 382, Florida Statutes, or on an application or affidavit, or who obtains confidential information from any vital record under false or fraudulent purposes, commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in Chapter 775, Florida Statutes.
Limited births were recorded between 1850 and 1917.
Order Online with VitalChek
Order online with a credit card from VitalChek® and have your certificates delivered right to your door.
VitalChek is the only contracted vendor for the Florida Department of Health’s Bureau of Vital Statistics. We do not recommend using any other online vendor. The application process requires you to share personal information, so security and confidentiality is critical. We can only guarantee your privacy if you order through VitalChek.
Fees
| $19 | Florida Bureau of Vital Statistic fee for the first computer-generated certification (includes $9 search fee, and $10 rush fee) – some county health departments accept VitalChek orders, and county health department fees do vary |
| $ 7 | VitalChek processing fee to verify your identity, obtain ordering information and download your request directly to the Bureau of Vital Statistics |
| $ 4 | Additional computer-generated certification |
UPS shipping is available for an additional fee and requires signature upon delivery. Regular mail may be selected as a shipping method for no additional cost.
Manually produced photocopy certificates are not available through VitalChek and must be ordered by mail directly from the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics.
Visit VitalChek® to start your online order or call VitalChek at 877-550-7330 to order by phone. If calling from outside the U.S., call 615-372-6800.
Order from Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics
The Bureau of Vital Statistics offers walk-in or mail-in services. To save time, download and complete the forms you need.
- DH726 Application for a Florida Birth Record
- DH726S Application for a Florida Birth Record (Spanish)
Fees
A $9 search fee is included in all orders and is NON-REFUNDABLE.
| $9 | First computer-generated certification |
| $4 | Additional computer-generated certification |
| $14 | First photocopy certificate (same day walk-in service requires $10 rush fee, when available) |
| $4 | Additional photocopy certificate |
| $1 | Shipping and handling fee |
Type of Request
Request by Walk-in
1217 N Pearl St.
Jacksonville, FL 32202
Lobby hours:
Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Photocopy generated certificates require a $10 rush fee for same day service, when available. Walk-in payments may be made in the form of cash, check, money order, Visa, and Mastercard. We do not accept contactless payment or tap to pay.
Request by Mail-in
Florida Department of Health, Vital Statistics
P.O. Box 210
Jacksonville, Fl 32231-0042
Normal processing time for computer-generated birth certificates is 3-5 business days, not including shipping time. Photocopy generated certificates and amended records require additional processing time.
Rush orders are given priority processing and require an additional $10 fee. Mark the outside of your envelope RUSH. All orders, including RUSH orders are mailed standard U.S.P.S. unless a special prepaid delivery envelope is provided.
Request in writing
Please include the following information along with a copy of your valid photo identification, payment, and any supporting documentation. Information about the person named on the certificate:
- Full name on birth record
- Sex
- Date of birth (if unknown, specify range of years to be searched and provide additional fee of $2 per calendar year)
- City or county of birth
- Parent(s) full name(s) prior to first marriage
Information about you (or the person requesting the certificate):
- Full Name
- Relationship to person named on record
- Mailing address
- Phone number
- Signature of Applicant
Photo Identification: Copy of applicant’s valid photo identification is required: driver’s license, state identification card, passport, military identification card.
Type of Certificate: Computer generated birth certificate printed on security paper with the Florida embossed seal, which is accepted by all state and federal agencies. Photocopy generated certificate printed on security paper with the Florida embossed seal. Photocopy certificates are manually produced and require an additional fee and additional processing time.
Payment: 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 from a U.S. bank.
- Florida Law imposes an additional service charge of $15 for dishonored checks.
- Fees are nonrefundable, except fee paid for additional copies when no record is found. These are refunded on written request.
Order from Local County Health Departments
Mail-in or walk-in to a local county health department for Florida birth records from 1917 to present. Fees vary by county.
For information on home births, please contact your local county health department.
births that occurred outside of Florida or U.S.
For births that occurred outside of Florida, visit the National Center of Health Statistics.
For births that occurred outside of the U.S., visit the U.S. Department of State.
Stillbirth
A certificate of birth resulting in stillbirth is issued from the fetal death record on file for fetal deaths occurring at 20 or more weeks of gestation.
nonviable birth
A nonviable birth may be filed for spontaneous fetal demise occurring between the 10th through 19th weeks of gestation. Once filed, a certification of the record may be requested
Help Us Improve
The Florida Department of Health’s Bureau of Vital Statistics is always looking for ways to improve our services. Have you contacted or visited us? Tell us about your experience!