A fetal death of 20 or more weeks gestation, otherwise known as a stillbirth, shall be registered in accordance with Florida Statutes.
A valid form of photo identification is required when requesting the confidential portion of the fetal death record.
requesting a death certificate
Any applicant of legal age (18) may obtain a certificate of the non-confidential portion of the record. Information relating to the cause of fetal death, parentage, marital status, and medical information, are confidential for 125 years and may only be issued to the parent(s) named on the fetal death, sibling(s), or by court order.
Ordering a Florida Death Certificate
Any person who willfully and knowingly provides any false information on a certificate, record or report required by Chapter 382, F.S., 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, F.S..
Limited deaths were recorded between 1877 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 our 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
| $15 | Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics fee for the first certificate (includes $5 search fee for one calendar year and a $10 rush fee). Some county health departments accept VitalChek orders, and county health department fees do vary |
| $7 | VitalChek process fee to verify your identity, obtain ordering information and download your request directly to the Bureau of Vital Statistics |
| $4 | Additional certificates |
| $2 | Search fee per calendar year when exact year is unknown (maximum fee $50) |
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.
Use 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 1-615-372-6800.
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.
- DH727 Application for a Death or Fetal Death Record (English)
- DH727S Application for a Death or Fetal Death Record (Spanish)
Fees
A $5 search fee is included in all orders and is NON-REFUNDABLE.
| $5 | Search fee for one calendar year and one certified copy |
| $4 | Additional certified copies |
| $2 | Search fee per calendar year when exact year is unknown (maximum fee $50) |
| $10 | Rush fee (required for records prior to 2009 for same day walk in service, when available) |
| $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.
Walk-in payments may be made in the form of cash, check, money order, Visa, and Mastercard.
Request by Mail-in
Florida Department of Health, Vital Statistics
P.O. Box 210
Jacksonville, Fl 32231-0042
Normal processing time for fetal death certificates from 2009 to present is 3-5 business days not including shipping time to and from our office. Records prior to 2009 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 identification, payment, and any supporting documentation. Information about the person named on the certificate:
- Full name on fetal death record
- Sex
- Date of fetal death (if unknown, specify range of years to be searched and provide additional fee of $2 per calendar year)
- Date of birth
- City or county of death
Information about you (or the person requesting the certificate):
- Full name
- Relationship to decedent
- Mailing address
- Phone number
- Signature of applicant
- If you are a funeral director or an attorney, please provide the name of the individual you represent and their relationship to the decedent, along with your professional license number
Type of Certificate:
- Fetal death certificate with confidential portion redacted
- Fetal death certificate, including confidential portion – (VALID PHOTO IDENTIFICATION REQUIRED)
Photo Identification: Eligible applicant’s valid photo identification is required when cause of death is requested: driver’s license, state identification card, passport, military identification card.
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 in Florida for deaths occurring from 2009 to present only.
Fees at county health department fees may vary.
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!