Florida Vital Records: Order Birth, Death, Marriage & Divorce Certificates in 2026
Florida vital records are maintained by the Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics. The state issues certified birth, death, marriage, and dissolution of marriage records, although access rules and available service options differ by document.
Here we explain how to request your vital record in Florida, including eligibility requirements, fees, and processing times.
DISCLAIMER: Vital Forms Direct is an independent third-party document preparation service and isn't affiliated with or endorsed by any government agency. You can also request FL vital records directly through state services, such as local offices and county clerks.
Florida Birth Certificates
A Florida birth certificate is a certified record of a birth registered in the state. The Bureau of Vital Statistics maintains statewide birth records from 1917 onward and has limited availability for records dating from 1850 through 1917.
Florida issues 2 certified birth certificate formats:
- Computer-generated certified certificate
- Photocopy-generated certified certificate
Computer-generated certified certificates are accepted by state and federal agencies. County health departments may also issue Florida birth certificates for births recorded from 1917 onward, although their fees may differ.
How to get a birth certificate in Florida
Use the following 3-step process to submit a Florida birth certificate application:
- Enter the birth record details. Provide the registrant's name, date and place of birth and any other identifying information requested on the application.
- Show that you are eligible. Birth records less than 125 years old are confidential. Include valid photo identification and any documentation needed to prove your authority to request the record.
- Pay the fees. You may apply by mail, request service in person, or use the state's contracted online vendor.
Select the certificate format that meets your needs before submitting the request. A computer-generated certified certificate is accepted by state and federal agencies, while a photocopy certificate is a certified reproduction of the record.
Applications must contain enough information for the Bureau to identify the correct birth record. Missing details or information that does not match the registered record can interfere with the search.
Online applications remain subject to the same confidentiality and identification rules as mail and in-person requests.
How to replace a lost Florida birth certificate
You can replace a lost Florida birth certificate by applying for a new certified copy. The process is the same whether your previous certificate was lost, damaged or is no longer available.
The state issues the replacement from the official birth record it maintains. You do not need to return the missing certificate before requesting another copy.
Who can request a Florida birth certificate?
A Florida birth record remains confidential for 125 years from the date of birth.
During that period, certified copies may be issued to:
- The registrant
- A parent named on the birth record
- A legal guardian or a legal representative
- A person acting under a court order
If the person named on the record has died, eligible family members may request a certificate marked "Deceased."
Florida does not treat every relative as automatically eligible. An applicant must fall within an authorized category and may need to demonstrate the relevant legal or family relationship.
Florida birth certificate cost and processing time
A first computer-generated certified Florida birth certificate costs $9. The fee includes the record search and is non-refundable. Additional copies included in the same order cost $4 each.
A photocopy-generated certified birth certificate costs $14 for the first copy and $4 for each additional copy. The state also charges $1 for shipping and handling.
Standard processing for a computer-generated certificate is generally 3–5 business days. This estimate does not include the time required to deliver the certificate.
Same-day photocopy service may be offered for an additional $10 rush fee when available. Charges at county health departments may differ from the state Bureau's fees.
Vital Forms Direct charges separately for its optional application-preparation service.
How to get an expedited Florida birth certificate
Florida offers limited expedited options depending on the record type, age of the record, and method of submission.
For a birth certificate, same-day walk-in service may be available when requesting a photocopy-generated certificate. The additional rush fee is $10.
Florida Death Certificates
Florida death certificates are available in 2 forms: a certified copy that includes the cause of death and a certified copy that does not.
The version without cause of death is a public record. The cause-of-death section is confidential for 50 years and is released during that period only to applicants who qualify under Florida law.
Choosing the correct version is important because the access requirements are not the same.
How to get a death certificate in Florida
Follow these steps when requesting a Florida death certificate:
- Complete the application. Provide as much information as possible about the deceased person, including their full name, date of death, and place of death.
- Choose the certificate type. Select either a certified death certificate with cause of death or a certified copy without cause of death.
- Submit the required documents. Include valid photo identification when requesting a certificate that shows the cause of death. You may also need supporting documents proving that you are eligible to receive the restricted record.
- Pay the applicable fees. Include payment for the certificate, additional copies, shipping, extra-year searches, and any available rush service.
Requests for older death records can require more processing than requests for recent records.
If your previous copy was lost or you need certified copies for several purposes, submit another death certificate request using the same process.
Who can request a Florida death certificate?
A Florida death certificate that does not show the cause of death is a public record and is available more broadly.
Cause-of-death information remains confidential for 50 years after the death. During that time, it may be requested by:
- The deceased person's spouse or parent
- The deceased person's child, grandchild, or sibling
- A person who provides a will, insurance policy, or other document showing an interest in the deceased person's estate
- A legal representative acting on behalf of an eligible person
- A person authorized by a court order
Applicants requesting a certificate with cause of death must provide valid photo identification and may need supporting documents showing their relationship or legal interest.
Florida death certificate cost and processing time
The first certified Florida death certificate costs $5. Additional certified copies submitted in the same order cost $4 each. Shipping costs $1.
If the applicant does not know the year of death, the state charges $2 for every additional year searched, up to a maximum extra search fee of $50.
For deaths registered from 2009 to the present, processing generally takes approximately 3–5 business days. Earlier records need additional processing.
Rush service may be available for eligible records. Same-day processing for certain older records, when offered, carries an additional $10 fee.
Florida Marriage Certificates
Florida's Bureau of Vital Statistics maintains statewide marriage records beginning June 6, 1927.
For marriages recorded before that date, the certified record must be obtained from the Clerk of Court in the county where the marriage license was issued.
Marriage certificates maintained by the Bureau are public records. A requester generally does not need to be one of the spouses.
How to get a marriage certificate in Florida
To request a Florida marriage certificate, follow these steps:
- Complete the application. Provide both spouses' names, the marriage date or approximate year, and any other available details.
- Provide the required documents. Submit any identification or supporting information required by the ordering method or issuing office.
- Pay the applicable fees. Include payment for the first certificate, additional copies, shipping, extra-year searches and optional rush service.
A replacement marriage certificate is simply another certified copy of the official record. Apply through the same office and follow the same procedure used for an initial copy.
Who can request a Florida marriage certificate?
Florida marriage certificates are public records. Any person may generally request a certified copy as long as enough identifying information is provided to locate the marriage.
The requester does not need to be either spouse. However, incomplete names or an uncertain marriage year may require additional searches or prevent the Bureau from identifying the record.
Applicants should include all known marriage details instead of relying on a name alone.
Florida marriage certificate cost and processing time
The first certified Florida marriage certificate costs $5. Additional copies requested with the same order cost $4 each.
The state charges $1 for shipping and $2 for each additional year searched when the exact marriage year is not known.
Computer-generated certificates for marriages from 1970 to the present are usually processed within 3–5 business days, excluding delivery. Older certificates require additional processing.
Rush processing may be offered for qualifying records. Same-day service for some older records, when available, costs an additional $10.
Vital Forms Direct can provide optional help preparing a Florida marriage certificate application. Its service fee is separate from government charges.
Florida Divorce Records
Florida divorce certificates are officially known as certified dissolution of marriage records. The Bureau of Vital Statistics maintains statewide records beginning June 6, 1927.
A certificate confirms that the dissolution was recorded, but it is not the full court decree. The divorce decree is issued through the court and may contain the judgment, settlement terms and other case-specific orders. Applicants needing that document should contact the relevant Clerk of Court.
How to get a divorce certificate in Florida
To request a Florida divorce certificate, follow these three steps:
- Complete the application. Enter the former spouses' names, the divorce date or approximate year and any other information that may help locate the record.
- Provide the required documents. Submit any identification or supporting information required for the request.
- Pay the applicable fees. Include payment for the first certificate, additional copies, and any extra years that need to be searched.
If the search does not locate the requested dissolution record, the Bureau provides a certified "No Record Found" statement.
Who can request a Florida divorce certificate?
Florida dissolution of marriage records maintained by the Bureau of Vital Statistics are public records. Any person may generally apply for a certified copy by providing enough information for the state to identify the record.
The requester does not normally need to be one of the former spouses. Accurate names and dates remain important because the Bureau must be able to distinguish the requested divorce from other records.
The Clerk of Court may have separate procedures for obtaining a full divorce decree or documents from the court file.
Florida divorce certificate cost and processing time
The first certified Florida divorce certificate costs $5. Additional copies submitted with the same application cost $4 each.
Additional-year searches cost $2 per year, with a maximum search charge of $50.
Standard processing is 3–5 business days for computer-generated divorce certificates (1970 to present), not including mailing time. Records prior to 1970 require additional processing time.
Frequently Asked Questions: Florida Vital Records
Is a Florida divorce certificate the same as the divorce decree?
No. A Florida divorce certificate is a certified dissolution of marriage record issued through the Bureau of Vital Statistics.
The divorce decree is the court document containing the judgment and case orders. Request the decree from the Clerk of Court who handled the divorce.
How do I order a Florida birth certificate online?
You can prepare a Florida birth certificate application online with Vital Forms Direct. The official certified record is issued by the Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, or an authorized county health department.
Who can get a Florida birth certificate?
For 125 years after the birth, access is limited to the adult registrant, a parent listed on the record, a legal guardian, a legal representative, or a person authorized by court order. Eligible relatives may request a certificate marked "Deceased" when the registrant has died.
Can anyone request a Florida death certificate?
A death certificate without a cause of death is a public record and has broader availability. A certificate containing the cause of death is restricted for 50 years and may be issued during that period only to authorized applicants.
How long does it take to get a Florida vital record?
Standard Florida birth certificates generally take 3–5 business days to process. Death certificates from 2009 onward and marriage certificates from 1970 onward also generally take 3–5 business days. Older records may require more time.
What if my Florida divorce was finalized less than 60 days ago?
A recent dissolution may not yet be available through every office, so the Bureau of Vital Statistics or the Clerk of Court may need to confirm where the record can be obtained.
How much does a Florida birth, death, marriage, or divorce certificate cost?
A first computer-generated birth certificate costs $9. A first death, marriage, or divorce certificate costs $5. Additional copies generally cost $4 each. Depending on the request, shipping, photocopy, search, rush, or online vendor charges may also apply.
Can I get a same-day or rush Florida vital record?
Same-day photocopy birth certificate service may be available for an additional $10. Qualifying death and marriage records may also have rush options. The supplied official information does not list a statewide rush option for Florida divorce certificates.