Florida Death Certificate Apostille Guide
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Apostilling a Florida death certificate means ordering a certified copy from the state, then having the Florida Department of State authenticate it for use abroad. This guide walks you through doing it yourself, paying only the state apostille fee: $10.00 per document; OR $20.00 per document for documents certified by any Florida Clerk of Court when requesting an apostille ($10 apostille + $10 certificate of incumbency).
- Apostille fee: $10 per document
- Certified copy: $5 search + first cert, $4 additional, $2/year search when year unknown, rush +$10 in stated cases
- Processing Time: Varies by current queue (checked 2026-02-24); same-day in person where offered
- Requirements: Original certified copy with the registrar's seal and signature
- Issuing Authority: Florida Department of State
- Note: Only works for Florida-issued documents
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Quick Answer
To apostille a Florida death certificate, order an official certified copy from Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, then submit it to Florida Department of State with the $10 apostille fee. Plan for the time to get both the certified copy and the apostille.
En español
Para usar un certificado de defunción de Florida en el extranjero, necesita un apostille. Solicite una copia certificada original a la Oficina de Estadísticas Vitales (Florida Department of Health) o al Secretario del Tribunal de Circuito del condado, y luego envíela al Departamento de Estado de Florida, División de Corporaciones, para obtener el apostille.
What It Is
An apostille authenticates an official certified copy of the Death Certificate issued by the state vital-records office. It does not verify or certify the facts recorded on the certificate; it only confirms that the issuing official's signature and seal are genuine, so the document is recognized in another country.
Because of this, a funeral-home or hospital-issued copy, a souvenir copy, or a plain photocopy cannot be apostilled. You must start with the official certified copy bearing the registrar's original signature and the state's raised or multicolor seal.
Anything less will be returned, and you'll have to order the correct copy before continuing.
When You Need an Apostille
People most often apostille a Florida death certificate for:
When You Don't Need an Apostille
- The document will only be used inside the United States — an apostille is for use abroad.
- The destination country is NOT a member of the Hague Apostille Convention; those countries require consular legalization through their embassy or consulate instead of an apostille.
- The receiving institution has confirmed in writing that a plain or notarized copy is enough.
Who Can Apply
Ordering a certified copy is usually limited to close family and those with a legal interest in the estate. Exact eligibility varies slightly by state, but typically you'll need
- Eligible requester: usually the surviving spouse, parent, child, sibling, or the estate's legal representative or executor; a valid photo ID and proof of relationship or legal interest are typically required.
- Certified original: a state-issued certified copy with a raised or multicolor seal, not an informational copy.
- Original signature: the registrar's original (not stamped) signature.
Document Requirements
Certified original
State-issued certified copy with a raised or multicolor seal — not an informational copy
Original signature
The registrar's original (not stamped) signature
Eligible requester
Usually the surviving spouse, parent, child, sibling, or the estate's legal representative/executor; a valid photo ID and proof of relationship or legal interest are typically required
- •Photocopies or scans of a certified copy
- •Funeral-home or hospital-issued copies
- •Informational copies marked 'not a valid document to establish identity'
- •Stamped (non-original) signatures
- •Damaged or altered certificates
Fees & Processing Times
Budget for two separate fees: the certified copy of your death certificate and the apostille itself.
$5 search + first cert, $4 additional, $2/year search when year unknown, rush +$10 in stated cases
Certified death certificate (Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics)
$10
Per document
Payment method: Check or money order payable to Florida Department of State; U.S. currency/U.S. bank; no cash; no credit cards.
| Fee Category | Details / Value |
|---|---|
| Certified copy | $5 search + first cert, $4 additional, $2/year search when year unknown, rush +$10 in stated cases — Certified death certificate (Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics) |
| Apostille fee | $10 — per document |
| Payment | Check or money order payable to Florida Department of State; U.S. currency/U.S. bank; no cash; no credit cards. |
| Processing — by mail | Currently processing requests received around 02/18/26 (verified 2026-02-24) |
| Processing — in person | Walk-in requests are accepted at 2415 N. Monroe St., Suite 810, during business hours. |
| Same-day / expedited | State says it does not offer expedited services; offers walk-in services. |
Fees and processing times verified 2026-02-24 against official state sources. Always confirm the current amount before sending payment.
Step-by-Step How-To
- 1
Order a certified death certificate
Start by ordering the certified copy of the death certificate from the Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics.
- Online/phone via VitalChek (state-contracted vendor)
- Mail-in and walk-in directly through Bureau of Vital Statistics
- Also local county health department for some records (fees vary)
- 2
Submit it for apostille
Once you have the sealed certified copy, assemble your packet: the certified copy, a completed request form, your payment, and a self-addressed return envelope. The form is the Apostille and Notarial Certificate Request Form, available at https://dos.
P.O. Box 6800
Tallahassee
FL 32314 - 3
Receive your apostille
Your apostilled certificate is returned in your prepaid envelope (or handed back at the counter for same-day service). Keep the apostille attached to the certificate when using it abroad.
🌍 Next step: Certified Translation
Many countries require a certified translation of your apostilled death certificate — especially for immigration, USCIS, or university admissions. Get a USCIS-accepted translation at CertTranslate.com.
Contact Information
P.O. Box 6800
Tallahassee
FL 32314
Phone
850-245-6053
Hours
Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm, except state holidays
Common Reasons Apostilles Get Rejected
Photocopies or scans of a certified copy
Funeral-home or hospital-issued copies
Informational copies marked 'not a valid document to establish identity'
Stamped (non-original) signatures
Damaged or altered certificates
Official Resources
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Verified Sources
Every fee, address, and processing time on this page was checked against the official government sources below (last verified 2026-02-24).
- dos.fl.gov· checked 2026-02-24
- floridahealth.gov· checked 2026-06-06
Sources & Methodology
Official Sources
- Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations, Apostille Section (also labeled Notary Commissions and Apostille Section)
- Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics
- Hague Conference on Private International Law
Our Process
- Verified against official .gov sources
- Reviewed by document-authentication specialists
- Fee and processing-time monitoring
Disclaimer: This information is general guidance and not legal advice. Always verify current information directly with the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations, Apostille Section (also labeled Notary Commissions and Apostille Section) before submitting your application.
"Getting an apostille for your Florida death certificate is straightforward once you have the right certified copy — the most common rejection is submitting a photocopy instead of a sealed original."
Amelia Rivera
Document Processing Specialist
15+ years in document authentication
Verification & Updates Log
Tracking content accuracy and improvements
- 2026-06-09Updated
Refreshed this guide and added a Spanish-language summary (En español), the two-fee cost breakdown (certified copy + apostille), and direct links to every official .gov source.
- 2026-06-06Updated
Added the certified-copy cost alongside the apostille fee, refreshed the current processing times, and linked the official .gov pages every fact was verified against.
- 2026-06-06Improved
Expanded the accepted-document and rejection-reason checklists so applicants can avoid the most common returns.
- 2026-02-24Verified
Confirmed the $10 apostille fee and Florida Department of State as the issuing authority.
- 2026-02-24Verified
Verified where to order a certified death certificate (Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics) and the apostille submission addresses.
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