Death Certificates

Vital Statistics

To protect the privacy of sensitive information and to prevent identify theft, the cause of death on a Death Certificate is not public record. As required by state law, we restrict access to these certificates, but they are readily available to the individuals, family members and guardians or beneficiaries. We require requesting individuals to produce photo identification and/or other documentation before releasing these confidential records or portions of the records.

The Florida Department of Health in Baker County (DOH-Baker) offers Florida death records from 2009-present. Florida death records from 2009-present are also availabe at any Vital Statistics office in Florida. 

There are fees associated with obtaining these records:

• $10.00 each certified copy
• $5.00 Expedite Fee
  
  

Obtaining a Death Certificate

Death certificates are public record. Anyone may obtain certified copies exclusing the cause of death information. By law, certified copies of death certificates which include the cause of death may only be issued to the decedent's spouse, parent, child, grandchild, sibling, or anyone who provides a will, insurance policy, or other documentation that demonstrates their interest in the estate of the decedent or anyone who provides documentation that he or she is acting on behalf of any of the previously mentioned persons, or by court order.

Cause of death becomes public information after 50 years from the date of death. By Florida law, the cause of death is considered confidential prior to that time.

To obtain a death certificate for those deaths which occurred in Florida:

• Complete a death certificate application
• Provide proof of identification
• Meet minimum age requirement of 18 years old