Death registration was not required by state law until 1917; however there are some records on file at the State Office of Vital Statistics dating back to 1877. Currently, the Miami-Dade County Health Department has records dating back to approximately two years. To obtain a certified copy of earlier death records, please contact the State Office of Vital Statistics.

The first step is to determine your eligibility to receive a death certificate.

WITHOUT CAUSE OF DEATH: Any person of legal age (18) may be issued a certified copy of a death record without the cause of death.

WITH CAUSE OF DEATH INFORMATION: Death records with the cause of death information may only be issued to the following individuals:

- The decedent’s spouse or parent,
- The decedent’s child, grandchild or sibling, if of legal age,
- Any person who provides a will, insurance policy or other document that demonstrates his or her interest in the estate of the decedent, or
- Any person who provides documentation that he or she is acting on behalf of any of the above named persons

If after reading the above information, you are still uncertain regarding your eligibility for cause of death information, please call the Miami-Dade County Health Department’s Office of Vital Records at 305-324-2489 for assistance.

Cause of death information on death records over 50 years old is available to anyone completing an application and submitting the required fee. To obtain a certified copy of such older death records, please contact the State Office of Vital Statistics at 904-359-6900 or via the internet at www.doh.state.fl.us/planning_eval/vital_statistics .

All requests for certification of a death certificate, that includes the cause of death information must include the following:

- The applicant’s PICTURE ID (such as a valid driver’s license, state identification card, passport or military identification card). A photocopy of your PICTURE ID is required for mailed-in applications
- Please note the applicant’s signature IS REQUIRED
- The applicant’s eligibility status (relationship to the decedent)
- The Decedent’s full name, date and place of death
- The applicant’s full name, address and telephone number(s)

The fee for each certified copy of a Florida death record is $10.00.

For Walk-In applications, fees are payable either in cash, by money order or cashier’s check. For Mailed-In applications, fees are payable by money order or cashier’s check only. (Please do not send cash by mail). Money Orders/Cashier’s checks should be made payable to Vital Records Unit.

Optional Purchases
Protective Certificate Sleeves: $5.00
Expedited Mail/Phone/Internet Service (3 days or less processing time): $10.00 (Does not include Express Delivery)**
Express Delivery: Price Varies (Does not include Expedited Service)**

**Please note, Expedited Service and Express Delivery are separate options.

Locations & Office Hours

North Dade
18680 NW 67 Avenue
North Miami, Florida
(305) 324-2489
Monday - Friday
9:00 AM to 5:30 PM


Central Dade
1350 NW 14 Street, Room 3
Miami, Florida 33125
(305) 324-2489
Monday - Friday
8:00 AM to 4:00 PM


South Dade
18255 Homestead Avenue
Miami, Florida 33157
(305) 324-2489
Monday - Friday
10:00 AM to 6:00 PM


The following form can be downloaded in Adobe PDF format. If you do not have an Adobe PDF Reader, you can download the appropriate version at the Adobe Web Site or contact The Miami-Dade County Health Department at (305) 324-2400 and request a form.

Also, to download a death certificate, please click here:
Death Certificate Request Form