Death Certificates

Death registration was not required by state law until 1917, but there are some records on file at the State Office of Vital Statistics dating back to 1877. Currently, the Florida Department of Health in Highlands County has records dating back as far as 2009 and up to the current year. 

To obtain certified copies of earlier death records, please contact the State Office of Vital Statistics. They can be reached by phone at 904-359-6900, ext. 9000 or online at https://www.floridahealth.gov/certificates/index.html

For death records from 2009 to the present year, 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 parent or current spouse
• The decedent’s child, grandchild, or sibling, if of legal age (18)
• Any person who provides a will that has been executed pursuant to s.732.502, or an insurance policy or other document that demonstrates his or her interest in the estate of the decedent
• 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 not sure about your eligibility for cause of death information, please call our Vital Statistics Office at 863-382-7215.

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 https://www.floridahealth.gov/certificates/index.html

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

• A signed death certificate application. Signature is required. 
  • Regular Version (177kb doc)  
  • Funeral Director Version (175kb doc)
• A copy of one of the following valid forms of identification (a photocopy of your current PICTURE ID is required):
  • A valid driver’s license (front and back)
  • A state identification card (front and back)
  • A passport or military identification card
  • The applicant’s eligibility status (relationship to decedent)
  • The decedent’s full name, date and place of death
  • The applicant’s full name, address and day time phone number(s)

The fee for each certified copy of a Florida death record is $10.00.  When purchased at the same time, additional copies of the identical death record are $8.00 each.

For your convenience there are three ways to apply for a death certificate:

Apply In Person

Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday – Friday

When applying in person, fees are payable in cash, by money order or cashier's check made payable to the Florida Department of Health in Highlands County, or by Visa or Mastercard credit card.  

Apply by Mail   

Florida Department of Health in Highlands County
Vital Statistics
7205 S. George Blvd.
Sebring, Florida 33875-5847

Please include:

• A signed death certificate application:   
  • Regular Version (177kb doc)   
  • Funeral Director Version (175kb doc)
• A copy of one of the following valid forms of identification (a photocopy of your PICTURE ID is required for mail-in applications):
  • A valid driver’s license (front and back)
  • A state identification card (front and back)
  • A passport or military identification card
  • The applicant’s eligibility status (relationship to decedent)
  • The decedent’s full name, date and place of death
  • The applicant’s full name, address and day time phone number(s)
  • Your payment
  • A self-addressed stamped envelope (for regular processing service)

Apply by Fax:

Fax number: 863-382-7283

Please include:

• Signed death certificate application:    
  • Regular Version (177kb doc)   
  • Funeral Director Version (175kb doc)
• A copy of one of the following valid identifications (enlarged for easier verification when faxed)
  • Valid driver’s license (front and back)
  • State identification card (front and back)
  • Passport
  • Military identification card
  • The applicant’s eligibility status (relationship to decedent)
  • The decedent’s full name, date and place of death
  • The applicant’s full name, address and day time phone number(s)
  • Credit card payment (Visa or Mastercard)

Optional Purchases

• Protective Certificate Sleeves: $2.00 each
• Expedited mail service (3 days or less processing time): $15.00 (Does not include Express Delivery)
• Express Delivery: Price Varies (Does not include Expedited Service)