How do I obtain a death certificate in Orlando?

Updated September 26, 2026 · Orlando Funeral Guide editorial team

Short answer: in most cases the funeral home orders the first certified copies for you when it files the death certificate. If you need more copies later, you can order them from the Florida Department of Health in Orange County (807 West Church Street, Orlando), by mail, or online through VitalChek, the state’s only authorized online vendor.

How the death certificate gets filed

You don’t file the death certificate yourself. Under Florida law, the funeral director who first takes custody of your loved one files it electronically with the state, within 5 days after the death and before final disposition. The funeral director gets personal details from the family. The doctor, hospice provider, or medical examiner then certifies the cause of death.

If the cause of death is still pending, for example while an autopsy or toxicology is being completed, the funeral director can file a temporary certificate. It is replaced by a permanent one later. Institutions that need the cause of death may have to wait for the permanent certificate.

Two kinds of certified copy

A copy with the cause of death requires valid photo ID. If someone who isn’t eligible is ordering on behalf of an eligible person, they need a notarized Affidavit to Release Cause of Death Information (DH Form 1959).

Where to order in Orlando

In person or by mail: Orange County Vital Statistics

• Florida Department of Health in Orange County — Vital Statistics 807 West Church Street, Orlando, FL 32805 Phone: 407-858-1460 Hours: Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. (confirm before visiting)
• Available for deaths that occurred in Florida from 2009 to the present.
• Bring or send a legible copy of a valid driver’s license, passport, state ID, or military ID, plus a completed application (available in English and Spanish on the office’s website).
• Fee listed as of September 2026: $10 per death certificate. Check the official fee page before you go.

Online or by phone: VitalChek

The Florida Department of Health says VitalChek is its only contracted online vendor and recommends against other websites. Watch out for look-alike sites that charge extra. VitalChek adds its own processing fee, and its fees differ from walk-in fees.

Statewide: Bureau of Vital Statistics, Jacksonville

Use the state bureau for deaths before 2009, or if you prefer to order by mail from the state. The state lists a $5 search fee (which includes one copy), $4 for each additional copy of the same record, and an optional $10 rush fee. Normal processing for 2009-to-present records is listed as 3–5 business days plus shipping. See the state’s death certificate page for current fees and forms.

How many copies do you need?

Many institutions want a certified copy, not a photocopy. Some return it after reviewing it and many don’t. Families commonly need copies for:

• life insurance claims
• banks, credit unions, and investment accounts
• retirement accounts and pensions
• real estate and vehicle titles
• probate
• some government benefits

Ordering a few more than you think you need at the start is usually easier than placing a second order later. The planner below gives a suggested range based on your situation.

If the death happened outside Florida

Death certificates are issued by the state where the death occurred. For deaths in another U.S. state, contact that state’s vital records office. The CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics keeps a directory. For a U.S. citizen who died abroad, the U.S. embassy or consulate prepares a Consular Report of Death Abroad. See What if the death occurs in another country?

Related

• A death has occurred — what do I do now?
• Funeral planning checklist
• Funeral costs in Orlando