Florida birth, death, marriage and divorce records: where to look
Florida's Bureau of Vital Statistics holds marriage and divorce certificates from June 6, 1927 and issues birth and death certificates, but births under 125 years old and recent causes of death are confidential. The state names VitalChek as its only contracted online vendor.
At a glance
| Record | Years at the state | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Birth | The page says limited births were recorded between 1850 and 1917, and points to county health departments for 1917 to the present. [2] | $9 for the first computer-generated certification (includes a non-refundable $9 search fee), $4 for each additional; $14 for a photocopy certificate; $2 per extra calendar year searched when the year is unknown; $1 shipping and handling. A $10 rush fee is optional. [2] |
| Death | The page says limited deaths were recorded between 1877 and 1917. [3] | $5 for the search and first certified copy, $4 for each additional, $2 per extra calendar year searched when the year is unknown (maximum $50), $1 shipping. [3] |
| Marriage | June 6, 1927 to the present. [4] | $5 for the search and first certified copy, $4 for each additional, $2 per extra calendar year searched (maximum $50), $1 shipping. [4] |
| Divorce | June 6, 1927 to the present. [5] | The same $5 search fee is charged on each order and is non-refundable. [5] |
Superscript numbers point to the official page each fact came from, listed at the bottom of this page.
Birth records
- Where it is kept
- The Bureau of Vital Statistics (mail or walk-in in Jacksonville), or a county health department for records from 1917 to the present. [2]
- Years covered
- The page says limited births were recorded between 1850 and 1917, and points to county health departments for 1917 to the present. [2]
- Who can get a certified copy
- Births under 125 years old are confidential: the person named (18 or older), parents listed on the record, a legal guardian, a legal representative, or a court order. A deceased person's spouse, child, grandchild or sibling (adult) can get a copy marked "Deceased" with a death certificate. [2]
- Fee
- $9 for the first computer-generated certification (includes a non-refundable $9 search fee), $4 for each additional; $14 for a photocopy certificate; $2 per extra calendar year searched when the year is unknown; $1 shipping and handling. A $10 rush fee is optional. [2]
- Processing time
- 3 to 5 business days for computer-generated certificates, not counting shipping; photocopy and amended records take longer. [2]
Death records
- Where it is kept
- The Bureau of Vital Statistics, or a county health department. [3]
- Years covered
- The page says limited deaths were recorded between 1877 and 1917. [3]
- Who can get a certified copy
- Anyone 18 or older can get a death certificate without cause of death (first five Social Security digits redacted). Cause of death on records under 50 years old goes only to the spouse or parent, an adult child, grandchild or sibling, someone with a will or insurance policy showing interest, or by court order. [3]
- Fee
- $5 for the search and first certified copy, $4 for each additional, $2 per extra calendar year searched when the year is unknown (maximum $50), $1 shipping. [3]
- Processing time
- 3 to 5 business days for deaths from 2009 on, not counting shipping; earlier records take longer. [3]
Marriage records
- Where it is kept
- The Bureau of Vital Statistics for marriages recorded by a clerk of court since June 6, 1927. Earlier marriages come from the clerk of court in the county that issued the license. [4]
- Years covered
- June 6, 1927 to the present. [4]
- Who can get a certified copy
- Not confirmed on the official pages we read.
- Fee
- $5 for the search and first certified copy, $4 for each additional, $2 per extra calendar year searched (maximum $50), $1 shipping. [4]
- Processing time
- 3 to 5 business days for computer certificates from 1970 on; earlier records take longer. New marriages take about 60 days to reach the state. [4]
Divorce records
- Where it is kept
- The Bureau of Vital Statistics issues an abstract certificate for dissolutions recorded since June 6, 1927; the actual judgment comes from the clerk of court in the county. [5]
- Years covered
- June 6, 1927 to the present. [5]
- Who can get a certified copy
- Not confirmed on the official pages we read.
- Fee
- The same $5 search fee is charged on each order and is non-refundable. [5]
- Processing time
- 3 to 5 business days for computer certificates from 1970 on; earlier records take longer. [5]
About ordering online
Florida says VitalChek is its only contracted vendor and that the Bureau is not affiliated with any other vendor. VitalChek adds a $7 service fee on top of the state fee. You can skip it by mailing the state form or walking in at 1217 N Pearl St., Jacksonville. We link only to the state's own pages above; the state's VitalChek page explains the vendor option. [6]
Archives and other places to look
We did not confirm a state-archive source for these records on the official pages we read.
The National Archives describes FamilySearch.org as free with account creation (see our census page), but we could not open FamilySearch's own pages, so we do not describe what it holds for Florida.
Historical newspapers
The Library of Congress's Chronicling America lists 73 digitized newspaper titles published in Florida, with issues dated from May 15, 1878 to December 31, 1963. Coverage is uneven inside that span: it is a list of titles, not a promise that every town or year is there. Chronicling America includes select digitized newspapers through 1963.
Browse Florida titles at the Library of Congress
New to newspaper research? See our guide to finding old newspapers (obituaries, marriage notices, birth announcements).
Counts come from the Library of Congress's "All Digitized Titles" list, read October 27, 2026. The Library of Congress says it believes these newspapers are in the public domain or have no known copyright restrictions.
How we verified this page
Last verified October 27, 2026. Offices change fees and rules without notice. If something here no longer matches the official page, trust the official page.
Confirmed on official pages
- Marriage and divorce certificates are held by the state from June 6, 1927.
- Births under 125 years old are confidential.
- Fees: birth $9, death $5, marriage $5 (first copy); computer-generated certificates take 3 to 5 business days.
- VitalChek is the only vendor the state says it contracts with.
Could not verify
- Who may order marriage and divorce certificates (the pages do not say).
- A free state-archive alternative. Florida Memory and the State Archives pages blocked or did not load for us, so we make no claim about them.
- A free FamilySearch collection for Florida. We could not open FamilySearch's pages.
- County health department fees. The state says they vary and does not list them.
Sources
- Florida Health: Certificates and records Official state page read 2026-10-27
- Florida Health: Birth certificates Official state page read 2026-10-27
- Florida Health: Death certificates Official state page read 2026-10-27
- Florida Health: Marriage certificates Official state page read 2026-10-27
- Florida Health: Divorce certificates Official state page read 2026-10-27
- Florida Health: VitalChek (state's contracted vendor) Official state page read 2026-10-27