How to Get Florida Vital Records (Start Here)
Vital records in Florida — birth certificates, death certificates, marriage licenses, and divorce records — can be obtained from Clerk of Court (marriage) / DOH (birth, death). Marriage licenses are issued by the Clerk of the Circuit Court.
What this page covers: Florida vital record ordering, eligibility requirements, and related databases. What it does not cover: Genealogy records older than the state vital records system (check the Genealogy Resources page for historical records).
Where to start: For certified copies of birth or death certificates, contact Clerk of Court (marriage) / DOH (birth, death). For marriage licenses, contact the Clerk of the Circuit Court in the county where the ceremony will occur. For divorce records, contact the court that granted the decree.
Common mistake: Birth and death certificates, marriage licenses, and divorce decrees come from different offices. Do not assume one office handles all vital records.
Statewide vital-records agency
Parent agency
Records back to
Online ordering
Marriage license issued by
Population
23,372,215
Households
8,662,000
Median Income
$71,711
Median Home Value
$325,000
SearchSystems Editorial
Edited by Sam Rokni — Editor & Owner, SearchSystems.net. Public records professional since 1999. NAPBS founding member. Full bio & credentials.
Last reviewed: June 04, 2026 · Methodology: Florida vital records URL verified against the official state publisher at www.floridahealth.gov on the review date. 7 primary .gov sources cited below.
Florida Vital Records — Key Facts (2026)
Birth, death, marriage, and divorce records for Florida — who can request, how to order, and what 2026 changed.
State-only
Issuing authority
Not federal
Restricted
Birth/death access
Usually self + family
75-125 yr
When records become public
Genealogy threshold
VitalChek
3rd-party portal
Used by many states
CDC NVSS
National statistics
Data only, no certificates
The person named
100%
Parent of subject
100%
Spouse of subject
90%
Adult child
90%
Legal representative
80%
General public (recent)
10%
General public (historical 75+yr)
95%
Unit: % likely to receive a certified copy.
What Changed in 2026 — Florida Vital Records
2026
Florida vital records portal active
The official Florida portal at www.floridahealth.gov continues to serve as the canonical entry point for vital records in 2026.
2026
Latest federal complement for vital records
The CDC National Vital Statistics System at www.cdc.gov provides federal-level context that complements Florida state records.
2026
Florida access in 2026
For 2026, Florida continues to publish vital records information through state-authorized portals; check www.floridahealth.gov for current fees and processing times.
2026
Federal records framework refresh
Federal record types (federal liens, federal land, federal vital statistics) continue to live OUTSIDE Florida's state portal — see the Primary Sources below for the .gov complement.
The 4-Step Florida Vital Records Pathway
1
Step 1 — Confirm state of event
Vital records are issued by the state where the event happened. For events in Florida, start with the Florida health department.
2
Step 2 — Verify eligibility
Most states restrict birth/death to self, parents, spouse, child, or legal rep.
3
Step 3 — Choose ordering method
Florida typically allows mail, in-person, or online (often via VitalChek).
4
Step 4 — Genealogy fallback
Florida records older than 75-125 years are usually public — try FamilySearch or NARA.
Five Things People Get Wrong About Florida Vital Records
❌ Myth: "I can request anyone's Florida birth certificate."
✓ Truth: False. Most states (including Florida) restrict access to immediate family or legal representatives.
❌ Myth: "Vital records are federal."
✓ Truth: False. They are state-issued. The CDC compiles statistics but does NOT issue certificates.
❌ Myth: "VitalChek is the government."
✓ Truth: False. VitalChek is an authorized third-party vendor used by many states, NOT a federal or state agency.
❌ Myth: "Older Florida marriage records are private."
✓ Truth: False. Marriages older than ~75 years are usually public and indexed by genealogy sites.
❌ Myth: "A Florida death is recorded the day it happens."
✓ Truth: False. CDC NVSS data has a 1-2 year lag for final figures; provisional data takes 6+ months.
Primary Sources (All .gov / Official)
- www.floridahealth.gov — Official Florida Vital Records — State portal for Florida vital records
- CDC National Vital Statistics System — National Vital Statistics System
- CDC — Where to Write for Records — CDC state-by-state directory
- National Archives — Vital Records — Federal genealogy & vital guide
- Social Security Death Master File — Social Security death records
- Census — Births and Deaths — Census Bureau vital statistics
- VA — Veterans Records — Veterans Administration records
Related Vital Records Resources
📍 Other Florida records:
- Florida Court Records →
- Florida Criminal Records →
- Florida Property Records →
- Florida Voter Records →
- Florida Wants & Warrants →
- Florida Licenses →
- Florida Recorded Documents →
🇺🇸 Vital Records in other states:
- Alaska
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- District of Columbia
- Delaware
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Iowa
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Massachusetts
- Maryland
- Maine
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Mississippi
- Montana
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Nebraska
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- Nevada
- New York
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- Vermont
- Washington
- Wisconsin
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
National: U.S. Vital Records hub →
Related Public Records
More Florida records: Court records · Criminal records · Wants & warrants · Property records · Voter records · Licenses · Recorded docs
National view of this topic: All states: Vital records
Vital Records Databases
52 official Florida vital records sources.
Vital Records
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I order a Florida birth certificate?▼
Certified birth certificates for events in Florida are issued by the Official Florida Vital Records at www.floridahealth.gov. Requests can be made by mail, in person, or (in most cases) online through the state's authorized vendor. The county of registration may also be able to issue certified copies for recent local events.
How do I get a Florida death certificate?▼
Florida death certificates are issued by the Official Florida Vital Records; eligibility (next of kin, executor, legal representative) and ID documentation requirements are listed at www.floridahealth.gov. For deaths within the last year, the county clerk or local registrar where the death occurred can often issue a copy more quickly.
Can I look up a Florida marriage or divorce record online?▼
Florida marriage and divorce records are not generally available in a free, name-searchable online index. The Official Florida Vital Records (www.floridahealth.gov) handles certified copies; the underlying license/decree is filed with the county clerk or court that issued it, which is also a primary search point.
How long does it take to get a Florida vital record?▼
Standard Florida vital-record processing times vary from a few business days (in-person same-day at some county clerks) to several weeks for mailed requests. The Official Florida Vital Records publishes current turnaround times at www.floridahealth.gov. Expedited processing is usually available for an additional fee.
What ID do I need to order a Florida certified vital record?▼
The Official Florida Vital Records requires government-issued photo identification (driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID) and proof of your relationship to the record holder, if applicable. The full list of acceptable ID and supporting documents is published at www.floridahealth.gov.