Florida Vital Records

Are Florida Vital Records Public?

Not all Florida vital records are open to the public. Although Florida’s public record laws offer members of the public the right to access vital records, this right is not absolute. According to the provisions of Florida statutes, certified copies and records that are deemed ‘confidential’ are strictly available to persons who meet specific eligibility requirements. This usually includes the person(s) named on the record, their immediate family members, and persons with the legal authority to waive any exemptions.

What Information Shows Up in Florida Vital Records?

Vital records are official documents generated in the course of vital events within the state. They include all documents pertaining to the birth, death, marriage, and divorce of state residents. These records are maintained and disseminated by the State Department of Public Health, and their issuance is subject to the provisions of Florida Vital Statistics statutes.

Florida vital records are important for a variety of reasons, the most significant of which are:

• Proving identity
• Establishing benefits, wages, or entitlements
• Population analysis, research, and policy implementation

How Do I Search for Florida Vital Records Online?

The Florida Bureau of Vital Health Statistics maintains a statewide repository of public information that can be searched for open vital records. However, all sealed, restricted, or closed records cannot be searched online but may be obtained by querying the record custodian in person.

To search for vital records online, requesters are generally required to provide record-related information to facilitate the search. This information includes:

• The place and approximate date of the vital event
• The full name(s) of the person(s) named on the record
• Former or maiden names (where applicable)
• The case file number of the record (for divorce records)The license number and issuing date of the record (marriage record)
• The name of the subject's parents or legal guardians.

How Do I Obtain Florida Vital Records?

To access a vital record in Florida, requestors are typically expected to fulfill specific prerequisites. The requirements for obtaining these records often vary depending on the type of record requested and the authority of the requesting party.

Where the requestor is ineligible to access the record of interest or said record has been sealed or deemed ‘confidential’ by court order, the requesting party will be required to provide the required legal authority in the form of a court subpoena. This must be accompanied by a government-issued photo I.D. and any additional document requested by the record custodian. In the event that the record is being requested for non-official functions, no documentation is required by the requestor. Notwithstanding, the requestor will be required to provide the information required to facilitate the record search.

Publicly available vital records are managed and disseminated by some third-party aggregate sites. These sites are generally not limited by geographical record availability and may serve as a convenient jump-off point when researching specific or multiple records. However, third-party sites are not government-sponsored. As such, record availability may differ from official channels. To find a record using the search engines on third-party sites, the requesting party will be required to provide:

• The location of the record in question, including the city, county, or state where the case was filed.
• The name of someone involved, provided it is not a juvenile.

Requesters must provide relevant information associated with the record to conduct an online search for vital records. Some of these include:

• The registrant's name
• Date of the event
• Place of the event
• City or county where the life event occurred
• First and last name of parents
• Presiding judge (for marriage or divorce records)

Certified Copy vs. Informational Copy: Understanding the Difference

The primary difference between a certified record and an informational copy is that while informational copies cannot be used officially, certified records are considered legal documents. Certified records are typically issued to authorized persons who have sufficiently proven a direct and tangible interest in the record. On the other hand, informational copies are issued to the general public and may be used for research, genealogical, and information purposes.

Are Florida Marriage Records Public Information?

Yes. Florida marriage records are public records. As such, interested members of the public may access these records without identification or related documentation. However, public marriage records often exclude sensitive information such as birth information and the social security number of the registrants. These are only accessible to the persons named on the record and their respective legal representatives.

How Do I Obtain Florida Marriage Records?

Florida marriage records are generated and maintained by the Clerk of Circuit Court in the county where the event was licensed. These documents are also available through the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics, which processes both walk-in and mail-in requests for the records.

To request a marriage record from the Bureau, interested persons may download and complete the state's marriage record application. The completed form must be accompanied by a non-refundable payment of $5 as well as a clear photocopy of a Driver's License, State Identification Card or Passport (if personal information is requested). These may then be submitted in person to 1217 N Pearl Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202, during official working hours or via mail to:

Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics
P.O. Box 210,
Jacksonville, FL 32231-0042

How to Get a Florida Marriage Certificate.

Florida marriage certificates are accessible through the office of the Circuit Court Clerk in the county where the marriage license was issued. However, marriage certificates or certified marriage records are not available to the public. Access to certified copies is heavily regulated since they are official documents that may be critical to the identity of record holders. Inquirers who have confirmed their eligibility to access marriage certificates may proceed to request them from their custodian in the same manner as public marriage records. However, in this case, the inquirer will need to provide supporting documents to prove their eligibility before their requests are processed.

Are Florida Divorce Records Public Information?

There are no restrictions on the accessibility of Florida divorce records. Unless otherwise ruled by a Florida court, all dissolution of marriage reports are public information in Florida.

How Do I Obtain Florida Divorce Records?

Florida divorce records can be obtained by querying the office of the Clerk of Circuit Court in the judicial district where the divorce was granted. Requests for divorce records are also processed by Florida’s Bureau of Vital Statistics, which maintains a statewide repository of records of divorces that occurred within the state’s jurisdiction. To request a divorce record, interested persons may download and complete the state’s divorce report application. Completed applications must be accompanied by a payment of $5 plus $4 per additional certification and $2 for each additional year searched. The application and payment may then be submitted in person or via mail to:

Florida Department Of Health
Office Of Vital Statistics
1217 North Pearl Street,
Vital Records Section
P.O. Box 210,
Jacksonville, FL 32231-0042

How to Get a Certified Divorce Certificate in Florida

Like most certified vital records, access to certified divorce certificates is somewhat restricted. To access a certified copy, the requestor will need to either be named on the record or have the consent of either of the persons named on the record. Once eligibility has been confirmed, the requestor may proceed to request the certified divorce certificate from the office of the County Circuit Court Clerk, as outlined in the preceding section.

Are Florida Birth Records Public Information?

Florida birth records become public information exactly 100 years after the birth occurred. As such, records of birth less than 100 years old are deemed confidential by state law and may only be issued to:

• The person named on the record (if they are 18 or older)
• The subject's parents/legal guardian(s) provided they are named on the record
• Legal representatives of any of the above persons
• The registrant's immediate family member (when they become deceased)
• Persons who are authorized by court order

How Do I Obtain Florida Birth Records?

Requests for Florida birth records or birth certificates are processed by Local County Health Departments and the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics. The requirements for accessing birth certificates through county health departments generally vary depending on the judicial district. As such, requestors are required to contact the departments for information regarding their respective requirements.

To order birth certificate copies from the state Bureau, interested and eligible persons are required to download and complete the state's birth record application.

Where the requestor is the registrant, an immediate family member or a legal representative, the completed application must be accompanied by a copy of a government-issued photo ID. An applicant can also request a birth certificate replacement if the need arises. However, if the applicant is neither of the aforementioned persons, the application must be accompanied by an affidavit to release a birth certificate, which must be signed and notarized by one of the eligible persons. Completed applications, along with the accompanying documents and indicated fees, may be submitted in person or via mail to:

Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics,
1217 N Pearl Street,
P.O. Box 210,
Jacksonville, FL 32231-004

Are Florida Birth Certificates Public?

No. birth certificates are not considered public records in Florida. While the requirements for accessing certified birth records vary between judicial districts in Florida, state statutes require that requesters be able to prove a direct, tangible interest in the record to be eligible to access it.

Are Florida Death Records Open to the Public?

Yes. According to the provisions of Florida state statutes, Florida death records are open to the public and can be accessed by persons who are 18 or older. However, public death records typically exclude information regarding the cause of death. Persons eligible to perform a death record search by name or obtain Florida death records with the cause of death information include:

• The deceased’s parent, legal guardian or spouse
• Children, grandchildren, and siblings of the decedent (who are of adult age)
• Persons authorized by court order
• Individuals who can demonstrate tangible interest i.e. can provide a will or insurance policy.

How Do I Obtain Florida Death Records?

Florida County Health Departments are charged with generating and disseminating records of deaths that occur within their respective jurisdictions. However, record requests are also processed by the state’s Bureau of Vital Statistics. To perform a death certificate search or request a death record from the Bureau, interested and eligible persons are required to download and complete the state death record application. The form must be accompanied by the indicated fees and I.D. requirements and submitted in person or via mail to:

Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics,
1217 N Pearl Street,
P.O. Box 210,
Jacksonville, FL 32231-0042

How Do I Obtain Sealed Vital Records in Florida?

Sealed vital records can be accessed by persons with a court order or subpoena authorizing their request. To obtain legal authorization, interested persons may petition a Florida-licensed judge and request the order. This request will be granted if the requesting party sufficiently proves a direct and tangible interest in the record. Upon receiving the legal order, the requestor may proceed to query the record custodian for the record of interest.

What are Vital Statistics in Florida?

Florida vital statistics are data pertaining to vital events in the state. This includes the number of births, adoptions, deaths, marriages, divorces, separations, and other vital life events occurring within the state's jurisdiction. In Florida, it is the responsibility of the Vital Statistics Office of the State Public Health Department to collate and maintain this data. Public health statistics data maintained by the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics is especially useful for environmental public health tracking, community health development, and policy implementation.