A death in the family is never easy. To make matters worse, many times, we suspect our loved one’s death may be due to negligence. This would make your claim a wrongful death case. One of the key pieces of evidence in pursuing a Florida wrongful death case is the death certificate with cause of death. This is also referred to as the ‘long form death certificate’, since it lists the reason(s) why your family member died. So how do you get your family member’s death certificate with cause of death in Florida?
Florida Death Certificates: With and Without Cause of Death
Death Certificate Without Cause of Death [Short Form]
Anyone can request a death certificate from the Department of Vital Statistics that does not have the cause of death listed. This does not contain HIPAA-protected private health information.
Death Certificate With Cause of Death [Long Form]
However, if you are investigating a potential case, our Boynton Beach wrongful death lawyers strongly recommend you request the long form death certificate with causes of death listed. This version of the death certificate is private since it contains personal health data. As a result, only the following people may request a Florida Death Certificate With Cause of Death:
- The decedent’s spouse, parent, child, grandchild, or sibling (if 18 years of age or older).
- Any person who provides a “Will” that has been executed pursuant to state statute 732.502; 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 previously mentioned persons.
How Can I Prove I am the Family Member of the Deceased to Get the Death Certificate with Cause of Death?
The Department of Vital Statistics usually requires the following information:
- Full name and Social Security number of the deceased person
- Decedent’s sex and date of birth.
- Date of death (month, day, year or series of years to be searched)
- Location of the death (city and county in Florida).
2019 Update
This post has been updated on April 1, 2019. Top obtain a Florida death certificate, you have three options:
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Mail-in or Walk-in to the Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville (additional ordering information provided below).
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Order online or by phone through VitalChek, our ONLY contracted vendor (additional ordering information provided below). Please be cautious when ordering online, as there are many other vendors offering to assist you with this simple process. VitalChek is the only vendor with the ability to download orders directly to our agency.
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Mail-in or Walk-in to a local county health department in Florida for deaths occurring from 2009 to present only. Find a location near you, ordering information, and fees at Florida County Health Departments
*source– Florida Department of Health
Too Much on Your Plate to Request the Long Form Death Certificate? Let Our Lawyers Do It For You.
Most of our cases here at Senior Justice Law Firm involve wrongful death allegations, so we know what you are going through. Part of our pre-lawsuit investigation of your claim involves our office obtaining the long form death certificate with causes of death listed. We do this at no cost to you.
So if you believe your loved one died under questionable circumstances, call us today at 561-717-0817 or fill out the contact form below. We are happy to request the long form death certificate with cause of death for you at no charge. Contact us now for your free case consultation.
