How to Apostille a Florida Death Certificate for an Inheritance Abroad

The correct version: the Bureau of Vital Statistics certificate

Not every copy of a Florida death certificate is eligible for apostille. For apostille purposes, it must specifically be the certified copy issued by the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics, the vital records office within the Florida Department of Health, and it must carry the State Registrar's signature. A printout or certification issued by a local county health department, even if it contains the same information, is not eligible for apostille, because the apostille authority verifies the State Registrar's signature, not a local office's.

Who can request it, and why this matters in an inheritance case

Death records less than 50 years old that include the cause of death are confidential in Florida and can only be requested by eligible parties: the next of kin, the spouse, a parent or child of the deceased, the executor or administrator of the estate, or someone who can show an interest in the estate, for example through a will or an insurance policy. A version of the certificate without the cause of death is generally available to anyone 18 or older.

This eligibility rule has a direct consequence in an inheritance case: to obtain the certified copy that will later be apostilled, the requester normally must be able to show they're one of these eligible parties, for example, by presenting themselves as the executor or administrator of the estate, or as the next of kin. In other words, eligibility to request the certificate and the person's role in the inheritance case are usually directly connected.

An original certified copy, not a photocopy

Apostilling the death certificate requires an original certified copy, not a photocopy. A scanned or photocopied version of the certificate, even if it comes from a valid original, is not accepted for the apostille process.

We can help you confirm whether the death certificate you have is the correct version before starting the apostille process.

A two-step process: first the record, then the apostille

Apostilling a Florida death certificate is a two-step process. First, you request the certified copy from the Bureau of Vital Statistics. Then, that certified copy is submitted for apostille before the Florida Department of State (Division of Corporations), the sole apostille authority for Florida documents. The Department of State doesn't re-verify the facts on the certificate; it authenticates the document by confirming that the State Registrar's signature is on file with that office. See the full process in our Florida death certificate apostille service.

Other documents your inheritance case might also need

The death certificate is usually just one of the documents an inheritance case abroad requires. Depending on what the receiving registry or bank asks for, you may also need a probate order or letters of administration issued by the court, or a power of attorney if someone else will act on your behalf. Each of these documents comes from a different authority than the Bureau of Vital Statistics and generally follows its own apostille process. We cover that full picture in our guide on what U.S. documents may need apostilles for an inheritance abroad, and in our power of attorney apostille service if you need to authorize someone else to act on your behalf.

Common mistakes

• Sending a county health department printout instead of the Bureau of Vital Statistics version.
• Sending a photocopy instead of the original certified copy.
• Requesting the certificate without being able to show you're an eligible party, such as executor, administrator, or next of kin.
• Assuming that apostilling the death certificate covers the entire inheritance case, without considering the probate order or power of attorney.
• Asking the party coordinating the apostille for advice on inheritance rights, instead of an attorney.