My Florida Apostille
Statewide Service
Florida death certificates are most often apostilled for three reasons: foreign probate and inheritance (transferring real estate, bank accounts, or other assets located abroad after a death), dual citizenship applications (Italian, Polish, Irish, Portuguese, German — where ancestor death records are required to document the line of descent), and foreign pension and insurance claims (Social Security equivalents abroad, foreign private pensions, international life insurance policies). Less common but real uses include repatriation of remains to a foreign country, closing accounts at foreign banks, and updating foreign civil registries when a family member who held foreign citizenship passes.
Florida death certificates are issued by the Department of Health — the Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville, VitalChek, or a county health department for deaths from 2009 on — and signed by the State Registrar, which is the signature the apostille certifies. Photocopies and funeral-home copies can't be apostilled, and we ask for a copy certified in 2014 or later (the certification date, not the date of death).
Florida issues two versions. Anyone 18 or older can order the one without cause of death. The version with cause of death is restricted, for deaths less than 50 years ago, to the spouse, parents, adult children, grandchildren or siblings, someone with an interest in the estate, or their representative. Both can be apostilled for the same price; the receiving office decides which it needs. Estates abroad often need several apostilled copies — $380 for two, $160 each for three or more. How to order a certified death certificate →
1. Choose the version. Inheritance and property transfers usually need only proof of death; insurers and some pension funds want the cause. If you're eligible, the version with cause costs the same and covers more uses.
2. Order the certified copy. Through VitalChek ($15 for the first copy plus a $7 processing fee), by mail on form DH727 ($5 for the search and one copy, $4 per extra copy, $1 shipping) or in person at 1217 N. Pearl St., Jacksonville. Deaths from 2009 on normally take 3–5 business days plus shipping.
3. Order enough copies. A notary, a bank and a land registry abroad may each keep one. Extra copies on the same order are $4 each — far cheaper than ordering again.
4. Send them for the apostille. We file in person and return them in 5–7 business days. A death in another state is apostilled by that state; a U.S. citizen's death abroad is a Consular Report of Death Abroad, authenticated by the U.S. Department of State.
| Do it yourself | My Florida Apostille | |
|---|---|---|
| State apostille fee | $10, by check | Included |
| Filing | By mail to Tallahassee | In person at the counter |
| Check before filing | None — a wrong copy is mailed back | Every certificate reviewed first |
| Turnaround | About 5–7 weeks by mail | 5–7 business days |
| Return shipping | Your prepaid envelope | FedEx included (worldwide +$100) |
These are the most common reasons families apostille Florida death certificates.
Transferring real estate, bank accounts, or other assets located abroad after a death requires an apostilled death certificate at the foreign probate court or notary. Italy, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Latin America all require this.
Italian citizenship by descent requires apostilled death certificates for every deceased ancestor in your direct line of descent. Most applicants apostille 2–4 ancestor death certificates.
Most ancestral citizenship programs require apostilled death certificates for ancestors who connect you to the ancestral homeland.
Foreign pension agencies (Social Security equivalents, private pensions abroad) require apostilled death certificates when a surviving spouse or beneficiary claims a deceased person's pension.
When the deceased held title to property abroad, the foreign property registry typically requires an apostilled death certificate to transfer title to heirs.
Foreign life insurance policies or international beneficiary claims require an apostilled death certificate as proof of death before payout.
The same procedure for every order — whichever option you choose.
Choose in-person appointments or online — whichever fits your week. Pay $220 per document up front (online) or at the appointment.
Hand them to us at your appointment, or drop your FedEx envelope. Same destination either way.
Our Tallahassee back-office team walks your documents in person to the Florida Department of State counter.
We return the finished apostille the same way you sent it. 5–7 business days, every order.
We serve customers across Florida. Tap your city for a dedicated death certificate apostille guide for your area.
Order online from anywhere, or meet us in person by appointment in West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa or Clearwater. 5–7 business days. State filing fee and shipping included.
Last updated: May 12, 2026
My Florida Apostille ("we," "our," or "us") respects your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect when you use myfloridaapostille.com or our apostille service, how we use it, and what choices you have.
When you place an order, we collect: your name, email address, phone number, return shipping address, the type and number of documents you're ordering, the destination country, and any notes you include with your order. We also receive payment information indirectly through Stripe, our payment processor — we never see or store your full card number.
When you visit our website, we collect standard analytics data: IP address, browser type, pages visited, and referring URLs. This data is used to improve the site and is not tied to your personal identity.
We share your information only with the third-party service providers necessary to fulfill your order:
We do not sell your personal information. We do not share your data with marketers or advertisers.
You ship physical documents to our office for processing. We treat your original documents as confidential and store them securely until they are filed with the Florida Department of State. We do not retain copies of your documents after the apostille is returned to you.
We retain order records (name, email, order details) for seven years to comply with tax and business record requirements. You may request deletion of your data at any time by emailing orders@myfloridaapostille.com, subject to our legal retention obligations.
Our website uses minimal cookies for basic functionality and analytics. We do not use advertising cookies or tracking pixels from third-party ad networks.
You have the right to access, correct, or delete the personal information we hold about you. To exercise these rights, contact us at orders@myfloridaapostille.com or (850) 900-3443.
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The "Last updated" date at the top of this page indicates when the most recent changes were made. Continued use of our services after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the revised policy.
For privacy questions, contact: orders@myfloridaapostille.com
Last updated: May 12, 2026
By using myfloridaapostille.com or our apostille service, you agree to these Terms of Service. Please read them carefully before placing an order.
My Florida Apostille is an independent document service that facilitates apostille processing through the Florida Department of State on behalf of customers. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the Florida Department of State, the U.S. Department of State, or any government agency. We are a private business providing convenience services.
You agree to:
Our standard turnaround is five to seven business days from the moment we receive your documents at our office. This timeline depends on third-party factors outside our control, including FedEx transit times and the Florida Department of State's processing schedule. We are not liable for delays caused by carriers, state offices, weather, holidays, or other circumstances beyond our reasonable control.
If the Florida Department of State rejects your document, we will contact you within one business day to discuss options. Some rejections can be resolved same-day at the counter; others require new documents from the issuing agency. Rejections do not entitle you to a refund of the state filing fee or our service fee, because both the fee and the labor have been performed.
Documents shipped via FedEx are insured up to $100 by default. For irreplaceable documents, you may purchase additional FedEx Declared Value coverage when you hand your envelope to FedEx. We are not liable for loss or damage during transit beyond FedEx's published insurance coverage.
Payment is due at the time of order placement and is processed by Stripe. Refunds are governed by our separate Refund Policy.
All content on myfloridaapostille.com, including text, graphics, logos, and design, is the property of My Florida Apostille and protected by U.S. copyright law. You may not reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works without our written permission.
To the maximum extent permitted by law, our total liability for any claim related to our services is limited to the amount you paid us for the order in question. We are not liable for indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages, including but not limited to lost opportunities, missed deadlines, or visa application denials.
These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Florida. Any disputes will be resolved in the state or federal courts located in Leon County, Florida.
We may update these Terms at any time. The "Last updated" date reflects the most recent revision. Continued use of our services after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms.
For questions about these Terms: orders@myfloridaapostille.com
Last updated: May 12, 2026
We want every customer to be satisfied. Because our service involves third-party fees and irreversible work performed on your behalf, refunds depend on when you cancel.
To request a refund, contact us by:
Include your order number (from your confirmation email) and a brief explanation. We will respond within one business day.
Approved refunds are processed within 5–10 business days to the original payment method. Your bank or card issuer may take additional time to display the refund.
If your documents are damaged or lost in transit by FedEx, FedEx insurance applies (default $100, or up to the Declared Value coverage you purchased). We will work with you to file a FedEx claim. Our service fee is non-refundable in these cases because the loss occurred outside our control.
If you have questions about our refund policy before placing an order, please contact us — we'd rather answer questions upfront than handle refunds later.
