Terms and Conditions for Probate Court Records set the rules you agree to follow when using this site. This site helps you locate Florida death records, Florida death certificates, probate court files, and other public records across the state.
By opening any page, clicking any link, or running any search on this site, you accept every term written below. If you do not agree with these terms, please stop using the site right away.
Agreement and Acceptance
These terms form a binding agreement between you and Probate Court Records. They apply the moment you visit the site, click a link, or search for a record. Your continued use shows that you read, reviewed, and accepted every rule on this page. The terms cover all parts of the site, including search tools, resource pages, county links, and contact forms. You must be at least 18 years old to use this site, or have a parent or legal guardian accept these terms on your behalf.
Who Must Follow These Rules
Every person who visits or uses this site must follow these terms. This includes casual readers, researchers, genealogy hobbyists, attorneys, estate executors, and people who need a Florida death certificate for legal matters. No one is exempt from the rules. If you share access with another person, you are still responsible for their actions on the site.
Updates to Your Acceptance
We can change these terms at any time. The new version takes effect the moment we post it on this page. Your continued use of the site after a change shows that you accept the new terms. Please check this page from time to time to stay current with the rules. We update the “last updated” date at the top of the page whenever we make a change.
What This Site Offers
Probate Court Records is a private website. We are not part of any Florida government agency, county clerk office, or the Florida Department of Health. We do not own, store, or control any Florida death records, death certificates, or vital records. Our role is to point you toward the right public offices and search tools where you can request records yourself. We provide directions, contact details, and step-by-step request instructions for each record type.
Records We Help You Locate
This site helps you search for links and directions for several record types. These include Florida death certificates, Florida death records, Florida death index entries, Florida obituaries, and Florida historical death records. We also help you locate probate court files, marriage records, and birth records through the same public office channels. Each record type has its own rules for who can request a copy and what proof you must show. We list those rules on each resource page.
Services We Do Not Provide
We do not issue death certificates. We do not pull files from the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics. We do not file probate paperwork. We do not work as a private investigator, consumer reporting agency, or credit bureau. We do not run background checks for jobs, housing, loans, or insurance. Any record you locate through our links must come directly from the listed public office. We do not act as your agent or representative in any legal or government matter.
Florida Death Records and Public Access
Florida death records fall under Florida state law. The Florida Department of Health and the Bureau of Vital Statistics keep the master copies of these records. Some county health departments also keep local copies of death certificates. Florida death records are public for deaths that happened more than 50 years ago. Recent death records have privacy limits and require proof of relationship or legal need before you can get a certified copy. The state charges a fee for each certified copy you order.
Florida Death Certificate Requests
To get a certified copy of a Florida death certificate, you must order it through the Florida Department of Health, the Bureau of Vital Statistics, or an approved county office. You can order by mail, online through the state’s vital records system, or in person at a county health department. The state charges a fee for each certified copy. You will need to show valid photo ID and prove your connection to the person on the record. We do not process these requests and we cannot speed them up. We only point you to the right office and the right form.
Florida Death Index and Historical Records
The Florida death index covers deaths from 1877 to the present day. Older entries from 1900 to 1959 are fully open to the public. You can search many of these older records for free through the Florida State Archives and genealogy websites. These older records do not require proof of relationship. Newer records from the last 50 years need a different request process and a valid legal reason to view them. The index includes the full name of the person, date of death, county of death, and certificate number. You can use the index to locate the right record before you order a certified copy.
County-Level Death Records
Many Florida counties keep their own death records, especially for deaths that took place in that county. Large counties like Miami-Dade County, Hillsborough County, and Orange County Florida each run their own vital records offices. These offices can help with local searches and certified copies of death certificates. Each county sets its own hours, fees, and request forms. We list county office details on our resource pages so you can contact them directly. Smaller counties may send requests to the state Bureau of Vital Statistics instead of keeping local files.
User Conduct and Acceptable Use
You must use this site in a lawful way. You agree not to break any local, state, federal, or international law while on the site. You also agree not to use the site to harm others, steal data, or break into our systems. The list below covers actions we forbid. This list does not cover every possible misuse, so use common sense and follow the law at all times.
- You will not scrape, copy, or download large parts of the site using bots, scripts, or automated tools.
- You will not try to hack, break, or bypass any security feature on the site.
- You will not upload viruses, malware, ransomware, or any harmful code to the site.
- You will not harass, stalk, threaten, or harm any other user or our staff.
- You will not use the site to make decisions about credit, jobs, housing, or insurance.
- You will not pretend to be another person or lie about your identity.
- You will not resell, republish, or mirror our content without getting written permission first.
- You will not use the site for any commercial purpose without our written consent.
Account Security and Search Activity
Some parts of this site may let you save searches, create a list of records, or sign in with an email address. If we offer any of these features, you agree to keep your login details safe. You must tell us right away if you think someone else used your account. We can block or close your account at any time if we see signs of misuse. We can also keep a log of your search activity to protect the site and its users. We do not sell your search data to third parties.
Fair Credit Reporting Act Compliance
This site is not a consumer reporting agency. We do not follow the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) because we do not provide consumer reports. You cannot use any record located through this site for FCRA-covered purposes. These purposes include hiring, firing, tenant screening, loan approval, insurance approval, or any license or government benefit decision. If you need a consumer report for any of these purposes, please contact a licensed consumer reporting agency. We are not responsible for any decision you make based on records you locate through our links.
Third-Party Links and Outside Resources
This site contains links to outside websites. These include state offices, county clerks, the Florida Department of Health, the Bureau of Vital Statistics, and third-party search tools. We do not own or control these outside sites. We do not promise that their content is correct, complete, or current. Once you click a link and leave our site, you follow the rules of that outside site. Please read their terms before you use their services. We are not liable for any harm that comes from your use of outside sites.
Florida Government Resources We Link To
Our site lists official links for the Florida Department of Health, county health departments, the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics, and the Florida State Archives. We also link to county clerk websites for Miami-Dade County, Hillsborough County, Orange County Florida, and many other counties. These links help you order a Florida death certificate, request a death record, or search older death indexes. We update these links when we can, but pages may move or change without notice. If a link breaks, please contact us so we can fix it.
Disclaimers and No Guarantees
This site and all its content are provided “as is.” We make no promises about the accuracy, completeness, or current state of any record, link, or search result. Public records change often, and errors can happen at any public office. We do our best to point you to the right source, but we cannot guarantee you will locate the record you need. You use this site and any record you locate at your own risk. We do not warrant that the site will be available at all times or free from bugs or viruses.
No Legal, Medical, or Financial Advice
Nothing on this site counts as legal advice, medical advice, financial advice, or professional genealogy research help. The content here is for general reference only. If you need legal help with probate, estate, or will matters, talk to a licensed attorney in Florida. If you need medical help, talk to a licensed doctor. If you need financial help, talk to a licensed financial planner. We are not liable for any decision you make based on the content of this site. Always seek professional help for specific legal, medical, or financial situations.
Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent allowed by Florida law, we are not liable for any harm that comes from your use of this site. This includes direct, indirect, accidental, special, or resulting damages. It also covers lost data, lost profits, lost time, or any other loss you may face from using the site. This limit applies even if we knew about the chance of such loss before it happened. Some states do not allow this kind of limit, so part of this section may not apply to you depending on where you live.
Indemnification
You agree to protect, defend, and hold us harmless from any claim, demand, or loss that comes from your use of this site. This covers any claim made by a third party because of your actions, your breach of these terms, or your misuse of any record you locate through our links. You agree to cover our legal fees and costs if such a claim arises. This section survives even after your access to the site ends.
Changes to These Terms
We can update or change these terms at any time without telling you first. The new version takes effect the moment we post it on this page. Your continued use of the site after a change shows that you accept the new terms. We will try to update the “last updated” date at the top of this page whenever we make a change. Please check this page often to stay current with the rules. Major changes may also be noted on our homepage or resource pages.
Termination of Access
We can block, suspend, or end your access to this site at any time, for any reason, with or without notice. This includes cases where you break these terms, break the law, or harm other users. We can also remove any content you posted on the site. Even after your access ends, the parts of these terms that should survive will still apply to you. Surviving parts include the limitation of liability, indemnification, and governing law sections.
Governing Law and Disputes
These terms follow the laws of the State of Florida. Any dispute about these terms or your use of the site will be handled in a Florida state or federal court. You agree to the location and power of these courts. If any part of these terms is ruled unenforceable, the rest of the terms still stand. We both agree to resolve any dispute in good faith before starting any legal action.
Severability and Entire Agreement
If a court rules that any part of these terms is invalid or unenforceable, that part will be removed. The rest of the terms will still apply and stay in full force. Each rule in these terms works on its own. We do not waive any right by failing to act on a breach. These terms make up the full agreement between you and this site. They replace any past talks, emails, or messages about the same subject.
Contact Us
If you have questions about these terms, please reach out through our contact page. You can also email us at the address listed in the footer of this site. We do our best to reply within a few business days. For questions about a specific Florida death record, please contact the Florida Department of Health or your county clerk office directly. They handle all record requests, fees, and certified copy orders.
Official resources for Florida death records include the Florida Department of Health Bureau of Vital Statistics at 1217 Pearl Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202, phone 904-359-6900. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The official website is floridahealth.gov. For county records, contact the Miami-Dade County Clerk at 73 W Flagler Street, Miami, FL 33130, phone 305-275-1155, open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For Hillsborough County, contact the Clerk of Court at 601 E Kennedy Boulevard, Tampa, FL 33602, phone 813-276-8100, open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For Orange County Florida, contact the Clerk of Courts at 425 N Orange Avenue, Orlando, FL 32801, phone 407-836-2000, open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The official Florida Obituary Index is available through the Florida State Archives at floridamemory.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
The questions below cover common topics about this site, Florida death records, probate court files, and certified death certificate orders. Each answer gives you direct facts you can use. If you still have questions, contact us or the listed public offices for help. These answers cover the most asked questions from our visitors across Florida.
What is a Florida death certificate?
A Florida death certificate is an official state record that lists the date, place, and cause of a person’s death. The Florida Department of Health and the Bureau of Vital Statistics keep the master copies. Each county health department keeps local copies of death certificates for deaths that happened in that county. A certified copy of a death certificate has a raised seal and works for legal matters, insurance claims, probate filings, and estate work. You must show proof of relationship or legal need to get a certified copy of a recent death certificate. Older death records from more than 50 years ago are open to the public without proof of relationship. The death certificate also lists the full legal name, date of birth, and county of death for the person.
How do I get a certified copy of a Florida death certificate?
You can order a certified copy of a Florida death certificate from the Florida Department of Health, the Bureau of Vital Statistics, or your county health department. You can order online through the state’s vital records system, by mail using a state request form, or in person at a county office. The fee is set by the state and can change each year. You will need to show valid photo ID and prove your relationship to the person on the record. Funeral homes often order certified copies for the family at the time of death. We do not process these orders on this site. We only point you to the right office and the right form to use.
Are Florida death records public?
Florida death records are public for deaths that happened more than 50 years ago. You can search these older records through the Florida State Archives, the Florida death index, and many genealogy websites for free. Records less than 50 years old have privacy limits under Florida law. You can only get a certified copy if you are a family member, legal representative, or have a court order. Public access does not mean free access. The state charges a fee for each certified copy you order. Death index entries are public for older records but may have limited details for privacy reasons on recent records.
What is the Florida death index?
The Florida death index is a list of all deaths recorded in Florida from 1877 to the present. The index includes the name of the person, the date of death, the county of death, and the certificate number. You can search the index online for free through the Florida State Archives and the Florida Obituary Index. The index from 1900 to 1959 is fully open to the public. The index from 1960 to the present has privacy limits on newer entries. You can use the death index to locate the right record before you order a certified copy from the state. The index helps you confirm that a record exists before you pay the state fee.
Can I search Florida death records by name?
Yes, you can search Florida death records by name through several public tools. The Florida State Archives, genealogy sites, and county health departments all offer name-based search. You will need the full legal name of the person and an approximate date or county of death for the best results. Common names may show many results in the index. You can narrow the search by adding a date range, county, or age at death. We list the best name-search tools on our resource pages for free use. Name searches work best on records from more than 50 years ago because of privacy rules.
What is the difference between a death certificate and a death record?
A death certificate is the official legal document with a raised seal from the state. A death record is a broader term that covers the death certificate, the death index entry, and supporting files. A death certificate is what you need for legal matters like probate, insurance claims, and estate work. A death index entry is what you use for genealogy and family research. A death record may also include hospital records, funeral home records, and obituaries in some cases. Funeral home records often have more details than the death certificate. The state keeps death certificates while funeral homes keep their own records for a set number of years.
Can I get a death certificate for a family member?
Yes, you can get a Florida death certificate for a family member if you show proof of your relationship. Acceptable proof includes a birth certificate, marriage certificate, or court order. You must also show valid photo ID at the time of request. You can order the certificate online through the state system, by mail, or in person at a county health department. The state charges a fee for each copy you order. Funeral homes often order certified copies for the family at the time of death, so check with your funeral home first. The state keeps death records for all deaths that happen in Florida, no matter the residence of the person.