How to Get a Death Certificate in Florida & the Florida Small Estate Limit
Almost every bank, insurer and government office will ask for a certified death certificate, and many families then want to know if a simpler small estate procedure can replace full probate. Here is how both work in Florida, written in plain English and checked against official Florida government and court sources.
How to get a death certificate in Florida
Certified copies in Florida come from Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics (and county health departments).
From the state Bureau of Vital Statistics, the first certified death certificate costs $5, which includes the search, and each additional certified copy ordered at the same time costs $4.
Florida issues death certificates with or without the cause of death. Copies showing the cause of death are restricted for 50 years to eligible family members, people with an interest in the estate (with documentation) or by court order, and you must show valid photo ID. Banks and insurers usually want the version with cause of death.
County health department offices also issue Florida death certificates and may charge their own fees.
Order more copies than you think you need. Banks, life insurers, pension plans, brokerages and the DMV often want an original certified copy, while Social Security can usually be notified by the funeral home. Five to ten copies is common; our guide on how many death certificates you need walks through the list.
Florida small estate procedure: Summary administration (court)
Florida's small estate route is a court proceeding called summary administration. Under the 2026 Florida Statutes it is available when the estate subject to administration in Florida, minus property exempt from creditors (such as the homestead), is worth $150,000 or less, or when the person has been dead for more than 2 years. The limit was $75,000 before a 2026 amendment (ch. 2026-57), so check which figure applies to the date of death.
The will, if any, must not require full administration. You file a verified petition with a schedule of assets and proposed distribution, make a diligent search for creditors, and the judge signs an order distributing the property.
There is no general affidavit you can hand to a bank in Florida; the court order is what banks and title companies accept. Florida also has "disposition without administration" for estates made up only of exempt property and amounts needed for funeral and final illness expenses.
What counts toward the limit
The small estate limit in Florida is measured against the probate estate, not everything the person owned. Accounts with a named beneficiary (life insurance, 401(k)s, IRAs), payable-on-death bank accounts, joint accounts with right of survivorship, and trust assets generally pass directly and are left out of the count. Read more in beneficiary designations override the will.
Step by step in Florida
- Get several certified copies of the death certificate first; nothing else moves without them.
- Make an inventory: bank accounts, vehicles, investments, real estate, and anything with a named beneficiary.
- Separate out non-probate assets, then total what is left and compare it with the Florida threshold.
- Wait out any required waiting period and complete the Summary administration (court).
- Collect the assets, pay legitimate debts and final bills, and distribute the rest to the people entitled to it, keeping a written record.
When the small estate route doesn't fit
If the estate is over the limit, includes property the Florida procedure cannot transfer, or the family disagrees about who gets what, plan on regular probate. The same applies when there is a business, significant debt or a disputed will. Many probate courts run free self-help centers, and a short consultation with a Florida estate attorney can save expensive mistakes. The executor checklist lays out what a full probate involves.
Quick answers
How much does a death certificate cost in Florida?
From the state Bureau of Vital Statistics, the first certified death certificate costs $5, which includes the search, and each additional certified copy ordered at the same time costs $4. Always confirm the current figure with the official source linked below.
What is the small estate limit in Florida?
Florida's small estate route is a court proceeding called summary administration. Under the 2026 Florida Statutes it is available when the estate subject to administration in Florida, minus property exempt from creditors (such as the homestead), is worth $150,000 or less, or when the person has been dead for more than 2 years. The limit was $75,000 before a 2026 amendment (ch. 2026-57), so check which figure applies to the date of death. Always confirm the current figure with the official source linked below.
After that
Whichever route you take, you will still have to close accounts, notify Social Security and the credit bureaus, and keep track of every bill and payment. Helpful next reads: how to close a deceased person's accounts, Social Security and the credit bureaus, and whether you have to pay a parent's debt.
Keep it all in one place
The After-Loss Admin Kit is a calm, printable executor workbook: the first 48 hours through closing the estate, a who-to-notify list, 12 letter templates (including bank and agency letters) and an estate tracker spreadsheet for every asset and debt. It works with the Florida steps above.
See the After-Loss Admin Kit — $19Loss & planning bundle (4 kits) — $34