Advance Directive Form

Florida’s advance Directive form consists of three parts: Uniform Donor Form, Living Will, and Designation of Health Care Surrogate. They specify an individual’s chosen healthcare proxy, their living and end-of-life will, and include instructions on their health care, treatment, and organ donation. The forms require the individuals, proxies, and witnesses’ signatures.

How to Order a Death Certificate

The following people can request a death certificate in Florida:

• Deceased’s spouse
• Deceased’s parents and siblings over 18 years old
• Deceased’s children and grandchildren over 18 years old
• Any person demonstrating a document proving an interest in the estate of the deceased
• A legal representative of the deceased or their family members

The required for application information includes:

• Deceased’s name and sex
• Deceased’s Social Security Number
• Deceased’s state file number if applicable
• Place and date of death
• Name of deceased’s spouse if applicable
• Names of deceased’s parents
• Funeral home name
• Applicant’s name, phone number, and address

The certificate and one certified copy cost $5. An additional certificate copy costs $4. If the year of death is not known, a $2 search fee applies for every year checked with a cap of $50.

The application can be mailed to:

State Office of Vital Statistics

Attn: Client Services

P.O. Box 210

Jacksonville, FL 32231

Or handed in-person in the county health department.

Digital Estate Planning Law

Florida Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act Chapter 740 authorizes an individual’s legal representative who can access and control their digital assets and communications. This bill came into effect on July 1, 2016.

Death With Dignity Legislation or Aid-in-Dying or Physician-Assisted Death

Florida currently has no legislation regarding death with dignity. Updates on this matter can be accessed here.

Organ Donation Registries

Florida’s organ donation registry can be found here.

Physician Order for Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST)

Florida’s POLST form can be found here. This form must be completed only after a conversation with a patient or their representative. It’s necessary for patients who are at risk of a life-threatening clinical event due to a life-limiting medical condition.

Probate Laws

Information on Florida’s legislation on decedent’s will regarding their estate and other assets can be found in Title XLII: Estates and Trusts Act.

Estate and Inheritance Tax

There is no estate or inheritance tax in Florida.