Broward County · Death Certificate Apostille
For foreign estates, repatriation, insurance claims, and pension matters — handled promptly and with care. $250 per certificate, 5 business days.
Overview
When a death in Florida has legal consequences abroad — an estate to settle, property to transfer, a pension to claim, remains to repatriate — foreign authorities require an apostilled death certificate before anything can move forward.
We know these requests come at a hard time, and we handle them accordingly: clear answers, no runaround, and a defined 5-day timeline. Florida death certificates are issued by the Bureau of Vital Statistics through local health department vital records offices; we verify that your certified copy qualifies, file it in person at the Florida Department of State, and return the apostilled certificate promptly.
Why It's Needed
Courts and notaries abroad require an apostilled death certificate before opening succession proceedings or releasing inherited assets.
Transferring or selling real estate the deceased owned in another country starts with the apostilled certificate.
Consulates require apostilled death documentation as part of the file for returning remains to the home country.
Life insurance policies held with foreign insurers require an apostilled death certificate to pay out.
Foreign pension systems require apostilled proof of death to stop payments and initiate survivor benefits.
Many countries require citizens' deaths abroad to be registered at home — the apostilled U.S. certificate is the founding document.
Requirements
Florida issues two versions of the death certificate: one without cause of death (available to anyone) and one including cause of death (restricted to family members and legal representatives). Both can be apostilled — but foreign institutions differ on which they require. Estates and property matters usually accept the standard version; insurance claims often demand the cause-of-death version. Confirm before ordering, or ask us and we'll advise based on the use case.
The copy must be a certified copy issued by the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics or a county health department vital records office — in Broward, the Florida Department of Health in Broward County. Funeral home paperwork and photocopies cannot be apostilled.
How It Works
Book an appointment at our Fort Lauderdale office — we confirm your slot within one business hour, with same-day and next-day times usually available.
Every document is checked before filing — certification, notarization, destination-country requirements — so nothing gets rejected.
Your documents are walked into the Florida Department of State in person. No mail-in queue, no batching, no guesswork.
Apostilled originals ready in 5 business days — office pickup, by appointment. We call the moment they’re back.
FAQ
The version without cause of death is a public record anyone can order. The cause-of-death version is restricted to the spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandchild, or legal representative for 50 years after death.
Foreign probate and property matters usually accept the standard certificate; foreign life insurance claims typically require cause of death. If the receiving institution hasn't specified, we can help you determine which to order so you don't pay twice.
Yes — this is common. A local family member, attorney, or funeral director can bring us the certificate on your behalf. The apostilled certificate can then be forwarded internationally.
Usually yes — most non-English-speaking jurisdictions require a certified translation of both the certificate and its apostille. We coordinate certified translation as part of the same order.
Yes, provided you obtain a certified copy issued now by the Bureau of Vital Statistics. The registrar's current signature is what the Department of State authenticates.
Standard is 5 business days; call us about rush handling. Estate and repatriation deadlines are exactly the situations our same-day appointment scheduling exists for.
Yes, and it's often wise — foreign banks, courts, and registries each tend to keep the copy you give them. Bundle pricing applies: $175 each for two, $150 each for three or more.
No — a death certificate must be apostilled by the state that issued it. We handle Florida-issued certificates and can direct you to the right office for other states.
Service Area
We serve every city in Broward County from our N Andrews Ave office. Local details for your city:
Resources
Related
Call for a two-minute review of your document — we'll confirm it qualifies before you go anywhere.
No hourly rates, no hidden charges, no surprise add-ons. The price you see is the price you pay — including the Florida Department of State filing fee.
All prices include the Florida Department of State filing fee ($10 per document), in-person filing at the Department of State, and full document handling. Notarization available as a separate service when your documents require it.
Download the Florida Department of State Apostille and Notarial Certificate Request Form. We can fill it out for you at your appointment — no need to complete it in advance.
Florida apostille services for Broward County residents and businesses. Fort Lauderdale office — visits by appointment, serving all of Broward County.
© 2026 Broward County Apostille and Notary Services. All rights reserved. · Florida-Commissioned Notary · Established 2011
Broward County Apostille and Notary Services is a private document handling business and is not affiliated with the Florida Department of State, the U.S. Department of State, or any government agency. We do not provide legal advice. Apostille fees include the $10 Florida Department of State filing fee per document.