What edition of DH 1959 is covered here?
Edition 01/2022, used with DH 727 as directed, under FAC 64V-1.0131.
Document Guides
Florida DH 1959: Affidavit to Release Cause of Death
Use Florida DH 1959 (edition 01/2022) with DH 727 when authorized to request cause-of-death information—do not confuse it with an ordinary certified death certificate.
iRemoteNotary Editorial Team
Published and reviewed by iRemoteNotary
Last reviewed September 20, 2026
Quick Answer
Can Florida DH 1959 be notarized online?
Yes—when you are using the current DH 1959 Affidavit to Release Cause of Death Information (edition 01/2022). The notarial certificate on that form includes an online-notarization checkbox, and the form is tied to FAC 64V-1.0131 and application DH 727.
Cause-of-death release is not the same as an ordinary Florida Certificate of Death order. Online notarization still does not prove eligibility, does not issue the certified record or cause-of-death information, and is not an apostille.
DH 1959 at a glance
| Item | Verified detail |
|---|---|
| Form | DH 1959 — Affidavit to Release Cause of Death Information |
| Edition | 01/2022 |
| Rule reference | FAC 64V-1.0131 |
| Related application | Use with DH 727 as directed by the packet |
| Online notarization on form | Notarial certificate includes an online-notarization checkbox |
| Critical distinction | Cause-of-death release is not an ordinary death certificate order |
Families and representatives sometimes need cause-of-death information that is restricted relative to a standard death-certificate copy. Florida uses a specific affidavit pathway—DH 1959—for that request. Using the wrong form wastes time and can delay a funeral, insurance, or estate task.
Florida form and FAC rules are material to this affidavit. Remote online notarization is performed under the law of the online notary's commissioning state. Return to the Vital Records Notary Center for other states and federal packets.
Cause-of-Death Release vs Ordinary Death Certificate
An ordinary certified Certificate of Death and a cause-of-death information release are different products under Florida vital-records practice. DH 1959 addresses the cause-of-death release affidavit pathway described on that form and in FAC 64V-1.0131.
Do not assume that completing DH 1959 substitutes for every death-certificate order, or that every person entitled to a death certificate is automatically entitled to cause-of-death details under the same paperwork.
| Packet | What it supports | What it is not |
|---|---|---|
| DH 1959 + DH 727 | Affidavit pathway to request release of cause-of-death information | An automatic substitute for every ordinary death-certificate order |
| Ordinary death certificate order | Issuer-certified Certificate of Death when that product is requested under applicable rules | Proof that cause-of-death details were separately released |
| Notary-certified photocopy | Notarial true-copy or acknowledgment process on a photocopy, if ever used | Official certified vital record |
Ask the Florida Department of Health or local office which product you need before choosing a form.
Online Notarization Checkbox on DH 1959
The DH 1959 (01/2022) notarial certificate includes an online-notarization checkbox. That form design expressly contemplates remote online notarization for this affidavit when the notarial act is completed under applicable commissioning-state law and the session produces a completed certificate matching the form.
Eligibility to receive cause-of-death information remains a separate Florida vital-records question. Do not treat the checkbox as proof that every requester qualifies or that a foreign recipient will accept the packet without apostille or other authentication.
- Confirm DH 1959 edition 01/2022
- Confirm whether DH 727 accompanies the packet
- Confirm you need cause-of-death information—not only an ordinary death certificate
- Complete affidavit facts before the notarial act
- Confirm where and how to submit the completed packet
- Confirm whether an electronic original is accepted for your submission channel
Ready to notarize DH 1959 online?
If you have the current unsigned DH 1959 (01/2022), understand that notarization does not prove eligibility or release cause-of-death information, and your submission channel accepts the completed packet, start a secure session with a commissioned U.S. online notary.
Eligibility and Issuance Limits
Notarization is not eligibility. Notarization is not approval to release cause-of-death information. Notarization is not issuance of any certified vital record.
iRemoteNotary does not determine who may receive cause-of-death information, does not issue vital records, and does not guarantee acceptance by any Florida office or foreign recipient.
Apostille and Foreign Use
If a foreign insurer, court, or authority asks for an apostille or authentication, that is a separate process from notarizing DH 1959.
Notarization is not an apostille, and remote online notarization is not an apostille. See online notarized document and apostille for the authentication distinction.
Related Florida Forms
Birth-certificate release uses DH 1958 with DH 726—a different affidavit.
Amendments to filed birth or death certificates use DH 430 and DH 433, not DH 1959.
Important Limits
Always use the current official PDF. This guide verifies edition 01/2022.
iRemoteNotary does not issue vital records, determine eligibility, approve amendments, issue apostilles, or guarantee acceptance.
Frequently asked questions
Does DH 1959 allow online notarization?
Yes. The notarial certificate on DH 1959 (01/2022) includes an online-notarization checkbox. Complete the act under the online notary's commissioning-state law and platform rules.
Is DH 1959 an ordinary death certificate?
No. It is the Affidavit to Release Cause of Death Information. Cause-of-death release is not the same as an ordinary death-certificate product.
Does notarizing DH 1959 release the information automatically?
No. Notarization does not determine eligibility, approve release, or issue the record or cause-of-death information.
Is a notary photocopy the same as an official certified death record?
No. Official certified vital records are issued by authorized vital-records offices.
Is remote online notarization an apostille?
No. Notarization and RON are not apostilles.
Sources and Official References
The following primary sources support the legal and procedural information in this guide. Requirements can change, so confirm current rules with the receiving organization before relying on a notarized document.
Affidavit to Release Cause of Death Information (DH 1959, 01/2022)(opens in a new tab)
Florida Department of Health
Accessed September 20, 2026
Rule 64V-1.0131, Florida Administrative Code(opens in a new tab)
Florida Administrative Code
Accessed September 20, 2026
Ready to notarize DH 1959 online?
Verify that you need cause-of-death release (not only an ordinary death certificate), that you qualify under Florida rules, and that you have DH 1959 edition 01/2022—then start with a commissioned U.S. online notary. Notarization does not approve release or issue the certified record.