A death certificate is an official recording of the cause, date, and place of a person’s death that is signed by a physician. A death record may be used for a number of reasons including to settle estates, claim life insurance benefits, and claim pensions. At the State Office, death records are available from January 1919 to the present for deaths that occurred in the State of Georgia. Some Counties may have older death records in their files. Those County Vital Records Offices may be contacted directly.
Who may request a Death Certificate?
Certified Death certificates are available to applicants having a direct and tangible interest, primary family members, or legal representatives of the family.
What general information is required when requesting a Death Certificate?
Georgia law and the Department of Public Health regulations require that all requests for vital records include the signature and picture ID of the requestor and the proper fee.
Typically, the person requesting a certified copy of a death record needs only to provide:
1. A completed and signed request form which can be downloaded by clicking here.
2. Provide the applicable fee(s) noted below
3. A photocopy of your valid photo ID such as one of the following:
- Georgia Driver’s license unexpired or expired for not more than one year
- State of Georgia Identification Card unexpired or expired for not more than one year
- Unexpired driver’s license issued by another U.S. State, jurisdiction or territory
- Unexpired official Identification Card issued by another U.S. State, jurisdiction or territory
- Unexpired U.S. Passport
- Unexpired Foreign Passport
- U.S. Military Identification, Military Dependent Identification, Veteran’s Identification
- Unexpired Consulate Card
- Transportation ID
- Voter’s Registration Card
- Debit Card
- Employer ID Card
- School, University, or College Identification Card
- DMV ID Card
- Department of Corrections Identification Card
Note: On the request form, you must provide the county in which the death occurred.
Where can I request a Death Certificate?
Certified copies of death certificates may be obtained from the State Office of Vital Records or any County Vital Records Office. Each County and the State Office have a public walk in service; however, County Offices may be closed some days of the week or hours during the day. The State Office is open from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Monday-Friday, closed on weekends and holidays.
How can I request a Death Certificate?
The following options are available for requesting a birth certificate:
Order online with your major credit card
Request Official Vital Event Records (ROVER)
Response Time: 4-6 Weeks
A surcharge and expedite fee applies for credit card payments. Only birth and death certificates are available.
Order online or by phone with your major credit card:
VitalChek
866-300-8540
Response Time: 4-6 Business Days
A surcharge and expedite fee applies for credit card payments. Only birth and death certificates are available.
Mail-in Request
Mail a completed copy of the appropriate request form to:
State Office of Vital Records
2600 Skyland Drive, NE
Atlanta, GA 30319
Response Time: 8-10 Weeks
Please download and complete the following form:
Request for Search of Death Record (Form 3912)
(A separate completed request form is needed for each record requested.)
Walk-in Service
8:00 AM - 4:30 PM, Monday-Friday, Except State Holidays
State Office of Vital Records or any County Vital Records Office.
2600 Skyland Dr, NE
Atlanta, GA 30319
Response Time: Same Day Service
Click here for a list of State Holidays.
Click here for a list of County Offices.
Note: It is not possible to request a birth certificate from the State Office by email or telephone. By law, all vital record search requests must be signed and submitted.
How do I request a Certificate of Birth Resulting in a Stillbirth (CBRS)?
Only the State Office of Vital Records can issue a CBRS. A CBRS can be issued for an unintended, intrauterine fetal death. Parents may also request a Fetal Death Certificate either in lieu of the CBRS or in addition to it.
To request a CBRS or Fetal Death Certificate, send a letter to the State Office of Vital Records stating the request for the document and include the following information:
- Photocopy of a valid photo identification
- Mother’s first and last name and DOB
- Baby’s name (if given)
- Facility in which the event took place
- The number of copies requested
- The applicable $10 fee per CBRS requested
What do I do if the information on my vital record is incorrect?
To request instructions for correcting a vital record, call the Contact Center at (404-679-4702).
What are the requirements for correcting a Death Certificate?
All requests to correct a death certificate must include a notarized statement from the informant authorizing the correction along with the necessary documentary evidence that supports the correction. If the funeral director is making the request, a statement on their letterhead along with the evidence will be sufficient. The statement must include the name of the decedent, date of death, county of death, and clearly specify the item or items to be corrected.
The correction process varies depending on the item to be corrected. The following guidelines address each item and suggested documentary evidence.
- To correct the spelling of the decedent’s name a copy of the decedent’s birth certificate, driver’s license, social security card, or other legal document is required.
- To correct the sex, race, origin, country of birth (ONLY), citizen of what country, industry, occupation, employer, education, military, or inside city limits requires a signed statement from the funeral home director on their official letterhead.
- To correct the date of death, date pronounced, time pronounced, autopsy, time of death, operation, or tobacco use requires a signed statement from the certifier and/or pronouncer on their official letterhead. The statement may also be obtained from the hospital or institution medical records.
- To correct the date of birth or place of birth requires a certified copy of the decedent’s birth certificate or other legal document such as military records, social security verification, marriage application, or previous child’s birth certificate. ****Life Insurance Policies cannot be considered****
- To correct the residence requires a document displaying the legal residence at the time of the death, such as most recent tax bill, voter’s registration card, motor vehicle tag registration, property deed, or utility bill.
- To correct the parents’ name requires a certified copy of the decedent’s birth certificate, social security verification, or other legal document i.e. military records or sibling’s birth certificate.
- To correct the disposition information requires a signed statement from the funeral home shown on the death certificate.
- To correct the social security number requires a copy of the social security card, social security verification, most recent income tax statement, or military records.
- To correct/change the cause of death requires a statement from the certifier on their official letterhead. If the coroner or medical examiner is no longer available to correct the cause of death, the new coroner/medical examiner having access to the medical records or previous investigation records may request to correct the cause of death.
- To correct the spelling of the name or address of the informant requires a notarized statement from the person listed as the informant and a copy of their driver’s license or other government issued I.D.
- To change the informant requires a notarized statement from the person listed as the informant stating that they did not give the information. Additionally, the person requesting the change must provide the information of the actual informant.
- To correct spouse’s maiden name requires a notarized statement and a copy of the spouse’s birth certificate, marriage certificate, or child’s birth certificate.
- To change/remove the name of the spouse listed on the death certificate requires a court order.
- *To change the decedent’s marital status will require any one of the following:
- From Married to Divorced requires a certified copy of the divorce decree if spouse shown is one and the same.
- From Married to Widowed requires a certified copy of the death certificate if spouse shown is one and the same.
- From Divorced to Widowed requires a certified copy of spouse’s death certificate.
- Never Married to Married requires a certified copy of marriage license.
- Never Married/Widowed to Divorced requires a certified copy of Final divorce decree if spouse is shown as one in the same.
- From Divorced to Married requires a court order since a divorce may be obtained anywhere.
- From Widowed to Married requires a court order.
- From Divorced to Never Married requires a court order.
*Note: Pursuant to DPH Rules and Regulations 511-1-3-.25 (7), in the absence of the aforementioned evidentiary documentation and at the discretion of the State Registrar, a notarized statement from the informant may be sufficient to change the decedent’s marital status.
What is the cost of a Death Certificate?
Fees are not refundable after a service has been provided; Georgia Code authorizes us to maintain the fee for the search itself.
- Search fee (includes one certified copy) $25.00
- Additional certifications of same record ordered at the same time $ 5.00
- Multi-year search (every three years or portion thereof) $25.00
Georgia law requires pre-payment before a record or a service can be provided. Records are sent first class mail.
What forms of payment are accepted?
Fees may be paid by one of the following methods:
- Certified Check
- Money Order
- Visa or Master Card (walk-in and online only)
- Cash or Debit Card (walk-in only)
Note: Do NOT send cash in the mail. Make certified checks and money orders payable to State Office of Vital Records.
Page last updated 12/22/2016