Where to order a death certificate in Georgia

You order a death certificate from the Georgia Vital Records Office, which is part of the Department of Public Health. They keep the official record of every death registered in Georgia. You can order by mail, in person, or online through their VitalChek portal — each method takes different amounts of time and costs different fees.

The Vital Records Office is located at 2600 Skyland Drive NE, Atlanta, GA 30319. If you go in person, bring a photo ID and be ready to pay the fee on the spot. They are open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and can usually hand you a certificate the same day if the death was registered in Georgia.

If the death happened in Georgia but you are ordering from out of state, mail is often slower than ordering online. Online ordering through VitalChek lets you pay by credit card and receive the certificate by mail within 5 to 10 business days. Mail orders sent directly to the Vital Records Office typically take 2 to 3 weeks.

Key Takeaways

  • The Georgia Vital Records Office is the only place that issues official death certificates for deaths registered in Georgia.
  • You can order in person (same day), by mail (2 to 3 weeks), or online through VitalChek (5 to 10 business days).
  • You will need to provide the full name of the deceased, date of death, and your relationship to them, plus a photo ID.
  • Fees vary by method and number of copies, ranging from around $25 to $35 per certified copy when ordered online or by mail.
  • If the death was not registered in Georgia, you will need to contact the vital records office in the state where the death occurred.

What you need to provide when you order

The Vital Records Office will ask for the full name of the deceased, the date of death, the county where the death occurred, and your relationship to the person who died. If you do not know the exact date, provide your best estimate — they can search by year and month. The county matters because Georgia's system is organized by county of death, not by where the person lived.

You will also need to show a photo ID to prove who you are. This applies whether you order in person, by mail, or online. If you are ordering by mail, include a copy of your ID with your request. For online orders through VitalChek, you upload a photo of your ID as part of the process.

Some funeral homes and attorneys have standing accounts with the Vital Records Office and can order on your behalf. If you use a funeral home, ask whether they will handle the order — many do this as part of their service, though they may charge a small fee.

Ordering online through VitalChek

VitalChek is the official online portal for Georgia death certificates. You go to the VitalChek website, select Georgia, and choose "Death Certificate." You will enter the deceased's name, date of death, and county, then upload a photo of your ID. Payment is by credit card, and the fee is typically $31.50 per certified copy plus a $7.50 processing fee when ordered online.

After you submit, VitalChek sends your request to the Georgia Vital Records Office. Processing usually takes 5 to 10 business days, and they mail the certificate to the address you provide. You can check the status of your order on the VitalChek website using a confirmation number they send you by email.

VitalChek also offers rush processing for an additional fee — usually around $15 extra — which can cut the wait time to 2 to 3 business days. This is useful if you need the certificate quickly for probate, insurance claims, or other time-sensitive matters.

Ordering by mail or in person

To order by mail, write a letter that includes the deceased's full name, date of death, county of death, your full name, your relationship to the deceased, the number of certified copies you want, and your mailing address. Include a copy of your photo ID and a check or money order made out to "Georgia Department of Public Health." Mail it to: Georgia Vital Records Office, 2600 Skyland Drive NE, Atlanta, GA 30319.

Processing by mail typically takes 2 to 3 weeks from the date they receive your letter. The fee is usually $25 per certified copy when ordered by mail, though you should call ahead to confirm the current fee. Include a phone number in your letter so they can contact you if there is a problem with your request.

If you order in person at the office in Atlanta, bring your photo ID, the deceased's full name, date of death, and county of death. You pay the fee in cash or by card, and they can usually give you the certificate the same day if the death was registered in Georgia and the record is complete. If there is any issue with the record, they will tell you what additional information or documents you need.

How many copies to order and what they cost

Order at least 3 to 5 certified copies, even if you think you only need one right now. Banks, insurance companies, Social Security, and probate courts all want their own copy, and ordering multiple copies at once is cheaper than ordering them one at a time later. Each additional copy ordered at the same time usually costs $3 to $5 more than the first copy.

Fees depend on how you order. Online through VitalChek, the first copy is usually $31.50 plus a $7.50 processing fee, and each additional copy is $5. By mail, the first copy is typically $25 and each additional copy is $3 to $5. In person, fees are similar to mail orders. Call the Vital Records Office at 404-679-4702 to confirm the exact current fee before you send payment.

Some counties in Georgia charge a small additional fee on top of the state fee. This is rare, but the Vital Records Office will let you know if it applies to the county where the death occurred.

If the death was not registered in Georgia

If the person died in another state, you cannot order from Georgia. You will need to contact the vital records office in the state where the death occurred. Each state has its own office, its own fees, and its own process. The National Center for Health Statistics maintains a directory of vital records offices by state on their website, which you can use to find the right office.

If you are not sure which state to contact, check the person's death notice or obituary — it usually says where they died. If you have a copy of the death certificate already, it will show the state and county of death at the top.

Some states allow you to order online, while others require mail or in-person orders only. Processing times and fees also vary widely. Expect to pay between $15 and $50 per copy depending on the state, and processing can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks.

What to do if you cannot find the death record

If the Vital Records Office tells you they have no record of the death, the death may not have been registered in Georgia, or it may have been registered under a different name. Ask the office to search by the person's date of birth as well as their name — sometimes records are filed under a maiden name or a nickname.

If the death happened more than 100 years ago, the record may be archived. The Vital Records Office can still search archived records, but it may take longer. If the death was very recent — within the last few days — the record may not yet be entered into the system. The funeral home or hospital can tell you when the death was registered.

If you still cannot locate the record after the office has searched, you may need to contact the county health department where the death occurred, or ask a funeral home to help you track it down. In rare cases, you may need to petition a court to establish the death, but this is uncommon and usually only happens if there is a dispute about whether the person actually died.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to get a death certificate in Georgia?

In person at the Atlanta office, usually the same day. Online through VitalChek, 5 to 10 business days. By mail, 2 to 3 weeks. Rush processing through VitalChek can reduce the wait to 2 to 3 business days for an extra fee.

Can I order a death certificate for someone I am not related to?

Georgia allows anyone to order a death certificate, but you must show a photo ID and provide a reason for your request. The Vital Records Office may ask why you need it. Common reasons include settling an estate, insurance claims, or genealogy research.

What if I need the certificate urgently for probate or insurance?

Order online through VitalChek with rush processing, or go in person to the Atlanta office. If you need it within hours, in-person is your only option. Some insurance companies and probate courts will accept a temporary or uncertified copy while you wait for the official one.

Can a funeral home order the death certificate for me?

Yes, most funeral homes will order death certificates as part of their service. Ask them when you make arrangements. They may charge a small fee on top of the state fee, but it saves you the trouble of ordering yourself.

What if the death certificate has an error on it?

Contact the Georgia Vital Records Office with details of the error and supporting documents that show the correct information. They can issue a corrected certificate, but you may need to provide a doctor's statement, hospital record, or other official document to prove the error.