Get Your Georgia Death Certificate

You can request a Georgia death certificate from the Georgia Department of Public Health, Vital Records Office. Requests can be made online, by mail, or in person at the Atlanta office. Mail requests require a completed application, a copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order for $25.

A certified copy of a Georgia death certificate costs $25 for the first copy and $5 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. Online orders may include convenience fees. Order multiple copies together to save on per-copy costs.

Georgia death certificates are restricted records. Eligible requesters include the surviving spouse, a parent, adult child, or sibling of the deceased, the executor or administrator of the estate, a funeral director, and government agencies. Valid ID and proof of eligibility are required. An authorized party may designate a representative through a notarized Power of Attorney (PoA).

Yes. You can order a Georgia death certificate online through the Department of Public Health or authorized third-party providers. You will need the full name of the deceased, date of death, and county where the death occurred. Online orders require a credit or debit card.

An officially certified death certificate from the Georgia Department of Health and Social Services (GADPH) will have unique security features to ensure its authenticity. Official death certificates from Georgia typically feature the state seal, the individual's name, the date and place of death, and the state registrar's signature. They are printed on secure, tamper-resistant paper with watermarks and other security elements. The GADPH issues these certificates by state guidelines, and all counties follow these secure issuance procedures.

• Full Name of the Decedent: The full legal name of the person whose death is being recorded.
• Date of Death: The exact date and time of death of the individual.
• Place of Death: The city, county, and state where the death occurred, along with the specific facility or location.
• Cause of Death: The immediate and underlying causes of death, as certified by the attending physician or medical examiner.
• Medical Certification Information: Includes details about who certified the death, such as the attending physician or coroner, and any contributing medical factors.
• Demographic Information: The deceased's age, sex, race, ethnicity, marital status, education level, and occupation.
• Disposition Details: Information about the method of disposition (burial, cremation, etc.), the date and place of disposition, and the funeral home or director responsible.
• Informant Information: The name and relationship of the person providing personal details of the deceased.
• Social Security Number: The Social Security number of the deceased.

The process for correcting or amending a Georgia death certificate depends on the type of correction required. When an amendment is made, the original certificate is not altered; a new certificate is issued with the correct information.

Determine the Type of Correction Needed: Common amendments include correcting a misspelled name, correcting the date or place of death, correcting demographic information (such as age, marital status, or occupation), and updating the cause of death (requires medical or legal documentation).

Obtain the Necessary Form: the form can be obtained from the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) website or by contacting the Georgia Vital Records Office directly.

Gather Supporting documentation: for minor corrections (such as spelling errors), valid identification and proof of the correct information (e.g., birth certificate, marriage certificate, or government ID) may be sufficient. Medical corrections (such as changes to the cause of death) require a signed statement from the certifying physician or medical examiner. A court order may be necessary for legal name changes or other significant amendments.

Submit the Application

In Person: To submit the form and documents, visit the Georgia Department of Public Health, Vital Records Office, or regional offices.

Mail: Send the completed Request for Amendment form and supporting documents to:

Georgia Department of Public Health State Office of Vital Records, 1680 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 100 Atlanta, GA 30349

Pay the Amendment Fee: Fees for amendments may vary depending on the type of correction requested. It is recommended to confirm current fees with the Georgia Department of Public Health.

Processing Time for amendments varies: the standard processing time is 4 to 6 weeks. More complex amendments (involving medical or legal documentation) may take longer, depending on the nature of the correction and whether additional review is required.

You can order an apostille directly through the Secretary of State or online through VRO's Express Apostille Service. The Secretary of State issues Apostilles, which are often required when filing a Georgia death certificate with a foreign government that is part of the 1961 Hague Convention.

We offer comprehensive apostille services for birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates across all 50 US states. Governments and organizations acknowledge the service, which is legally valid in over 100 countries. VRO's service comes with expert support, costs $149 (plus government fees), and can be accomplished online in just three steps.

If you are manually submitting a request for an apostille to the Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority (GSCCCA), you will need to provide the following items:

1. The certified copy of your death certificate, with the original signature and seal of the current Georgia State Registrar.
2. A completed Apostille/Authentication Request Form (specify which country you will submit the document to)
3. A payment of $3.00 per document - checks and money orders should be made payable to the "GSCCCA," or you can provide your credit card information.

Submit your request to the GSCCCA Authentication Division at the following addresses:

In-person/by mail (standard or express courier):

Or mail to the Georgia DPH-VRS

Ensure that you specify on the application form that you need an apostille and indicate the country to which the document will be submitted. The fee for a death certificate is $25.00, and the apostille fee is $3.00.