How to Find Georgia Death Records

United States US Vital Records How to Find United States Deaths Georgia Vital Records Georgia Deaths

Statewide registration of deaths began in 1919 in Georgia. Counties have copies of these records.

Next Step: When did the death occur?	Choose a time period to search for your ancestor's death record: Deaths before 1919 Deaths from 1919 thru the present Death Date Unknown

Learn more about U.S. Death Records

Deaths before 1919

Before 1919, no deaths were recorded by the county or state. Some cities began recording deaths earlier, such as Atlanta (beginning in 1896), Macon (beginning in 1882), and Savannah (beginning in 1803). For further information on cities, see Georgia Death Records. In most cases, you must search substitute records to locate your ancestor’s death date and place.

Records that give death information:
Cemetery Records Newspapers Probate (wills, etc)	Church Records Census Bible Records

Return to top: Choose another death year

Deaths from 1919 thru the present

The state of Georgia began recording deaths in 1919.

STEP ONE: Find Death Information

For deaths that exist during this time period, try the following databases. Try each link.

Georgia Deaths Databases - Includes Index and Digital Images
Try 1st:
Includes Index & Images
	1928-1940 - At FamilySearch.org	Free.
Next try:
Includes Index Only
	1919-1998 - At Ancestry.com	($) Free at family history centers
	1914-1927 - At FamilySearch.org	Free
	1933-1998 - At FamilySearch.org	Free
	Can't search the index listed above?	Go to Step Two listed below and order a search for your ancestor from the Georgia Department of Public Health.
Social Security Death Index
United States Social Security Death Index U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014 ($) U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007, incomplete, ($)
Can't find your ancestor in the index?		Tips for searching indexes
No death record for your ancestor?		Other records with death information

STEP TWO: Obtain the Certificate

If the image was not included in the index entry above, you can order a copy of the death record for a fee from the following locations:

To Order Death Certificates
From County of Death		From GA Dept. of Public Health office
Pros	Cons	Pros	Cons
May be less expensive and faster than ordering from the state	County websites can be more difficult to use		May be more expensive than ordering from the county

Restrictions for persons who died within the last 50 years:
To obtain a copy of the death certificate for those who died within the last 50 years, you must be:

• The spouse of the person on the certificate
• The adult children of the person on the certificate
• The adult siblings of the person on the certificate
• The parents of the person on the certificate
• The grandparents of the person on the certificate
• The grandchildren of the person on the certificate
• Anyone who has legal or tangible interest in the certificate

NOTE: A copy of the death record cannot be obtained by anyone except those listed above until 50 years have passed from the date of the death.

If you do not want to order the death record, there are other records with death information you can search.

Return to top: Choose another death year

Related Wiki Articles

• How to Find United States Birth Records
• Learn more about U.S. Death Records
• United States Record Selection Table
• U.S. Vital Records Overview
• United States Vital Records
• Locating United States Vital Records
• United States Birth Records
• United States Marriage Records

• Georgia's Virtual Vault Death Certificates Index and images
• Georgia, Deaths Index, 1914-1927 ($)
• USGenWeb Georgia Death Index, 1919-1998

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