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

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.

Georgia's Virtual Vault Death Certificates Index and images
Georgia, Deaths, 1914-1927 Index and images.
Georgia, Deaths Index, 1914-1927 ($)
Georgia Deaths, 1919-98, ($)
USGenWeb Georgia Death Index, 1919-1998
Georgia, Deaths 1928-1938 Index and images.
Georgia, Death Index, 1933-1998 Index only.
United States Social Security Death Index
U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007, Incomplete, ($).

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:
	1928-1930 - At FamilySearch.org	Free
Next try:
Includes Index Only
	1914-1927 - At FamilySearch.org	Free
	1933-1998 - At FamilySearch.org	Free
	1914-1927 - At FamilySearch.org	Free
Choose one of the following:
	1919-1998 - use at FamilySearch Centers/Libraries	Free at FamilySearch Centers and Libraries; Find your local FamilySearch Center

	1919-1998 - use your Ancestry subscription	$, To obtain a subscription to Ancestry; Ancestry is often available through your local public library for 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.
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.