Death Certificates
Ordering a Death Certificate
You can order a death certificate in person, by mail, or online. A death certificate is available for 75 years after the death.
Before ordering a certificate for a recent death, please speak with the funeral home handling the arrangements to make sure that they have filed the death record.
Accessing a Death Certificate
Access to a death certificate is limited to:
- A child of the person named on the certificate.
- A parent of the person named on the certificate.
- A grandparent of the person named on the certificate.
- An adult sibling of the person named on the certificate.
- The spouse of the person named on the certificate.
- The legal guardian or agent of the person named on the certificate.
Providing Required Documents
You must bring, mail or upload:
- A completed and signed Death Certificate Request form (English / Spanish). (Or provide the requested information on a plain sheet of paper.)
- A valid photo ID or a photocopy. Acceptable ID includes:
- State of Georgia driver’s license.
- Photo ID card issued by a government agency.
- Photo ID card issued by an employer.
- Photo ID card issued by a college or university.
- Resident Alien Card (Form I-551 issued by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service).
- Temporary Resident Alien Card (Form I-668 issued by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service).
- Government passport issued by a country.
- Military ID card issued by the U.S. Armed Forces.
- Matricula card.
- Proof of relationship to person named on certificate. See the table below.
If your relationship to the person named on the death certificate is: | You must provide: |
| A parent | The birth certificate of the person showing you as a parent |
| A grandparent | The birth certificate of your child who is the parent of the person |
| A sibling (age 18 or over) | Your birth certificate showing at least one parent in common with the person |
| A child (age 18 over over) | Your birth certificate showing the person was your parent |
| The temporary or permanent legal guardian | A court order or other legal documentation proving custody |
| The attorney serving as a temporary or permanent legal representative | A letter on your law firm’s letterhead stating that you have been retained to serve as the person’s legal representative |
| The individual or agency representative empowered by statute or appointed by a court to act on the person’s behalf | A court order or other legal documentation proving representative status |
| The beneficiary of an insurance policy who needs a certificate that includes the cause of death | A letter from the insurance company that lists you as the beneficiary |
Making Payment
Georgia law requires payment before a service can be provided. Fees are not refundable after a service has been provided.
The fees are:
If exact death date is known | Search fee: $25 (includes one certified copy of certificate, if record is found) |
If exact death date is unknown | Multi-year search fee: $25 (covers up to 3 years and includes one certified copy of certificate, if record is found) |
Each additional certificate of same record ordered at same time | $5 |
Online orders through our website | Additional $5 processing fee |
Fees may be paid as follows:
In person | By mail | Online | |
Cash | √ | ||
Credit or debit card | √ | √ | |
Certified check* | √ | √ | |
Money order* | √ | √ |
*Make payable to: DeKalb County Vital Records Office. Personal checks are not accepted.
Placing an Order
In person
Bring the required documents and payment to a Vital Record office.
Please arrive more than 15 minutes before closing time. Offices are closed on state holidays.
Richardson Health Center, Suite 191
445 Winn Way
Decatur, GA 30030
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:15 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Phone: (404) 294-3857
North DeKalb Health Center
3807 Clairmont Road, NE
Chamblee, GA 30341
Hours: Tuesday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Phone: (678) 475-4308
By mail
Send the required documents and payment to:
DeKalb County Vital Records Office
P.O. Box 639
Decatur, GA 30031
Online
Through DeKalb Public Health’s website
Be sure to have the required documents and your credit/debit card information ready.
Through a third-party vendor: VitalChek.
Ordering a Fetal Death Certificate
To order a fetal death certificate, contact the Georgia Office of Vital Records at (404) 679-4702.
Correcting or Changing a Death Record
If a death record has already been created and you want to make a correction or change:
- Call the Georgia Office of Vital Records: (404) 679-4702
- Write to:
Georgia Office of Vital Records
1680 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 100
Atlanta, GA 30349
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