Death certificates in Georgia
Who can order certified copies, what they cost, how long they take, and where the official form lives.
Last updated May 11, 2026. Sources are linked at the bottom of the page.
Why you'll need more copies than you expect
Nearly every institution that held something in the person's name will ask for a certified copy of the death certificate: banks, life insurers, pension plans, the Social Security Administration, the DMV, the county recorder for real estate, and the probate court. Most of them keep the copy. A photocopy is usually not accepted. Families commonly need somewhere between five and fifteen certified copies, and it is cheaper to order them together than one at a time later.
Ordering in Georgia
| Agency that issues them | Georgia Department of Public Health, State Office of Vital Records |
|---|---|
| Official ordering page | dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords |
| Order form | dph.georgia.gov/document/forms/death-certificate-application-form/download |
| Cost of the first certified copy | $25 first certified copy |
| Cost of each additional copy | $5 per additional copy ordered at same time |
| Standard processing time | approx 4–8 weeks by mail; varies by method |
| Expedited option | available via online ordering through approved vendor |
| Ways to order | online (approved vendor), mail, in person at state or county |
Who is allowed to order a certified copy
- immediate family
- legal guardian
- personal representative
- others with documented eligibility under O.C.G.A. §31-10-26
If you are not on this list, the usual route is to ask someone who is, or to have the attorney handling the estate request copies.
Worth knowing
Georgia issues certified copies to eligible persons only; cause-of-death info has further restrictions.
Who files the original, and when
You do not file the death certificate yourself. The funeral home, direct disposer, or facility that takes custody of the body files it with the state, and the doctor or medical examiner completes the cause-of-death section. In georgia, the filing deadline is: Within 72 hours of death. Certified copies can only be issued after that filing is accepted, which is why there is usually a short wait after the death before copies are available.
Want this organized for your situation? The free walkthrough asks a few questions about who died, where, and your relationship to them, and builds a checklist for the first days and weeks in Georgia.
More for Georgia
- Probate and small estates
- When there is no will
- Cremation rules
- Estate taxes and life insurance
- All Georgia topics
Primary sources
- Georgia Department of Public Health, State Office of Vital Records: dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords
- Death certificate application form: dph.georgia.gov/document/forms/death-certificate-application-form/download