The paperwork · Georgia
Almost everything that comes after a death, from the bank to the life insurance company, asks for a certified copy. Here is what a copy costs in Georgia, where to order it, and how many to get.
Order about 10 certified copies at the start. It costs less to buy them together than to come back for more later, and nearly every office will want an original, not a photocopy.
From the state vital records office
Cost of a certified copy: $25.00
Mail requests to: Georgia Department of Public Health Vital Records 1680 Phoenix Blvd., Suite 100 Atlanta, GA 30349
State office has records since January 1919. For earlier records write to the Vital Records Office in the county where the event occurred. Additional copies of the same record ordered at the same time are $5.00 each. A certified check or money order should be made payable to Georgia Department of Public Health. To verify current fees, the telephone number is (404) 679-4702. Information on how to obtain certified copies is also available via the Georgia Department of Public Health website. The requestor must provide a photocopy of a valid government-issued photo ID.
If the family cannot afford a funeral, call the county burial assistance program before signing anything with a funeral home. Find your county on the Georgia help page, and see what else is owed to you in the first 48 hours checklist.
Questions families ask
The state vital records office lists the cost of a certified copy as: $25.00 Fees can change, so confirm on the official site before you send payment.
Most families need about 10. Banks, life insurance, Social Security, the vehicle title office, retirement accounts, and property transfers each tend to want an original certified copy, and many will not accept a photocopy.
Yes. Funeral homes file the death record for you and can usually order certified copies at the same time. If you are using a county burial program instead, ask the caseworker how copies are ordered.
Eligibility rules are set by Georgia. Spouses, children, parents, and the executor named in the will are commonly eligible, and you may be asked for photo ID and proof of your relationship. The state office confirms the exact rules.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Costs and rules come from the official Georgia vital records listing and can change; confirm with the office before you send payment.
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Reviewed by the Final Steps Help research team.
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