In Georgia, certified death certificates are issued by State Office of Vital Records, Georgia Department of Public Health. The state fee is $25 for the first certified copy and $5 for each additional copy.
Here is who can order a certified copy, how to order it, and how long it takes, taken from the office’s own pages. Fees and times change, so check the office’s page before you pay.
How much a death certificate costs in Georgia
| Item | State fee |
|---|---|
| First certified copy | $25 |
| Each additional copy | $5 |
$25 includes a 3-year search and one certified copy; $5 each additional copy ordered at the same time. The state's ROVER online service adds $8 processing plus optional $16 FedEx. No personal checks.
Who can order a certified copy
Certified copies: requesters with a direct and tangible interest, including legal spouse, adult children, adult siblings, parents, grandparents, grandchildren, and those with a tangible interest such as a beneficiary or insurance company. Anyone else can get a plain-paper copy with the SSN redacted.
A non-certified informational copy is also available. It cannot be used for legal or financial purposes such as closing accounts or claiming benefits.
How to order
- Online (state site)
- Online (official vendor: GoCertificates)
- In person
- County/local office
County vital records offices also issue death certificates; some hold records older than the state's.
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How long it takes
GA DPH: "Processing times are 8 to 10 weeks on all mail-in requests. (State Office only)"; online orders: "standard processing time … is up to 10 weeks.".
The funeral home’s role
The office’s pages do not describe the funeral home’s role. Many families ask the funeral director to order the first copies when arrangements are made.
State office has death records from January 1919. The state's own online portal is ROVER (Georgia Technology Authority); DPH also links a third-party vendor, Go-Cert.
How many copies to order
Most banks, insurers, pension plans and government agencies each want their own certified copy. Count the accounts and policies before you order, because ordering more later means another application and fee. How many death certificates you need has a worksheet.
Who decides the funeral in Georgia
State law sets who has the right to make funeral arrangements. See who has the right to make funeral decisions in Georgia.
Related guides
- What to do when someone dies: the first 24 hours
- Who to call when someone dies, and in what order
- How much a funeral costs, line by line
- Help paying for a funeral: Social Security, VA and FEMA
- Official funeral resources for every state
Sources
- State Office of Vital Records, Georgia Department of Public Health
- CDC: Where to Write for Vital Records (Georgia)
- State Office of Vital Records, Georgia Department of Public Health
- State Office of Vital Records, Georgia Department of Public Health
Checked 2026-09-24. General information, not legal advice.