Athens Death Records

Athens death index records are handled by the Clarke County Health Department, which serves the Athens-Clarke County consolidated government. If you need to find a death certificate for someone who died in Athens, the health department on North Harris Street is the local office to start with. Athens is part of the Northeast Health District, where the health department acts as the registrar for vital records. You can also search for Athens death records through the state's online systems. This page covers how to get death certificates, what fees apply, and how to search older Athens death records.

Clarke County Health Department

The Clarke County Health Department is the main place to get death certificates in Athens. The office is at 345 N. Harris Street, Athens, GA 30601. Athens and Clarke County have a unified government, so all death records for the area go through this single office. Walk in with a valid photo ID and the name and date of death for the person you need. Most records can be printed the same day.

Clarke County is one of three counties in the Northeast Health District where the health department serves as the official registrar for vital records. This means the Clarke County office has a direct role in recording deaths, not just issuing copies. The office can also pull death certificates from other Georgia counties through the state system, which is helpful if you are not sure where a death was filed.

Note: Clarke County Health Department can retrieve death records from any Georgia county, not just Clarke.

Athens Death Certificate Fees

A certified death certificate from the Clarke County office costs $25.00 for the first copy. Each extra copy costs $5.00 when ordered at the same time. These fees are set by O.C.G.A. § 31-10-26 and apply statewide. Cash works at the walk-in window. Credit and debit cards are accepted. Mail requests require a certified check or money order. Personal checks are not accepted.

The extra copy rate only applies during the same transaction. If you come back another day, the full $25.00 fee starts over. People in Athens who are settling estates or filing insurance claims should get all copies at once. Three copies will cover most banks, courts, and insurance companies.

How to Search Athens Death Index

The Clarke County Health Department is the easiest way to search for Athens death records. Staff look up records by name and date. You will need a photo ID.

For online searches, Georgia has three main tools. The ROVER system is the state's own portal. You create an account, enter the details, and order a certificate. Delivery takes up to 10 weeks. VitalChek is a third-party vendor that charges an extra service fee. GO Certificates is another approved option. All three access the same state database that holds Athens death records from 1919 on.

Historical records are available too. The Georgia Archives maintains death files going back decades. Their digital collection of death records from 1919 to 1927 is free to browse online. The FamilySearch Georgia Death Index covers 1933 through 1998 and is also free. Both databases include indexed entries for Athens and Clarke County deaths during those years.

Who Can Get Athens Death Certificates

Under Georgia law, certified death certificates are restricted. You need a direct and tangible interest in the record. Spouses, parents, adult children, grandchildren, legal guardians, and estate representatives all qualify. Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-15, a death certificate is filed for every death in Georgia. The Georgia Rules 511-1-3 detail exactly who can get certified copies.

Plain paper copies are open to anyone. These copies have the Social Security number removed and are not certified. They carry no legal weight but still show the facts on file. Genealogists researching Athens families use plain paper copies for their work.

Athens Death Records by Mail

Mail requests for Athens death certificates go to the Clarke County Health Department at 345 N. Harris Street, Athens, GA 30601. Include a certified check or money order for $25.00, the deceased person's full name, date of death, your relationship, and a copy of your photo ID. The county office usually processes mail requests faster than the state.

You can also send mail requests to the state office at 1680 Phoenix Blvd Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349. The state phone number is (404) 679-4702. State requests take 8 to 10 weeks. For faster service, visit the Clarke County office in Athens or send your request to the county address.

The Athens-Clarke County Unified Government website provides local government information and services.

Athens operates under a unified government with Clarke County. All vital records including death certificates are handled through the county health department.

Nearby Cities

Athens is in northeast Georgia. These are the nearest qualifying cities with death records pages on this site.