Atlanta Death Records Search

Atlanta death index records are held by the Fulton County Board of Health, which runs the vital records office at 141 Pryor St in downtown Atlanta. If you need to find a death certificate for someone who died in Atlanta, this office is the main place to go. You can also use the state's online tools to search for death records tied to Atlanta and the rest of Fulton County. Atlanta sits in both Fulton and DeKalb counties, so the filing office depends on where the death took place. Most Atlanta deaths fall under Fulton County. This page walks through the process, fees, and sources for getting Atlanta death records.

Atlanta Death Certificates at Fulton County

The Fulton County Board of Health Vital Records office handles death certificate requests for Atlanta. It is at 141 Pryor Street, Suite 1029A, Atlanta, GA 30303. The phone number is (770) 520-7500. Walk-in hours run Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. You can get a certified copy on the same day in most cases. Staff say that at least 95% of records are on hand for same-day pickup. Some requests may take up to 72 hours if the file needs to be pulled from the state system.

Atlanta began recording deaths in 1889. That gives the city one of the longest death record histories in Georgia. For records from that early era, you should call Fulton County Vital Records at (404) 613-1260. The office can check for older files that predate the state's 1919 start date. Fulton County is also home to a secondary location at the College Park Regional Health Center, 1920 John Wesley Avenue, College Park, GA 30337. Both locations can pull death records from any county in Georgia, not just Fulton.

Note: Atlanta extends into DeKalb County, so deaths in east Atlanta may be filed under DeKalb instead of Fulton.

Fees for Atlanta Death Records

A certified death certificate from the Fulton County office costs $25.00. Each extra copy ordered at the same time costs $5.00. These fees are set by O.C.G.A. § 31-10-26 and apply statewide. You can pay with cash at the walk-in window. Credit cards and debit cards work too. If you mail a request, use a certified check or money order. Personal checks are not accepted at the Fulton County vital records office or at the state office in Atlanta.

If you come back on a different day for another copy, the full $25.00 fee applies again. The discount rate for extra copies is only good during the same visit or the same mail order. People dealing with estate matters or life insurance claims in Atlanta often order two or three copies at once to save time and money.

How to Search the Atlanta Death Index

The easiest way to find an Atlanta death record is to visit the Fulton County office in person. Staff can look up records by name and date. You will need a valid photo ID.

For online searches, Georgia offers a few tools. The ROVER system is the state's own online portal. You make an account, enter the details, and order a death certificate. Processing takes up to 10 weeks for mailed delivery. VitalChek is a third-party vendor that adds a service fee on top of the $25.00 state cost. GO Certificates is another approved vendor that works the same way. All three pull from the state database, which holds Atlanta death records from 1919 on.

Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-15, a death certificate must be filed for every death in Georgia. The attending doctor has 48 hours to complete the medical certification. This means recent Atlanta deaths should show up in the system within a few days of the event. Older records may take a manual search at the county level.

Who Can Get Atlanta Death Certificates

Georgia law limits who can get a certified copy. You need a direct and tangible interest in the record. Spouses, parents, adult children, and legal representatives qualify. Funeral directors who handled the case can also get copies. If you are an executor or a life insurance beneficiary, you may need to show proof of your role. The Georgia Rules 511-1-3 lay out the full list of who qualifies.

Anyone can get a plain paper copy. These are not certified. The Social Security number is redacted. Researchers and genealogists use plain paper copies for family history work. They carry no legal weight but still show the facts on file for the Atlanta death record you need.

Historical Death Records in Atlanta

Atlanta has one of the richest death record histories in the state. The city started recording deaths in 1889, three decades before Georgia began statewide registration in 1919. The Georgia Archives holds historical death files and provides free access to an online database. The digital collection of death records from 1919 to 1927 includes Atlanta records and is free to browse.

The FamilySearch Georgia Death Index covers 1933 through 1998. It is free to use and includes indexed entries for Atlanta deaths during that span. These databases are a good starting point if you do not know the exact date of death but have a name to search on.

For pre-1919 Atlanta deaths, contact Fulton County Vital Records at (404) 613-1260. Some of those older files still exist in county storage. The Georgia Archives in Morrow may also have microfilm or original records from that period.

Atlanta Death Records by Mail

You can request an Atlanta death certificate by mail from either the county or the state. For the Fulton County office, send a money order or certified check for $25.00 to Fulton County Board of Health Vital Records, 141 Pryor St Suite 1029A, Atlanta, GA 30303. Include the full name of the deceased, date of death, your relationship, and a copy of your photo ID.

The state office at 1680 Phoenix Blvd Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349 also takes mail requests. Call (404) 679-4702 if you have questions. State mail requests take 8 to 10 weeks. The county office is faster. If time matters, a walk-in visit to the Fulton County office in downtown Atlanta is the quickest way to get what you need.

The Georgia DPH death records page covers how to get death certificates for Atlanta and all other Georgia cities.

Atlanta is the largest city in Georgia and the state capital. Death records for the city have been maintained since 1889, making it one of the oldest death record collections in the state.

Nearby Cities

These cities are near Atlanta. Each has its own page with details on death records and local vital records offices.