Augusta Death Index

Augusta death records are managed by the Richmond County Health Department, which serves the consolidated Augusta-Richmond County government. The health department at 1916 North Leg St in Augusta handles all death certificate requests for the area. If you need to search for a death record in Augusta, you can visit that office or use one of the state online tools. Augusta began recording deaths in 1904, giving it a longer local record history than most Georgia cities. This page covers where to get Augusta death certificates, what fees to expect, and how to search for older records.

Richmond County Health Department

The Richmond County Health Department is the primary office for Augusta death records. It sits at 1916 North Leg Street, Augusta, GA 30309. The phone number is (706) 667-4335. Staff at this office can search for death records, print certified copies, and answer questions about the filing process. Walk-in visits are the fastest way to get a death certificate for someone who died in Augusta. Bring a valid photo ID and the full name and date of death of the person you are looking for.

Augusta and Richmond County operate under a consolidated government. This means the city and county share services. All death records for the Augusta area go through the Richmond County Health Department. The office is part of the East Central Health District, which covers several counties in the region. If the local office has trouble finding a record, the district can help track it down.

Note: Call the Richmond County Health Department before visiting to confirm hours and check if the record you need is on file.

Augusta Death Certificate Fees

Death certificates in Augusta cost $25.00 for the first certified copy. Each extra copy is $5.00 when ordered at the same time. These fees come from O.C.G.A. § 31-10-26 and are the same at every county office in Georgia. Cash, credit cards, and debit cards work for in-person visits. Mail requests need a certified check or money order. Personal checks are not accepted.

The $5.00 rate for extra copies only applies during the same visit or the same mail order. If you come back later, the full $25.00 kicks in again. Many people who handle estate or insurance matters in Augusta get two or three copies at once. It saves both time and money compared to making separate trips.

Searching Augusta Death Records

There are several ways to search for death records in Augusta. Visiting the Richmond County Health Department in person is the most direct option. Staff can pull up records by name and date of death. Same-day copies are available for most requests.

Georgia's ROVER system lets you order death certificates from home. Create an account, enter the details, and wait for delivery. Processing runs up to 10 weeks. VitalChek offers another online path but charges a service fee on top of the state cost. GO Certificates works much the same way. All three services pull from the state database, which holds Augusta death records from 1919 to the present.

Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-15, every death in Georgia must be filed with a death certificate. The attending physician has 48 hours to complete the medical certification portion. For Augusta deaths, this means the record should appear in the system within days.

Who Can Get Augusta Death Records

Certified death certificates are limited. You must have a direct and tangible interest. Spouses, parents, adult children, siblings, and legal representatives can get certified copies. The Georgia Rules 511-1-3 list all who qualify. Funeral directors and estate executors are also eligible. You may need to show proof of your connection.

Plain paper copies are open to anyone. These have the Social Security number removed and are not certified. They hold no legal weight. Genealogists and researchers use plain paper copies for family history work on Augusta death records.

Historical Death Records for Augusta

Augusta began recording deaths in 1904, which is 15 years before Georgia started statewide registration. The Richmond County Health Department may still hold some of those early files. For historical research, the Georgia Archives is another strong resource. The Archives has a free digital collection of death records from 1919 to 1927 that includes Augusta entries. The FamilySearch Georgia Death Index covers 1933 through 1998 and is also free.

For pre-1919 Augusta deaths, reach out to the Richmond County Health Department at (706) 667-4335. The Georgia Archives in Morrow at 5800 Jonesboro Road may also have microfilm of older records. Some early Augusta death files may be scattered across local and state storage, so checking both is a good idea.

Mail Requests for Augusta Death Index

You can request Augusta death certificates by mail. Send a money order or certified check for $25.00 to the Richmond County Health Department at 1916 North Leg Street, Augusta, GA 30309. Include the deceased person's full name, date of death, your relationship, and a copy of your photo ID. County mail requests are usually faster than state ones.

The state office also handles mail orders. Send requests to Georgia Department of Public Health, Vital Records, 1680 Phoenix Blvd Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349. The phone there is (404) 679-4702. Expect 8 to 10 weeks from the state. If you need the record sooner, a trip to the Richmond County office in Augusta is the best bet.

The Georgia DPH county office directory lists all county health departments where you can get death certificates, including the Augusta office.

This page shows every county vital records office in the state, with addresses and phone numbers for each location.

Nearby Cities

Augusta is in eastern Georgia near the South Carolina border. The nearest qualifying cities with their own death records pages are listed below.