Brookhaven Death Index

Brookhaven death index records are managed by the DeKalb County Health Department at 445 Winn Way in Decatur. Brookhaven sits in DeKalb County just northeast of Atlanta, and all its vital records go through the county health department. Whether you need a death certificate for a recent passing or want to search for an older record, the DeKalb County office is the local source. State online tools also let you search Georgia death records that include Brookhaven. This page explains the steps, fees, and sources for finding death records tied to the Brookhaven area.

Brookhaven Death Certificates at DeKalb County

The DeKalb County Health Department is the filing office for Brookhaven death records. It is located at 445 Winn Way, Decatur, GA 30030. The office is open for walk-in visits Monday through Friday. Bring a valid photo ID and provide the full name and date of death for the person you need records for. Staff can search the system and issue a certified copy the same day for most requests. If the file needs to be pulled from the state system, it can take up to 72 hours.

Brookhaven incorporated as a city in 2012, but death records for the area go back much further under the DeKalb County system. The land that is now Brookhaven was part of unincorporated DeKalb County for decades. All historical death records are filed under DeKalb. The health department holds records from 1919 forward, and some older files may be in county storage as well. If you are looking for a pre-1919 death in the Brookhaven area, the Georgia Archives is the other place to check.

Note: Brookhaven death records filed before 2012 are indexed under unincorporated DeKalb County, not under the city name.

Fees for Brookhaven Death Records

A certified copy costs $25.00. Extra copies are $5.00 each when ordered at the same time. The fees are set by O.C.G.A. § 31-10-26 and are the same statewide. Cash, credit cards, and debit cards are accepted at the walk-in window. For mail orders, use a certified check or money order. Personal checks are not accepted at the DeKalb County Health Department or the state office.

The $5.00 rate for extra copies is only good within the same order. Come back another day and you pay $25.00 again. People in Brookhaven handling estate or insurance matters often get a few copies at once to cover everything they need.

Searching the Brookhaven Death Index

The fastest method is a walk-in visit to the DeKalb County Health Department. Staff search by name and date. You can walk out with a certified copy the same day.

For online searches, use the ROVER system to order through the state. It takes up to 10 weeks for delivery. VitalChek and GO Certificates are also approved vendors. They charge a service fee on top of the state cost. All three tap into the same database, which includes Brookhaven death records from 1919 onward. Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-15, every death in Georgia must be reported and filed. Recent Brookhaven deaths should appear in the system within days.

Who Can Get Brookhaven Death Certificates

Certified copies go only to people with a direct and tangible interest. That means spouses, parents, adult children, legal representatives, and funeral directors. The Georgia Rules 511-1-3 list everyone who qualifies. You may need to show ID and proof of your relationship to the deceased when you make the request at the DeKalb County office.

Plain paper copies are open to anyone. They have the Social Security number removed. These are not certified and carry no legal weight, but they still show the basic facts of the Brookhaven death record. Genealogists and family history researchers use them regularly.

Historical Brookhaven Death Records

The Georgia Archives provides free access to historical death records. Their digital death certificates from 1919 to 1927 are free to browse. The FamilySearch Georgia Death Index covers 1933 to 1998 and is also free. Records for the Brookhaven area will be listed under DeKalb County in these databases, since the city did not exist as a separate place until 2012.

For records older than 1919, contact the DeKalb County Health Department or the Georgia Archives in Morrow. Some county offices keep files that predate the state registration system. The DeKalb area has a long history, so there is a chance some older records survive in county storage.

Brookhaven Death Records by Mail

Send a mail request to the DeKalb County Health Department at 445 Winn Way, Decatur, GA 30030. Include the deceased person's name, date of death, your relationship, and a copy of your ID. Enclose $25.00 by certified check or money order, plus $5.00 per extra copy.

The state office at 1680 Phoenix Blvd Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349 also processes mail requests. Call (404) 679-4702 if you have questions. State processing takes 8 to 10 weeks. The county office in Decatur is faster and closer to Brookhaven. For same-day results, visit in person.

The City of Brookhaven government website provides local services and community information.

Brookhaven incorporated in 2012 and has grown into one of the largest cities in DeKalb County, with a population of nearly 60,000 residents.

Nearby Cities

These cities are near Brookhaven and also file death records through DeKalb County or adjacent counties.