Canton Death Index Database
Canton death index records are filed through the Cherokee County Health Department, which runs the vital records office at 7545 Main Street in nearby Woodstock. Canton is the county seat of Cherokee County, but the health department's vital records office is actually located in Woodstock. If you need a death certificate for someone who died in Canton, the Woodstock office is where to go. The drive takes about 15 minutes. You can also search online through the state's tools or mail in a request. This page covers the full process for finding and getting Canton death records.
Canton Death Index Facts
Canton Death Certificates at Cherokee County
The Cherokee County Health Department processes all death certificate requests for Canton. The office is at 7545 Main Street Suite 100, Woodstock, GA 30188. Even though Canton is the county seat, the vital records office is based in Woodstock in the southern part of Cherokee County. Walk-in service is available Monday through Friday during business hours. Bring a valid photo ID and the full name and date of death of the person you are looking up. Staff can search the system and issue a certified copy the same day for most records.
Canton has been the seat of Cherokee County government since the county was formed in 1831. As the county seat, Canton is home to the Cherokee County courthouse and other government offices, but vital records are handled separately through the health department. The health department serves all of Cherokee County, including Canton, Woodstock, and the surrounding areas. Records in the state system go back to 1919, and the county may hold some older files locally.
| Office | Cherokee County Health Department |
|---|---|
| Address | 7545 Main Street Suite 100, Woodstock, GA 30188 |
| County | Cherokee County |
Note: The vital records office is in Woodstock, not in Canton, despite Canton being the county seat.
Fees for Canton Death Records
A certified death certificate costs $25.00. Each extra copy is $5.00 when ordered at the same time. The fees are set by O.C.G.A. § 31-10-26 and are the same at every vital records office in Georgia. Cash and cards work at the walk-in window. Mail requests need a certified check or money order. Personal checks are not accepted.
The discount for extra copies only lasts for the same visit or the same mail order. A separate trip means the full $25.00 fee starts over. Canton residents handling estate matters or insurance claims usually order two or three copies in one visit to cover all their needs.
How to Search Canton Death Index
The fastest way to search is to drive to the Cherokee County Health Department in Woodstock. Bring your ID and the details you have. Staff will search the system on the spot.
Online, Georgia offers three tools. The ROVER system is the state's own portal. You create an account and order from there. Delivery takes up to 10 weeks. VitalChek and GO Certificates are third-party vendors approved by the state. They charge a service fee on top of the $25.00. All three pull from the same database, which has Canton death records from 1919 to the present.
Georgia law under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-15 requires that a death certificate be filed for every death in the state. The attending doctor must complete the medical section within 48 hours. Recent Canton deaths appear in the system within a few days. Older records may take a manual lookup at the county level.
Who Can Get Canton Death Certificates
Georgia law limits certified copies 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 all the categories of people who qualify. Bring ID and proof of your relationship to the deceased when you visit.
Anyone can get a plain paper copy. These have the Social Security number removed. They are not certified and carry no legal weight. Researchers and genealogists use them for family history. They still contain the key facts of the Canton death record.
Historical Canton Death Records
The Georgia Archives holds historical death files for the state. Their digital death certificates from 1919 to 1927 include Cherokee County records and are free to browse. The FamilySearch Georgia Death Index covers 1933 through 1998 and is also free. These databases are useful for confirming dates and names on Canton-area death records.
For pre-1919 Canton deaths, check with the Cherokee County Health Department or visit the Georgia Archives in Morrow. Cherokee County was formed in 1831, so there may be some very early records in county archives. The state archives may have microfilm copies of older death records from the Canton area.
Canton Death Records by Mail
Send a mail request to the Cherokee County Health Department at 7545 Main Street Suite 100, Woodstock, GA 30188. Include the full name of the deceased, date of death, your relationship, and a copy of your photo ID. Enclose a certified check or money order for $25.00 plus $5.00 for each extra copy you need.
The state office at 1680 Phoenix Blvd Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349 also accepts mail requests for Canton death records. Call (404) 679-4702 for help. State processing takes 8 to 10 weeks. The Cherokee County office processes requests faster. For the quickest service, visit the Woodstock office in person.
The Georgia DPH death records page covers how to order death certificates for Canton and all other Georgia cities.
Canton is the county seat of Cherokee County and one of the fastest-growing cities in the north metro Atlanta region.
Nearby Cities
These cities are near Canton in Cherokee County and the surrounding area.