Macon Death Records

Macon death index records are kept at the Bibb County Health Department, which handles vital records for the Macon-Bibb County consolidated government. If you need to find a death certificate for someone who passed away in Macon, the health department on Forsyth Street is the local source. You can also use state online tools to order records from home. Macon has one of the oldest death record collections in Georgia, with local records going back to 1882. This page covers how to get Macon death certificates, what fees apply, and where to look for older records.

Bibb County Health Department

The Bibb County Health Department is the primary office for Macon death certificates. The main office is at 1600 Forsyth Street, Macon, GA 31201. The phone number is (478) 749-0102. Walk-in visits are the fastest way to get a certified copy. Bring a valid photo ID and the full name and date of death for the person whose record you need. Most records can be pulled the same day.

Macon and Bibb County share a consolidated government, so all death records for the area go through this one office. The department is part of the North Central Health District, which covers Bibb and nearby counties. For older Macon death records, there is also a secondary location at 171 Emery Highway, Macon, GA 31261. That office may hold records that predate the current system. Call (478) 749-0102 to check before visiting.

Macon Death Certificate Fees

A certified Macon death certificate costs $25.00. Extra copies are $5.00 each when ordered at the same time. State law under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-26 sets these fees, and they are the same at every county office in Georgia. You can pay with cash, credit card, or debit card at the walk-in window. Mail requests need a certified check or money order. Personal checks are not accepted.

Order all the copies you need at once. Coming back on a different day means you pay the full $25.00 again for each new request. People dealing with estates, insurance claims, or bank accounts in Macon usually get two or three copies during their first visit.

Note: Fees are not refundable even if the search turns up no record on file for the Macon death you are looking for.

How to Search Macon Death Records

The Bibb County Health Department is the best starting point for searching Macon death records. Staff can look up records by name and date. You just need a photo ID and the basic details.

Online tools work too. The ROVER system is the state's official ordering portal. Make an account, enter the person's details, and pay online. It takes up to 10 weeks for delivery by mail. VitalChek is another option that charges a service fee on top of the state cost. GO Certificates is a third approved vendor. All three pull from the same state database and can access Macon death records from 1919 to the present.

For older records, Macon has a head start. The city began recording deaths in 1882, which is 37 years before the state started. The Georgia Archives holds historical death files and has a free digital collection from 1919 to 1927. The FamilySearch Georgia Death Index covers 1933 through 1998 and is free to search. Both include Macon entries.

Who Can Get Macon Death Certificates

Georgia law limits who can get certified death certificates. Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-15, death certificates are filed for every death. But certified copies are only given to people with a direct and tangible interest. That includes spouses, parents, adult children, grandchildren, and legal representatives. The Georgia Rules 511-1-3 spell out the full eligibility list.

Anyone can get a plain paper copy. These are not certified and have no legal force. The Social Security number is blacked out. Genealogists and researchers use plain paper copies for family history research on Macon death records. They still show the basic facts about the death.

Macon Death Records by Mail

You can mail a request to the Bibb County Health Department at 1600 Forsyth Street, Macon, GA 31201. Include a certified check or money order for $25.00, the full name of the deceased, date of death, your relationship, and a copy of your ID. County requests usually come back within a few weeks.

The state office handles mail orders too. Write to Georgia Department of Public Health, Vital Records, 1680 Phoenix Blvd Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349. Call (404) 679-4702 with questions. State requests take 8 to 10 weeks. If speed matters, visit the Bibb County office in Macon directly.

The Bibb County Health Department vital records page on the Georgia DPH website shows Macon's death records office.

This page shows the Bibb County Health Department location and the types of vital records available for the Macon area.

Nearby Cities

Warner Robins is the nearest qualifying city to Macon with its own death records page on this site.