Savannah Death Index Lookup

Savannah death records are filed through the Chatham County Health Department, which serves as the vital records office for the Savannah area. If you need a death certificate for someone who died in Savannah, the office on Eisenhower Drive can help. Online ordering is also available through state tools. Savannah has the oldest death record history in Georgia, with local records dating back to 1803. This page walks through the process of getting Savannah death certificates, the costs you should know, and where to find historical death records for the city.

Chatham County Health Department

The Chatham County Health Department handles death certificate requests for Savannah. The office is at 1395 Eisenhower Drive, Savannah, GA 31406. Walk-in visits work best if you need a copy fast. Bring a valid photo ID and the full name and date of death for the person you need a record for. Staff can search their files and print a certified copy while you wait in most cases.

The office is part of the Coastal Health District, which covers Chatham and several other counties along the Georgia coast. The district keeps vital records for the whole region. If the Savannah office cannot find a specific file, the district office can help. Chatham County is where all Savannah death records are filed, so this office is your best starting point for any search related to a Savannah death.

Note: The Chatham County Health Department may close on state holidays, so call ahead to check hours before visiting.

Savannah Death Certificate Fees

A certified Savannah death certificate costs $25.00 for the first copy. Each extra copy is $5.00 if ordered at the same time. State law under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-26 sets these fees. They are the same at every county office in Georgia. You can pay with cash, credit card, or debit card for walk-in visits. Mail requests need a certified check or money order. Personal checks are not accepted.

The extra copy discount only applies to the same visit or the same mail request. If you return later for another copy, the full $25.00 fee applies. People handling estate work or insurance claims in Savannah should order all the copies they need at once. Two or three copies is standard for most situations that call for a certified death certificate.

Searching Savannah Death Records

The Chatham County Health Department is the most direct way to search for Savannah death records. Staff can look up records by name and date. You need a photo ID to request a copy.

Online tools give you more options. Georgia's ROVER system lets you order from home. Create an account, enter the search details, and pay online. It takes up to 10 weeks for delivery. VitalChek is another option with a service fee added on. GO Certificates works the same way. All three pull from the state database, which covers Savannah deaths from 1919 forward.

For older Savannah death records, the city has exceptional resources. The City of Savannah Municipal Archives holds death registers from 1803 to 1913. That is more than a century of records before the state even started collecting them. You can reach the archives at 912-651-4212. The Georgia Archives has a digital collection from 1919 to 1927 online for free. The FamilySearch Georgia Death Index covers 1933 through 1998.

Who Can Get Savannah Death Certificates

Certified copies are limited by state law. You must show a direct and tangible interest. Spouses, parents, adult children, grandchildren, and legal representatives of the deceased qualify. Funeral directors and estate executors are also eligible. Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-15, every Savannah death results in a certificate being filed. The Georgia Rules 511-1-3 give the full eligibility breakdown.

Plain paper copies are open to anyone. These lack the certified stamp and have the Social Security number removed. They still show the facts on file. Genealogists researching Savannah families use plain paper copies regularly. They carry no legal weight but work fine for family history projects.

Mail Requests for Savannah Death Index

You can request Savannah death certificates by mail. Send a certified check or money order for $25.00 to the Chatham County Health Department at 1395 Eisenhower Drive, Savannah, GA 31406. Include the deceased person's full name, date of death, your relationship, and a copy of your photo ID.

The state office is another option for mail requests. Send to Georgia Department of Public Health, Vital Records, 1680 Phoenix Blvd Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349. Call (404) 679-4702 for questions. State mail takes 8 to 10 weeks. The Chatham County route is usually faster. If time is a concern, an in-person visit to the Savannah office gives same-day results for most requests.

The Chatham County Health Department listing on the Georgia DPH website shows Savannah's vital records office details.

This page lists the Chatham County Health Department location and the services available for Savannah death records.

Nearby Cities

Savannah is on the Georgia coast near the South Carolina border. These nearby cities have their own death records pages on this site.