Find Coffee County Death Records

Coffee County death index records are maintained by the county health department in Douglas. This south-central Georgia county has a population of about 43,000. The Coffee County Health Department is part of the Southeast Health District and is one of three district locations that provide certified death certificates. That gives the Douglas office extra capacity compared to many smaller county offices. You can request death certificates here for deaths that occurred in Coffee County or work with the state office in Atlanta. Walk-in, mail, and online options are all available for searching the Coffee County death index.

Coffee County Health Department

The Coffee County Health Department on West Baker Highway in Douglas handles death certificates for the area. You can reach the office at 912-389-4456. This office is part of the Southeast Health District, and it is one of three district locations that can issue certified copies of death certificates. That makes the Coffee County office a regional hub for death record requests in southeast Georgia.

Walk-in service is available. Bring your photo ID and the details about the death. The fee is $25 for the first certified copy. Each extra copy is $5. Cash and money orders are accepted. No personal checks. Staff will search the Coffee County death index and confirm your eligibility under state law before releasing the record. The office also handles birth certificates and other vital records.

Note: The Coffee County Health Department is one of three Southeast Health District locations providing certified death certificates.

Requesting Coffee County Death Certificates

The fastest way to get a death certificate is a walk-in visit to the Douglas office. Fill out the application form, show your ID, and pay. If the record is on file, you can often leave with a certified copy the same day. Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-26, the registrar confirms your eligibility before releasing any certified copy from the Coffee County death index.

Mail requests go to the Coffee County Health Department at 1111 W Baker Hwy, Douglas, GA 31533. Include the full name of the person who died, date of death, your relationship, a copy of your photo ID, and a money order for $25. Processing takes a couple of weeks by mail. The office will mail the certified copy back to you.

Online ordering through VitalChek or GO Certificates routes through the state office. These services add a fee. State processing takes about 8 to 10 weeks.

Coffee County Death Index Resources

The Georgia DPH listing for Coffee County shows the office location and contact details for the Douglas health department.

The Southeast Health District oversees the Coffee County office and provides consistent standards for death certificate processing at all district locations.

Death Record Eligibility in Coffee County

Certified death certificates are restricted under Georgia law. O.C.G.A. § 31-10-15 names who can get them. Spouses, parents, children, grandparents, grandchildren, and legal reps like attorneys and executors are on the list. Funeral homes can request copies for the families they served.

If you are not on that list, an informational copy is available from the Coffee County death index. Same data, but it has a watermark marking it as not for legal use. Genealogy researchers use this type often. The state rules under Rules 511-1-3 break down the full details of eligibility and required paperwork.

When you apply, bring a valid photo ID at a minimum. Some requests need more proof, like a court order or a letter from an attorney. The Coffee County Health Department staff can tell you exactly what you need to provide based on your situation and relationship to the person on the record.

State and Online Death Records

The state office at 1680 Phoenix Blvd Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349 has Coffee County death records from 1919 on. Call (404) 679-4702 for help. The state is a good backup if the local office cannot locate a specific record.

For genealogy, the Georgia Archives hold older death records. The FamilySearch Georgia death index is free to search. The ROVER system can help search across state agencies for Coffee County records.

Nearby Counties

Coffee County is in south-central Georgia. These neighboring counties each keep their own death index. Contact the correct county registrar if the death occurred outside Coffee County.