Lanier County Death Records
Death records for Lanier County are managed by the Health Department in Lakeland. The Lanier County Health Department is part of the South Health District and processes all vital records requests for the county. If you are looking for a death certificate from Lanier County, this office is the local source. You can visit in person, mail a request, or use state online tools. Georgia death records at the state level start in 1919. Some Lanier County files may date back further. This page covers how to request death certificates, the fees, who can get them, and where to search for older Lanier County death records.
Lanier County Death Index Facts
Lanier County Health Department
The Lanier County Health Department is at 56 West Main Street, Suite 10, Lakeland, GA 31635. This is where you go for death certificates in Lanier County. The office serves the entire county and operates under the South Health District.
Walk-in visits are the fastest way to get a death certificate. Bring a valid photo ID and the full name and date of death for the person you need. The staff can look up the record in the death index and print a certified copy while you wait. If you are not sure whether the death was filed in Lanier County, call the office first. They can check and save you a trip if the record is in another county. Deaths are filed where they happen, not where the person lived.
The South Health District oversees several counties in south Georgia. If the Lanier County office has trouble finding a record, the district may be able to assist.
| Office | Lanier County Health Department |
|---|---|
| Address | 56 West Main Street, Suite 10, Lakeland, GA 31635 |
| District | South Health District |
Note: The Lanier County Health Department may close for state holidays and training sessions.
Fees for Lanier County Death Certificates
A certified death certificate from Lanier County costs $25.00. Extra copies ordered at the same time are $5.00 each. These fees are set by O.C.G.A. § 31-10-26 and are uniform across all of Georgia.
Cash is fine for walk-in visits at the Lanier County Health Department. Credit and debit cards are also accepted. Mail requests require a money order or certified check. Personal checks are not accepted anywhere in the Georgia vital records system. Order all the copies you need at once. Coming back for a separate request means paying the full $25.00 again.
Searching Lanier County Death Records
The Health Department in Lakeland is the best local option. But online tools are available for those who cannot visit.
Georgia's ROVER is the state's online ordering system. You can use it to request Lanier County death certificates from home. Set up an account, type in the person's details, and pay with a credit card. ROVER covers Georgia deaths from 1919 on. VitalChek and GO Certificates are two more state-approved sites for ordering death certificates online. Both charge service fees beyond the $25.00 state cost. All three pull from the same central database.
For historical death records from Lanier County, check the Georgia Archives. Their digital death certificates from 1919 to 1927 are free to access. The FamilySearch Georgia Death Index covers 1933 to 1998 at no cost.
Who Can Get Lanier County Death Records
Certified death certificates in Georgia are restricted. O.C.G.A. § 31-10-15 says you must have a direct and tangible interest. Spouses, parents, adult children, grandchildren, and legal representatives of the deceased qualify. Funeral directors can also get copies from Lanier County.
Plain paper copies are available to anyone. The Social Security number is removed from these. Cause of death may be omitted too. These work for research but carry no legal weight. Georgia Rules 511-1-3 have the complete eligibility details.
Mail Requests for Lanier County Death Index
Mail your request to the Lanier County Health Department at 56 West Main Street, Suite 10, Lakeland, GA 31635. Include the name of the deceased, date of death, your relationship, a copy of your ID, and a money order or certified check for $25.00.
The state office at 1680 Phoenix Blvd Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349, handles mail requests too. Call (404) 679-4702 for help. State mail requests take 8 to 10 weeks. The Lanier County office typically responds in 2 to 4 weeks.
The Lanier County Health Department page is shown below.
The Georgia Department of Public Health website lists the Lanier County Health Department and its vital records services.
This page shows the Lanier County Health Department office in Lakeland and the death record services it provides.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Lanier County. Check neighboring county offices if you are unsure where a death record was filed.