Search Polk County Death Records

Polk County death index records are held at the Health Department in Cedartown. The office processes death certificate requests for anyone who died in Polk County. It is part of the Northwest Health District and sits on York Street in Cedartown. You can visit the office in person, send a mail request, or use state online ordering tools to get copies. This page walks through the full process of searching for Polk County death records, the fees you should expect, eligibility rules for certified copies, and where to find older death records connected to Polk County.

Polk County Health Department

The Polk County Health Department is at 125 York Street in Cedartown, GA 30125. This is the main office for death certificates in Polk County. Walk-in requests get you the fastest service. Bring a valid photo ID and the full name and date of death for the person whose record you need. Staff can look up the file and print a certified copy while you wait.

Polk County belongs to the Northwest Health District, which covers several counties in the northwest corner of Georgia. The district keeps its own vital records files and can assist if the Cedartown office has trouble finding a specific death record. If a death occurred near the border between Polk and a neighboring county, the record might be filed in the other county. Call the Health Department before your trip to check if the record is available and to confirm their office hours.

Fees for Polk County Death Certificates

A certified death certificate from Polk County costs $25.00 for the first copy. Each extra copy ordered at the same time is $5.00. These fees are set statewide by O.C.G.A. § 31-10-26. Cash, credit cards, and debit cards work for walk-in visits. Mail requests need a money order or certified check. The Polk County Health Department does not accept personal checks.

The $5.00 discount for extra copies only applies during the same transaction. A new request later means paying $25.00 again. People dealing with estate matters or insurance claims in Polk County should order all the copies they need in one visit to save money.

Note: The fee is the same whether you order from the Polk County office or the state vital records office in Atlanta.

How to Search Polk County Death Index

You can search for death records in Polk County at the Health Department in Cedartown. Staff look up records by name and date of death. State online tools also give you access from home.

Georgia's ROVER system allows online death certificate orders. Create an account, enter the details, and submit your request. ROVER covers deaths in Georgia from 1919 to the present. Processing and mail delivery take a few weeks. VitalChek is another option with faster processing but an added service fee. GO Certificates also handles Georgia death certificate orders online. All three services can pull Polk County death records from the state database.

For historical records, the Georgia Archives holds older death files. A digital collection of death records from 1919 to 1927 is free to browse. The FamilySearch Georgia Death Index spans 1933 to 1998 at no cost.

Who Can Get Polk County Death Records

Georgia law limits certified death certificates to certain people. O.C.G.A. § 31-10-15 says you must have a direct and tangible interest in the record. Spouses, parents, children, and legal representatives qualify. Funeral directors who handled the case can request copies too. For legal matters in Polk County, bring documents showing your connection to the deceased.

Informational copies are available to everyone. They show the same data but are not certified for legal use. They are marked as informational only. Genealogists and family researchers use them often. The Georgia Rules 511-1-3 outline who qualifies for each copy type.

Polk County Death Records by Mail

Mail requests for Polk County death records go to the Health Department at 125 York Street, Cedartown, GA 30125. Include a money order or certified check for $25.00 payable to the Polk County Health Department. Write the full name of the deceased, date of death or an approximate range, and your relationship. Attach a copy of your photo ID.

The state vital records office also takes mail requests. Send those to Georgia Department of Public Health, Vital Records, 1680 Phoenix Blvd Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349. The phone number is (404) 679-4702. State requests take 8 to 10 weeks. The Polk County Health Department usually handles mail requests in 2 to 4 weeks. A walk-in visit to Cedartown is the fastest way to get a copy.

Georgia DPH Digital Death Certificates

The Georgia DPH digital certificates page explains how to order Polk County death records through the state system.

This page covers online options for getting death certificates from Polk County and every other county in the state.

Nearby Counties

These counties share a border with Polk County. If you are not sure where a death was filed, check these neighboring offices.