Georgia Deaths - FamilySearch Historical Records

= Georgia Statewide Death Certificates =

This wiki article describes a collection that is available for free online at FamilySearch Record Search – Pilot Site. To access the collection, see Georgia Statewide Death Certificates



Collection Time Period
Georgia began records deaths in 1919.

Collection History
In 1919 Georgia law required the registration of deaths in the state. Some deaths were recorded for years before 1919. Prior to statewide registration, death records were recorded in some counties beginning in 1875. Though statewide registration was established in 1919, county officials were slow to respond to the law and most did not comply until 1928.

Why This Collection Was Created
Deaths were recorded to better serve public health needs. They were also used in connection with the probate of wills and the administration of estates.

Collection Reliability
Information pertaining to death is reliable; including cause of death, name of the attending physician or medical professional, name and address of the funeral home used, and the exact date and place of burial. Other information is dependent upon the reliability of the informant.

Collection Description
Each death was recorded on a one-page pre-printed form.

How To Use The Collection
Death certificates are the best source of death information. The certificates contain clues for further research: the birth date and birthplace of the individual; the name of the spouse; the names of parents; the place of residence; the name of the informant who may be a child of the deceased. Some certificates will have information written on the back of the page. In those cases, the back of the page is found on the next image.

Collection Content
Important genealogical facts in death entries:


 * Dates of death and burial
 * Frequently, birth date of the deceased
 * City, county, and state of death
 * Name and location of the cemetery where buried
 * Frequently, the country or state and sometimes the town and county of birth for the deceased
 * Frequently, the country or state and sometimes the town and county of birth for the parents
 * Name of the deceased, married name of spouse, names of parents, often with maiden surname of the mother
 * Name of the informant, who is often a child or other family member
 * Age of the deceased usually in years, months, and days
 * Sex of the deceased
 * Residence or address of the deceased, often including length of residence at that place or in the United States, if foreign-born
 * Whether the deceased was single, married, widowed, or divorced at the time of death
 * Occupation of the deceased

Bibliographic Information
Georgia Department of Health and Vital Statistics. Certificate of death. From URL, date accessed or downloaded. Digital identification number if any, certificate number, name of individual, death date. Example: Georgia Department of Health and Vital Statistics. Certificate of death. From FamilySearch Internet (www.familysearch.org), September 29, 2006. Certificate 1576, Richard Bonner, 24 Feb 1918. Georgia Department of Health and Vital Statistics. Certificate of death. Salt Lake City: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, [date], film number, item number, certificate number, name of individual, death date.

Related Article
Georgia Vital Records