Georgia Deaths - FamilySearch Historical Records

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Collection Time Period
After legislation was enacted in 1919, Georgia began requiring the recording of deaths.

Record 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 Record 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.

Record 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.

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

Record 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

How to Use the Record
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.

Related Web Sites
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Related Wiki Article
Georgia Vital Records

Sources of This Collection
"Georgia Deaths, 1914-1927" and "Georgia Deaths, 1930," database, FamilySearch; from Georgia Department of Health and Vital Statistics. "Georgia Statewide Death Certificates, 1914-1927." Georgia Department of Health, Atlanta, Georgia. FHL microfilm, 262 reels. Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.

A full bibliographic record is available in the Family History Library Catalog.

How to Cite Your Sources
An example of citing these records is: 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.

Instructions for citing this source can be found at: How to Cite FamilySearch Collections