Kennesaw Death Record Search

Kennesaw obituary and death records go through the Cobb and Douglas Public Health office. Kennesaw is in the northern part of Cobb County, one of the most populous counties in Georgia. The Cobb and Douglas Public Health agency serves as the local registrar for the Georgia Department of Public Health and issues certified death certificates for deaths that took place in Georgia from 1919 to the present. If you need to find a Kennesaw death record, the county health department is the main local source.

Cobb County Vital Records for Kennesaw

The Cobb and Douglas Public Health office handles obituary and death records for Kennesaw and all of Cobb County. This agency is the local registrar for the Georgia DPH. It can issue certified death certificates for deaths that happened anywhere in Georgia from 1919 to the present. Cobb County is one of the larger counties in the metro Atlanta area, so the office handles a high volume of requests.

The fee for a Kennesaw death certificate is $25 for the first certified copy. Each extra copy of the same record costs $5 when ordered at the same time. This is the standard Georgia rate. The $25 is a non-refundable search fee. If the record is found, you get one certified copy included. You need a valid photo ID and the full name and approximate date of death for the person you are looking for. Walk-in service is available during business hours at the Cobb and Douglas Public Health office. Same-day service is typical for records in the system.

How to Get Kennesaw Death Records

There are several ways to get a Kennesaw obituary or death record. You can walk into the Cobb and Douglas Public Health office in Marietta for same-day service. Bring your photo ID and $25 in payment. You can also mail a request with a completed application, a copy of your ID, and a money order. Send it to the Cobb and Douglas Public Health office. Mail orders typically take 2 to 4 weeks. Personal checks are not accepted at most Georgia vital records offices.

The ROVER online system is an option too. ROVER costs $25 plus an $8 processing fee and takes 8 to 10 weeks for standard delivery. It is slower than visiting the office in person, but it works well if you are not in the Kennesaw area. You can order a Kennesaw death record from anywhere through ROVER.

The DPH office locator below helps you find the closest vital records office to your location.

This tool from the Georgia DPH lets you search by zip code or city name.

Who Can Get a Kennesaw Death Certificate

Georgia law limits who can get a certified death certificate. Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-26, certified copies are for people with a direct and tangible interest in the record. That includes the legal spouse, adult children, parents, adult siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, and legal representatives. Insurance companies with a legitimate financial interest qualify too. You must prove your relationship when you request a Kennesaw death record.

A certified copy has an embossed seal and the signatures of both the State and County Registrar. It is printed on security paper. This is what banks, courts, and insurance companies accept. If you are not an eligible party, you can still get a Kennesaw obituary record. The public version is a plain paper copy with the Social Security number removed. It shows the cause of death, the date, and the place. It works for genealogy and general research.

Historical Kennesaw Obituary Records

Georgia's statewide death registration started in 1919. The Cobb and Douglas Public Health office can issue death certificates for Kennesaw deaths from that year forward. For deaths before 1919, records are scarce. Some may exist in church records, old newspapers, or early county files. The Georgia Archives in Morrow holds death certificates from 1919 through 1943 that can be searched in person or through the online Virtual Vault.

Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-27, the state keeps death records indefinitely. Old Kennesaw death records from the early 1900s should still be available. Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-15, every death in Georgia must be registered with the local registrar within 10 days. The funeral director files the certificate within 72 hours. Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-30, the State Registrar can match birth and death records to prevent identity fraud. These rules have kept the system reliable for over a century.

Georgia State Resources

If the Cobb County office cannot help with your Kennesaw obituary search, the state has other options. The Georgia DPH Vital Records office at 1680 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349 handles statewide requests. Call (404) 679-4702 for help. The state fee schedule is $25 for the first copy. Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-31, these fees cover the cost of maintaining Georgia's vital records system.

The ROVER portal shown below is the state's online ordering system for death certificates.

ROVER handles orders for any Georgia death record. It is not limited to Kennesaw or Cobb County.

Nearby Cities

These cities near Kennesaw also have obituary and death record pages. Marietta and Smyrna are also in Cobb County.