Stonecrest Obituary Death Records

Stonecrest obituary and death records are handled through the DeKalb County vital records system. Stonecrest is one of the newer cities in the metro Atlanta area, located in the southern part of DeKalb County. All death certificate requests for Stonecrest go through the DeKalb County office, since Georgia handles vital records at the county level. Whether you need a recent death certificate or want to look up an older Stonecrest obituary record, the county office and the state DPH system are your main options.

DeKalb County Office for Stonecrest Records

The DeKalb County Vital Records office processes all Stonecrest obituary and death certificate requests. DeKalb County is a large county with several service locations. The main office is in Decatur, the county seat. Stonecrest residents will need to travel to a DeKalb County location to make an in-person request. The cost is $25 for the first certified copy and $5 for each extra copy of the same Stonecrest death record. You must show a valid photo ID and fill out a request form.

DeKalb County also has a Medical Examiner's office that handles certain types of death certificates. If a death in Stonecrest fell under the jurisdiction of the medical examiner, that office may have additional information. Cases involving unattended deaths, accidents, or unclear causes of death typically go through the medical examiner before the death certificate is finalized. For most natural deaths in Stonecrest, the standard DeKalb County vital records office is the right place to go.

Requesting Stonecrest Death Certificates

To request a Stonecrest obituary record in person, visit the DeKalb County Vital Records office in Decatur. Bring a photo ID and fill out the application. Pay the $25 fee. If the record is on file, you can usually get it the same day. Walk-in service is the fastest method for Stonecrest residents. The office accepts cash, money orders, and certified checks. Some DeKalb County locations also take debit and credit cards.

Mail requests work too. Send a completed request form, a copy of your photo ID, and a money order or certified check for $25 to the DeKalb County Vital Records office. Make the payment out to DeKalb County. Mail-in requests for Stonecrest death records take about one to three weeks. The fee is non-refundable because it covers the search, even if the record is not found. Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-15, funeral directors file death certificates within 72 hours of the death, so most Stonecrest obituary records become available within a few weeks.

Eligibility for Stonecrest Death Records

Georgia law under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-26 controls access to death certificates. Certified copies of Stonecrest death records are for people with a direct interest. Spouses, parents, adult children, siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren qualify. So do legal representatives and insurance companies. A certified copy carries the raised seal and registrar signature on security paper.

If you are not in one of those groups, you can still get a Stonecrest obituary record. The informational copy has the Social Security number removed and lacks the raised seal. It still shows the date, place, and cause of death. This is the version used for genealogy, personal research, and general lookups of Stonecrest death records. No family relationship is needed for an informational copy.

Online Options for Stonecrest Obituary Records

You can order a Stonecrest death certificate online through the ROVER system run by the Georgia DPH. This portal handles requests from all Georgia counties, including DeKalb County for Stonecrest. The online fee is $25 plus $8 for processing. It takes 8 to 10 weeks for standard delivery. Rush options cost more but arrive faster.

The Georgia DPH office locator tool helps you find nearby vital records offices if you are unable to get to the main DeKalb County location from Stonecrest.

Use the locator above to find the DeKalb County vital records office or any other county office in Georgia.

The Georgia Archives holds older death records from 1919 through 1943. If you need a Stonecrest-area obituary record from that era, the Archives is a useful resource. The Georgia DPH website has all the forms and fee information needed for death record requests.

The ROVER portal shown above is the state's official tool for ordering Georgia death certificates online, including Stonecrest records.

Legal Framework for Death Records

Georgia statutes that apply to Stonecrest death records include O.C.G.A. § 31-10-23, which covers corrections and amendments to death certificates. If there is an error on a Stonecrest death record, a correction request goes through the Georgia DPH. O.C.G.A. § 31-10-30 lets the State Registrar match birth and death records to flag deceased individuals. DPH Regulation 511-1-3-.36 requires funeral directors to maintain case records. The DPH fee schedule lists all current costs for Stonecrest death record requests.

Nearby Cities

Stonecrest is in the southeastern part of the Atlanta metro area. Several nearby cities also fall within DeKalb County or neighboring counties.