Chatham County Obituary Records

Chatham County obituary and death records are managed by the Chatham County Health Department Vital Records office in Savannah. This is one of the busiest vital records offices in coastal Georgia, serving Savannah and the surrounding area. All in-person services at this office are by appointment only. If you need a Chatham County death certificate, you must call ahead to schedule a visit or use the online and mail options. The office handles death certificates for any death in Georgia from 1919 forward.

Chatham County Health Department Vital Records

The Chatham County Health Department operates the vital records office at 1395 Eisenhower Drive in Savannah. This is the primary place to get Chatham County death certificates in person. One important thing to know: all in-person services are by appointment only. You must call (912) 356-2138 or the toll-free number 1-866-667-3236 to set up a time before you visit. For after-hours questions about disposition permits, call 912-689-4121.

The Chatham County vital records office has specific hours. Monday through Wednesday, the office is open from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM. On Thursday, hours extend to 7:00 PM in the afternoon. Friday hours run from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM. You should arrive at least 30 minutes before closing to allow time for your Chatham County death record request to be processed. The fee is $25 for the first certified copy and $5 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. Cash and money orders are accepted.

How to Search Chatham County Death Records

There are three ways to get Chatham County obituary and death records. Visit the Savannah office by appointment. Order online. Or send a mail request. Each method has the same base fee of $25 for the first copy.

For online orders, VitalChek is the service linked through the Chatham County vital records office. The fee to use VitalChek is $12.50 on top of the $25 certificate fee, making the total $37.50 per copy. You can also use the Georgia ROVER system, which charges $25 plus an $8 processing fee. ROVER takes 8 to 10 weeks for delivery. VitalChek may be faster but costs more. If speed is your top concern for a Chatham County death record, book an appointment at the Eisenhower Drive office.

For mail requests, send your order to: Vital Records, PO Box 14257, Savannah, GA 31416. Include a signed request with your name, address, phone number, and a copy of your photo ID. Add a money order for $25 payable to the Georgia Department of Public Health. List the full name and date of death for the person whose Chatham County death certificate you need. Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-15, all Georgia deaths are registered within 10 days.

Who Can Get Chatham County Death Certificates

Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-26, certified copies of Chatham County death records go to people with a direct and tangible interest. Eligible parties include:

• Spouse of the deceased
• Parents or legal guardian
• Adult children, siblings, grandparents, or grandchildren
• Legal representative of the estate
• Courts by written order or subpoena
• Financial institutions and insurance companies (with written justification as required by Georgia law)

Anyone else who requests a Chatham County death certificate must show a direct and tangible interest and demonstrate a valid reason under Georgia law. A certified copy has a raised seal and registrar signatures on security paper. Non-certified copies, which remove the Social Security number, are available for those without a direct interest. Non-certified copies work for genealogy and general research into Chatham County obituary records.

O.C.G.A. § 31-10-27 makes it a crime to forge or tamper with any vital record in Georgia.

Georgia State Death Record Resources

Beyond the Chatham County vital records office, the Georgia DPH Vital Records state office processes requests from all 159 counties. Their address is 1680 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349. Phone: (404) 679-4702. They accept walk-in, mail, and phone orders for Chatham County death records and all Georgia records.

For historical Chatham County obituary records, the Georgia Archives in Morrow holds death records from 1919 through 1943. The Virtual Vault puts some of these older records online. DPH Regulation 511-1-3 governs vital records maintenance statewide. Funeral homes in the Savannah area must keep detailed records under these rules.

Check the DPH fee schedule for the most current pricing on all vital record types.

The image below shows the Chatham County death records page from the Coastal Health District, where you can find details about the appointment-only service in Savannah.

This page lists the specific hours, phone numbers, and eligibility rules for Chatham County death certificate requests.

Below is the Chatham County vital records office listing from the Georgia DPH, showing the Eisenhower Drive location in Savannah.

Use the DPH listing to confirm hours and get driving directions to the Chatham County vital records office.

Chatham County Death Certificate Details

A Chatham County death certificate contains the full legal name, date of birth, date of death, place of death, and cause of death. The attending physician or medical examiner certifies the cause. The document also records the funeral home and the county of death registration.

Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-30, the state registrar maintains a permanent index of all Georgia death records. This means Chatham County death records are also in the statewide database. If the Savannah office cannot locate a specific record, the state DPH office may be able to help. O.C.G.A. § 31-10-31 allows for delayed registration of deaths not recorded at the time they occurred.

Chatham County is the most populous county on the Georgia coast. Savannah is the county seat and largest city. With nearly 300,000 residents, the county files a significant number of death records each year. The appointment-only system helps the Chatham County vital records office manage this volume efficiently.

Cities in Chatham County

Chatham County includes Savannah and Pooler, both of which have dedicated city pages on this site. Residents of these cities use the Chatham County Health Department for death certificates.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Chatham County. Any Georgia vital records office can issue a death certificate for a death that occurred in the state. If one of these offices is more convenient, you can request your Chatham County death record there.