DeKalb County Obituary Records

DeKalb County obituary and death records are managed by the DeKalb County Health Department in Decatur. As a local agent for the Georgia Department of Public Health, this office issues certified death certificates for deaths that occurred anywhere in Georgia from 1919 to the present. DeKalb County is one of the most populous counties in the state, located just east of Atlanta. If you need a death certificate or want to search for an obituary record in DeKalb County, the health department on Winn Way in Decatur is your primary local resource. Online and mail ordering are also available through the state.

DeKalb County Health Department

The DeKalb County Health Department handles vital records requests for this large metro Atlanta county. The office on Winn Way in Decatur can issue certified death certificates for any death that occurred in Georgia. Given DeKalb County's size, this office processes a high volume of death record requests. Walk-in service is available, and it is the quickest way to get a DeKalb County death certificate.

You need a valid photo ID when you visit in person. The fee is $25 for the first certified copy. Each additional copy of the same DeKalb County death record costs $5 when ordered at the same time. The office accepts cash and money orders. Walk-in requests are typically processed the same day, though busy periods may add some wait time. For mail orders, send a completed application, a copy of your ID, and a money order payable to the Georgia Department of Public Health. Include the full name and date of death for the person whose DeKalb County death record you need. Given the county's population, staff suggest calling ahead to check wait times on busy days.

DeKalb County is large enough that you may also find satellite health department locations. However, the Winn Way office in Decatur is the main site for vital records.

DeKalb County Medical Examiner

DeKalb County has its own Medical Examiner's Office, which plays a role in the death certificate process for certain types of deaths. A death certificate is an official document issued by the government that serves as legal proof of death. It is needed for settling the estate of the deceased person. In cases where the medical examiner investigates a death in DeKalb County, the process for completing the certificate may take longer than usual. Some cases need more investigation and additional testing, which can delay things.

One thing to know: the DeKalb County Medical Examiner's office does not provide copies of death certificates directly. You get certified copies through the funeral home that handled the final arrangements, the Georgia Vital Records Office, or through VitalChek. The medical examiner's role is to determine the cause and manner of death for cases under their jurisdiction. Once that determination is made, the information goes on the death certificate and it enters the vital records system. For DeKalb County obituary records where the medical examiner was involved, the process typically takes several weeks to complete.

The medical examiner's office recommends that families secure 10 to 20 certified copies of the death certificate. This advice makes sense for DeKalb County residents because you often need multiple copies to settle an estate, close bank accounts, file insurance claims, and handle property transfers. Ordering extra copies up front saves time and money since additional copies are only $5 each when ordered at the same time as the first.

How to Search DeKalb County Death Records

You have three main options for getting DeKalb County obituary and death records. Walk into the health department in Decatur for same-day processing. Order online through the state system. Or send a mail request. The base fee is $25 for the first certified copy of a DeKalb County death record.

The Georgia ROVER system handles online death certificate orders for all Georgia counties, including DeKalb. You need the full name of the deceased, the date of death, and the county where the death took place. ROVER charges the $25 state fee plus an $8 processing fee. Standard delivery takes 8 to 10 weeks. For a faster turnaround on a DeKalb County death record, visit the health department in Decatur. Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-15, every death in Georgia must be registered within 10 days. The funeral director files the death certificate within 72 hours of taking charge of the body. So most DeKalb County death records enter the system within two weeks of the date of death.

Mail orders should include a signed request, your name, address, phone number, a copy of your photo ID, and a money order for $25. Send it to the DeKalb County Health Department or the Georgia DPH office at 1680 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349.

Who Can Get DeKalb County Death Certificates

Georgia law sets rules on who can get certified death certificates. Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-26, certified copies of DeKalb County death records are available to people with a direct and tangible interest. This means the spouse, adult children, parents, siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren of the deceased. Legal representatives and insurance companies with a financial interest also qualify.

A certified copy has a raised seal and signatures from the State and County Registrar. It comes on security paper. Banks, courts, and insurance firms need this type. If you do not have a direct interest in a DeKalb County death record, you can still get a non-certified copy. The non-certified version has the Social Security number removed but still shows the cause, date, and place of death. This works for genealogy work and general research into DeKalb County obituary records. O.C.G.A. § 31-10-27 makes it a crime to forge or tamper with any vital record in Georgia, and O.C.G.A. § 31-10-31 sets penalties for providing false information on a vital records request.

Georgia State Death Record Resources

Beyond the DeKalb County Health Department, the state has several other resources. The Georgia DPH Vital Records office at 1680 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349 handles requests from all 159 counties. Call (404) 679-4702 for details. Since DeKalb County is right next to Atlanta, the state office is a convenient alternative for many DeKalb residents.

For historical DeKalb County obituary records, the Georgia Archives in Morrow holds death records from 1919 through 1943. The Virtual Vault offers online access to some of these older files. DPH Regulation 511-1-3 governs how vital records are stored and maintained across Georgia. Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-30, the State Registrar can match birth and death certificates to prevent identity fraud by marking the birth record of a deceased person.

The DPH fee schedule page shows current costs for all vital record types. Always confirm fees before sending payment for a DeKalb County death record request.

The image below shows the DeKalb County Health Department page on the Georgia DPH website, where you can find contact information for the Decatur office.

Check this page for office hours and directions before you visit.

The screenshot below shows the DeKalb County Medical Examiner's page with information about death certificates and how the process works for cases investigated by the medical examiner.

This page includes the recommendation to secure 10 to 20 certified copies for estate purposes.

Cities in DeKalb County

DeKalb County has several cities with their own pages on this site. All of them use the DeKalb County Health Department in Decatur for obituary and death records. The county seat is Decatur, but many of the larger cities are incorporated communities within the county.

Nearby Counties

These counties border DeKalb County. Any Georgia county vital records office can issue a death certificate for a death that happened anywhere in the state. If you live closer to one of these offices, you can request your record there.