Lanier County Death Records

Lanier County obituary and death records are handled by the Lanier County Health Department in Lakeland. This office works as a local agent for the Georgia Department of Public Health and issues certified death certificates for deaths that occurred in Georgia from 1919 to the present. To find a Lanier County death record or get a copy of a death certificate, the health department on West Main Street is where to start. Residents can also order death certificates online through the state system or by mail from the state vital records office in Atlanta. The cost for a first certified copy is $25.

Lanier County Health Department

The Lanier County Health Department is the local vital records office for Lanier County. The staff can help you request death certificates for any death that took place in Georgia. The office is on West Main Street in Lakeland, the Lanier County seat.

Bring a valid photo ID when you visit. The fee is $25 for the first certified copy of a Lanier County death record. Each additional copy costs $5 when ordered at the same time. The office accepts cash and money orders. Walk-in requests are usually handled the same day. Some Lanier County obituary records may take longer if the file must be pulled from state archives. Lanier County is one of the smaller counties in south Georgia, and the health department serves as the central point for all vital records requests in the area. For mail requests, send a completed application with a copy of your ID and a money order payable to the Georgia Department of Public Health.

How to Get Lanier County Death Records

Three main methods exist for getting Lanier County obituary and death records. Walk in at the health department in Lakeland. Order by mail. Or use the state online system. The base fee is $25 regardless of method.

For online requests, the Georgia ROVER system lets you order death certificates from any Georgia county. You need the full name of the deceased, the date of death, and the county where the death took place. ROVER charges $25 plus an $8 processing fee. Standard delivery takes 8 to 10 weeks. If you need a Lanier County death record sooner, visit the health department in Lakeland for same-day service. Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-15, every death in Georgia must be registered within 10 days. The funeral director files the certificate within 72 hours of taking charge of the body. So most Lanier County death records enter the system within two weeks of the death.

Mail orders should go to the Lanier County Health Department or the state office in Atlanta. Include a signed request with your name, address, phone number, and a copy of your photo ID. Add the full name and date of death for the person whose Lanier County record you seek.

Who Can Get Lanier County Death Certificates

Georgia law determines who can receive each type of death certificate. Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-26, certified copies of Lanier County death records are given to people with a direct and tangible interest. That includes the spouse, adult children, parents, siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren of the deceased. Legal representatives and insurance companies also qualify for certified copies of Lanier County death records.

A certified copy has a raised seal and signatures from the State and County Registrar. It is printed on security paper. Banks, courts, and insurance firms need this type. If you lack a direct interest in the Lanier County death record, you can still get a non-certified copy. This version has the Social Security number taken out but still shows the cause, date, and place of death. It works well for genealogy and general research into Lanier County obituary records.

Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-27, forging or tampering with a death certificate is a crime in Georgia. Giving false info on a vital records application is also against the law.

Georgia State Death Record Resources

Beyond the Lanier County Health Department, the state has other places to search. The Georgia DPH Vital Records office in College Park handles requests from all 159 counties. Visit at 1680 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349, or call (404) 679-4702. They process walk-in, mail, and phone orders for Lanier County death records.

For older Lanier County obituary records, the Georgia Archives in Morrow holds death records from 1919 through 1943. These records are also viewable through the Georgia Archives Virtual Vault online. DPH Regulation 511-1-3 governs how vital records are stored across Georgia. Funeral homes must keep their own records of each case under these rules as well.

The DPH fee schedule page lists current costs for all vital record types. Check it before sending payment for a Lanier County death record request, since fees can change.

The image below shows the Lanier County Health Department page on the Georgia DPH website, where you can find contact info and directions for the Lakeland office.

Use this page to confirm hours and get driving directions before visiting the Lanier County office.

Nearby Counties

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