Free links to official Georgia state and county government records — courts, criminal histories, vital records, property, voter, business, and licenses across all 159 counties.
How to Get Georgia Vital Records (Start Here)
Vital records in Georgia — birth certificates, death certificates, marriage records, and divorce records — are handled at the state level by Georgia DPH Vital Records. Marriage licenses are issued locally by the Probate Court Judge.
What this page covers: Georgia vital record ordering, eligibility requirements, and related databases. What it does not cover: Genealogy records older than the state vital records system (check the Genealogy Resources page for historical records).
Where to start: For certified copies of birth or death certificates, contact Georgia DPH Vital Records. For marriage licenses, contact the Probate Court Judge in the county where the ceremony will occur. For divorce records, contact the court that granted the decree.
Common mistake: Birth and death certificates, marriage licenses, and divorce decrees come from different offices. Do not assume one office handles all vital records.
Edited by Sam Rokni — Editor & Owner, SearchSystems.net. Public records professional since 1999. NAPBS founding member. Full bio & credentials.
Last reviewed: June 04, 2026 · Methodology: Georgia vital records URL verified against the official state publisher at dph.georgia.gov on the review date. 7 primary .gov sources cited below.
Georgia Vital Records — Key Facts (2026)
Birth, death, marriage, and divorce records for Georgia — who can request, how to order, and what 2026 changed.
State-only
Issuing authority
Not federal
Restricted
Birth/death access
Usually self + family
75-125 yr
When records become public
Genealogy threshold
VitalChek
3rd-party portal
Used by many states
CDC NVSS
National statistics
Data only, no certificates
Who can request a Georgia vital record
The person named
100%
Parent of subject
100%
Spouse of subject
90%
Adult child
90%
Legal representative
80%
General public (recent)
10%
General public (historical 75+yr)
95%
Unit: % likely to receive a certified copy.
What Changed in 2026 — Georgia Vital Records
2026
Georgia vital records portal active
The official Georgia portal at dph.georgia.gov continues to serve as the canonical entry point for vital records in 2026.
For 2026, Georgia continues to publish vital records information through state-authorized portals; check dph.georgia.gov for current fees and processing times.
Federal record types (federal liens, federal land, federal vital statistics) continue to live OUTSIDE Georgia's state portal — see the Primary Sources below for additional official portals.
Known by several names over time (including Summerville Cemetery, Summerville Colored Cemetery, and The Hill Cemetery ) this burial ground serves the Sand Hills and Summer Hill communities on Augusta’s hill. According to local tradition and surviving documents, a group of African American ...
Description: The Vital Records Database is an index of births, marriages, deaths and other significant announcements printed in the Augusta Chronicle newspaper . The time period covered is 1982 - 2008 (some records from 1981 are available).
On November 19, 2025, Live Oak Public Libraries Effingham County Library Board voted unanimously to separate the Rincon and Springfield branch libraries from the LOPL regional system. The separation is expected to be finalized by July 1, 2026. We will continue to update the community on next steps as this transition occurs. As Georgia residents, you will always be welcome to borrow materials and resources from Live Oak Public Libraries and to visit any of our branches in Chatham ...
This website contains searchable indexes to over 63,000 graves and over 1,100 cemeteries in Baldwin, Hancock, Jones, Washington and Wilkinson Counties , Georgia. Click on the links at the left or on the desired area on the map to go to the cemetery listings. This website is made possible by ...
All Douglas County burial records can now be found on Find a Grave . This website also contains genealogical links, photographs, and additional information. Find a Grave ’s mission is to find, record and present final disposition information from around the world as a virtual cemetery experience.
Twiggs County vital records can be found at the Georgia Department of Health which has copies for copies of birth and death records since Jan 1919, copies of marriage since June 9, 1952 to 1996 and a Divorce records index since June 9, 1952.
State of Georgia government websites and email systems use “georgia.gov” or “ga.gov” at the end of the address. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure you’re on an official state website. ... Call 1-800-GEORGIA to verify that a website is an official website of the State of Georgia. ... Register, preserve, amend, and certify all Georgia vital events.
This site will link to our open data plus links to various publicly available applications, our PDF maps, and the survey to remove public information at the request of a citizen who has arrest power.
159 Georgia counties are indexed on SearchSystems.net — top 28 counties shown below. Browse the full directory or click any county for local court, sheriff, recorder and assessor links.
Certified birth certificates for events in Georgia are issued by the Official Georgia Vital Records at dph.georgia.gov. Requests can be made by mail, in person, or (in most cases) online through the state's authorized vendor. The county of registration may also be able to issue certified copies for recent local events.
How do I get a Georgia death certificate?▼
Georgia death certificates are issued by the Official Georgia Vital Records; eligibility (next of kin, executor, legal representative) and ID documentation requirements are listed at dph.georgia.gov. For deaths within the last year, the county clerk or local registrar where the death occurred can often issue a copy more quickly.
Can I look up a Georgia marriage or divorce record online?▼
Georgia marriage and divorce records are not generally available in a free, name-searchable online index. The Official Georgia Vital Records (dph.georgia.gov) handles certified copies; the underlying license/decree is filed with the county clerk or court that issued it, which is also a primary search point.
How long does it take to get a Georgia vital record?▼
Standard Georgia vital-record processing times vary from a few business days (in-person same-day at some county clerks) to several weeks for mailed requests. The Official Georgia Vital Records publishes current turnaround times at dph.georgia.gov. Expedited processing is usually available for an additional fee.
What ID do I need to order a Georgia certified vital record?▼
The Official Georgia Vital Records requires government-issued photo identification (driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID) and proof of your relationship to the record holder, if applicable. The full list of acceptable ID and supporting documents is published at dph.georgia.gov.
