Find Savannah Death Records

Savannah death records go through the Chatham County Health Department on Eisenhower Drive. As one of the oldest cities in Georgia, Savannah has death records going all the way back to 1803. That is over 220 years of recorded deaths, far longer than most places in the state. Modern death certificates from 1919 to the present are in the statewide database. For older records, the City of Savannah Municipal Archives holds death registers from 1803 through 1913.

Savannah Death Records at Chatham County

The Chatham County Health Department Vital Records Office handles death certificates for Savannah. The office is at 1395 Eisenhower Drive in Savannah. Call (912) 356-2138 for hours and availability. This is part of the Coastal Health District, which serves several counties along the Georgia coast.

Savannah falls within Chatham County. The county health department is the local registrar under OCGA 31-10-2. Georgia maintains one statewide vital records system, and the Savannah office connects to it. That means you can request a death certificate for a death that happened in any Georgia county, not just Chatham. Walk-in visitors can get same-day copies with a valid photo ID.

The Georgia DPH office locations page lists all vital records offices across the state, including the Chatham County location that serves Savannah.

This page lists the Chatham County Health Department among the statewide vital records office locations. Savannah residents can use it to confirm the address and phone number.

How to Get Death Certificates in Savannah

Savannah residents can get death certificates in person, by mail, or online. The cost starts at $25 for a first copy. Additional copies are $5 each when ordered at the same time.

To visit in person, go to 1395 Eisenhower Drive. Bring a photo ID and know the full name of the deceased, the date of death, and the place of death. The staff searches the state database and prints your copy. Most walk-in visits are handled the same day. Cash, credit, and debit cards are accepted. Personal checks are not.

For a mail request, download Form 3912 from the Georgia DPH site. Send it with a money order or certified check for $25 to 1680 Phoenix Blvd, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349. Plan on 8 to 10 weeks for processing and delivery. All copies ship by first class USPS mail.

Note: If the state cannot find the record you asked for, they send a "not on file" letter. The $25 search fee is not refunded.

Order Savannah Death Records Online

Georgia's ROVER system handles online death certificate orders for Savannah and every other city in the state. The fee is $25 plus $8 for processing. Standard delivery takes 8 to 10 weeks.

VitalChek is another online option. Call 877-572-6343 for phone orders. They add their own service fees. Some faster shipping choices may be available through third-party vendors, though the state processing time does not change. Under OCGA 31-10-27, the state sets all certified copy fees.

Who Can Get Savannah Death Certificates

Georgia limits certified death certificates to people with a direct and tangible interest. Under OCGA 31-10-25, eligible requestors include the spouse, adult children, parents, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, legal representatives, and insurance beneficiaries.

The public can still get a copy. It comes on plain paper with the Social Security number removed. This version is fine for research but does not work for legal purposes. Everyone needs a photo ID when making a request at the Chatham County office.

Historical Death Records in Savannah

Savannah has the oldest death records in Georgia, going back to 1803. Death registers from 1803 through 1913 are held at the City of Savannah Municipal Archives. Many of these early records are also on Ancestry.com, which makes remote research possible. The state database covers deaths from 1919 to the present.

The Georgia Archives in Morrow holds additional historical death records on microfilm. Their number is (678) 364-3700. For Savannah deaths between 1914 and 1918, you may need to check both the city archives and the state archives since that window falls between the end of the city registers and the start of the state system.

Under OCGA 31-10-15, death certificates in Georgia must be filed within ten days of death. Funeral directors file within 72 hours and physicians certify the cause of death. This process has been the standard since 1919 statewide, but Savannah had its own recording system long before that.

Nearby Cities

Savannah is on the Georgia coast. The nearest qualifying cities with death records pages are listed below.