Find Death Records in Bibb County
Bibb County death records are managed by the Health Department in Macon, Georgia. Unlike most Georgia counties where the Probate Court serves as registrar, Bibb County uses its Health Department as the local vital records office. This office can issue certified death certificates for deaths that occurred in Bibb County or anywhere else in the state. Macon has kept death records since 1882, making the Bibb County collection one of the older sets in Georgia. If you need a death certificate for legal use, estate work, or family research, the Health Department on Forsyth Street is the place to start.
Bibb County Quick Facts
Bibb County Health Department Death Records
The Bibb County Health Department at 1600 Forsyth Street in Macon is the registrar for death records in Bibb County. This is part of the North Central Health District. The office can certify birth and death certificates from any county in Georgia, so you don't have to travel to the county where the death happened. Walk in with your photo ID and the details about the person who died, and staff can search the records and print a certified copy.
The Bibb County Health Department listing on the DPH website shows the office as an authorized vital records location.
That listing confirms the office handles death certificate requests for Bibb County and across the state. The fee is $25 for the first copy and $5 for each additional copy of the same record ordered together. Under Georgia Code § 31-10-26, the local registrar issues certified copies when someone fills out a written application. Bibb County has done this since the Health Department took on the registrar role. Staff process most requests while you wait.
Macon began recording deaths back in 1882. That gives Bibb County a head start on many other Georgia counties, where formal records only go back to 1919. If you need a very old death record, the Bibb County Health Department may have it in their local files even if the state office does not.
| Office | Bibb County Health Department |
|---|---|
| Address | 1600 Forsyth Street, Macon, GA 31201 |
| Phone | (478) 749-0102 |
| Type | Health Department (Registrar) |
How to Request Bibb County Death Certificates
Three options exist for getting a death certificate from Bibb County. In-person is the fastest. Go to the Health Department on Forsyth Street with your ID, fill out the request form, and pay. You can usually leave with the certificate the same day. This is the best choice for anyone in the Macon area who needs a Bibb County death record quickly.
Online orders go through ROVER, the state portal. The cost is $25 plus $8 for the processing fee. You pay by credit or debit card. The certificate ships by regular mail and takes 8 to 10 weeks. ROVER works for deaths from any Georgia county, including Bibb. The system is run by the Georgia Technology Authority and the DPH, and it connects to the same statewide database that the Bibb County Health Department uses.
Mail orders go to the state office. Send Form 3912 along with a copy of your ID and a money order or certified check for $25 to the Georgia Department of Public Health, Vital Records, 1680 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349. Under § 31-10-27, fees must be paid before any service is provided. Personal checks are not accepted. Processing takes 8 to 10 weeks for Bibb County death records by mail.
Note: If no record is found, you receive a "not on file" letter and the fee is not refunded.
Access Rules for Bibb County Death Records
Close family members can get full certified copies of Bibb County death records. The law lists the spouse, adult children, parents, siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren as eligible. Legal reps and people with a tangible interest, like insurance companies settling a claim, also qualify. Under § 31-10-25, the state controls who can access certified vital records to protect their integrity while still allowing proper use.
Anyone else can still get Bibb County death records. Public requests result in a plain paper copy with the Social Security number removed. These work for genealogy and general research. They cost the same $25 as a certified copy. The Bibb County Health Department handles both types of requests at the same counter with the same form.
How Death Records Get Filed in Bibb County
When a person dies in Bibb County, the funeral director who takes custody of the body must file the death certificate with the local registrar. Georgia Code § 31-10-15 requires this to happen within 72 hours. The attending doctor or medical examiner fills out the cause of death section, also within 72 hours. If the cause of death cannot be determined that fast, the certificate says "pending" until the final finding is made.
The death certificate then goes to the state office for registration under § 31-10-2, which set up the statewide vital records system. Once registered, the record is in the database and any authorized vital records office in Georgia can issue copies. This is why the Bibb County Health Department can pull death certificates for deaths that happened in other counties. The network makes it easier for families. You don't have to go back to the county where someone died. You can walk into the Bibb County office in Macon and get what you need.
For deaths that require investigation, the coroner or medical examiner handles the certification. The Macon-Bibb County Coroner's Office works with law enforcement and the state medical examiner's office on these cases. The death certificate is still filed through the Health Department once the investigation is complete.
Other Sources for Bibb County Death Records
The Georgia Department of Public Health is the main state agency for vital records. Their office in Atlanta at (404) 679-4702 handles orders by mail, online, and in person. Walk-in hours are Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 4 PM. The state office has death records from 1919 to the present for all Georgia counties, including Bibb.
The Georgia Archives holds older records. For Bibb County deaths before 1919, the Archives may have what you need. The county's own records go back to 1882, but the Archives can help with research across the state. Call (678) 364-3700 to ask about what they have on file for Bibb County.
Cities in Bibb County
Macon is the county seat and the main city in Bibb County. It merged with the county government in 2014 to form Macon-Bibb County. All death records for people who died in this area are handled through the Health Department on Forsyth Street.
Nearby Counties
These counties are next to Bibb County. Each has its own vital records office, but you can also get death records from any of these counties through the Bibb County Health Department in Macon.