Search Cobb County Death Records

Cobb County death records are held at the county health department in Marietta. This is one of the most populous counties in Georgia, with more than 760,000 residents spread across cities like Marietta, Smyrna, Kennesaw, and Mableton. The Cobb and Douglas Public Health office serves as the local vital records registrar. You can get a certified copy of a death certificate for any death that took place in Georgia right from their Marietta office. Several ways exist to search for and order death records in Cobb County, and this page walks through each one.

Cobb County Health Department Vital Records

The Cobb and Douglas Public Health office is the main place to get death records in Cobb County. This office sits at 1650 County Services Parkway in Marietta. It handles vital records for both Cobb and Douglas counties. You can walk in, and staff will help you search for a death certificate. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. On the third Wednesday of each month, they open at 9:00 AM instead. Call (770) 514-2337 if you have questions before you go.

One big plus of the Cobb County health department is that it can pull death certificates from any county in Georgia. You do not have to visit the county where the death took place. Under OCGA § 31-10-2, all county vital records offices in Georgia connect to the same state database. So if a family member died in Chatham County but you live in Cobb County, you can get the certificate right here in Marietta.

The Cobb County Health Department page on the DPH site has details on all services they offer, including vital records.

Online appointments are also an option at this office. You can schedule a time to come in so you do not have to wait. This is handy during busy periods. Bring a valid photo ID and your payment when you visit. Cash, money order, and certified checks are all accepted for in-person requests at the Cobb County vital records office.

Note: The Cobb County vital records office may close early on some holidays, so call ahead to confirm hours before your visit.

How to Get Cobb County Death Records

There are three main ways to get a death certificate in Cobb County. You can go in person, order online, or send a request by mail. Each method has its own steps and timeline. In-person is the fastest. Online takes the longest because orders go through the state office in Atlanta.

For walk-in service at the Cobb County health department, bring your photo ID and the name of the person who died. You also need the date of death and the place of death. The clerk will search the state system. If the record is found, you can get a certified copy on the spot. The fee is $25 for the first copy. Each extra copy in the same order costs $5. This is the standard fee set by the Georgia Department of Public Health under OCGA § 31-10-27.

The Cobb County government vital records page gives an overview of what the county offers for records services.

To order online, use the state ROVER system. Go to services.georgia.gov/gta/rover and follow the steps. ROVER charges the $25 fee plus an $8 processing fee. Orders ship from Atlanta. Expect 8 to 10 weeks. That timeline applies to all Georgia death record orders through ROVER, not just Cobb County.

Cobb County Death Records by Mail

You can request a Cobb County death certificate by mail too. Send your request to the state office at: Georgia Department of Public Health, Vital Records, 1680 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349. Include the full name of the person who died, the date and place of death, the number of copies you want, and your link to the person. A copy of your photo ID must be in the envelope.

Pay with a money order or certified check. Make it out to Georgia Department of Public Health. Personal checks are not accepted. Mail requests take 8 to 10 weeks once the state gets your documents and payment. Under OCGA § 31-10-27, fees must be paid before any service is done and they are not given back once the search is complete. If the record is not found, you still get charged.

You can also mail a request straight to the Cobb County health department at 1650 County Services Pkwy, Marietta, GA 30008. This can be faster than going through the state. Call (770) 514-2337 to ask what they need in your letter. Processing times vary at the county level, but it is often quicker than the state route for Cobb County death records.

Note: Requests that stay open for more than one year at the state level get closed, and you would need to start over.

Who Can Get Cobb County Death Certificates

Georgia law sets rules on who can get a certified death certificate. Close family members have full access. This includes the spouse, adult children, parents, adult siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren. Legal reps of the family can also request certified copies. Under OCGA § 31-10-25, the state protects vital records and limits who can see the full details on a death certificate in Cobb County or anywhere else in Georgia.

Anyone can order a plain paper copy of a Cobb County death record. This version has the Social Security number blacked out. It works for general proof or research but it is not certified. Under OCGA § 31-10-26, the state registrar or any local custodian can hand out copies upon written request. You still need a photo ID no matter what type of copy you want.

Insurance companies, attorneys, and other parties with a tangible interest in the record can also get certified copies. They need to show proof of that interest when they make their request at the Cobb County health department or through the state.

Death Certificate Filing in Cobb County

When someone dies in Cobb County, the funeral home files the death certificate. Georgia law under OCGA § 31-10-15 says the funeral director who first takes charge of the body must file the certificate with the county registrar within 72 hours. A doctor must sign it and certify the cause of death. If the cause cannot be found within 48 hours, "pending" goes on the record until the investigation wraps up.

The Cobb County Medical Examiner handles deaths where the cause is not clear. This includes accidents, homicides, suicides, and deaths with no doctor present. The medical examiner's findings go on the death certificate before it is filed. Once the certificate is complete, the county sends it to the state office in Atlanta for permanent storage. From that point on, you can get a copy from either the Cobb County health department or the state.

Amendments to a death certificate in Cobb County cost $10 plus the price of a new certified copy. If the correction is for the current year, there is no charge. Corrections must go through the state office. The DPH Vital Records page has the forms you need for amendments.

Cobb County Death Record Fees

The fee for a certified death certificate in Cobb County is $25. Each additional copy of the same record in the same order costs $5. These are the standard fees set by the state. They apply at the Cobb County health department and through the state office in Atlanta. The DPH fee schedule lists all current costs.

If you order through ROVER, add an $8 processing fee on top. Third-party vendors like VitalChek and GO Certificates charge their own extra fees. Rush service from these vendors costs more but can cut the wait from 8 to 10 weeks down to about 5 business days plus shipping.

You can pay at the Cobb County health department with cash, money order, or certified check for in-person visits. Online orders take credit or debit cards. Fetal death certificates cost $10 in Georgia.

Historical Death Records in Cobb County

The state has death records from 1919 forward. For deaths before that, the Georgia Archives is the best place to look. Some Cobb County deaths were recorded at the local level before the state system began, and the Archives has collected many of those early records. Cobb County was formed in 1832, so some local records may go back that far in scattered form.

The Cobb County Probate Court also keeps some older records that touch on deaths. Estate filings, wills, and guardianship papers can all contain information about when a person died. The probate court sits at 32 Waddell Street in Marietta. These records may help fill in gaps where a formal death certificate does not exist for someone who died in Cobb County before 1919.

Cities in Cobb County

Cobb County has several cities and towns. All death certificates for Cobb County residents go through the county health department in Marietta. No matter which city you live in, you get death records from the same office.

Other communities in Cobb County include Acworth, Austell, and Powder Springs. All death records for these areas are handled by the Cobb and Douglas Public Health office in Marietta.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Cobb County. If you are not sure which county handles your death record, check the address where the death took place. The county of death is listed on the certificate.