Certified copies of the death certificate are legal documents issued through County and Health Department offices located throughout the State and charged for by the State of Georgia.
Because they are legal documents, it is extremely important that you provide us with the correct information when we prepare the original certificate. Please note that photocopies without the raised seal from the issuing clerk's office are not accepted as legal documents.
After the original death certificate has been signed by the attending physician or medical examiner and completed by us, it is filed with the Probate Court or Health Department in which the death occured. Generally, it takes from 5 to 10 days for the official death certificate to be filed. Certified death certificates can then be issued.
The statewide fee for certified copies of death certificates is $25 for the first and $5 for each additional copy.
In Georgia, death certificates are not public records. By law, only immediate family members and other interested legal parties such as attorneys and funeral homes can obtain death certificates.
In order to assist you in ascertaining the number of certified copies needed, we have provided a worksheet listing some areas requiring this document:
# NEEDED
Purpose Needed
__________
Life Insurance Policy (ies)
__________
Pension, IRA and Other Benefits
__________
Accounts at Banks and Credit Unions
__________
Stocks and Bonds
__________
Union Benefits
__________
Title and Deeds to Property
__________
Vehicle Registration and Title Changes
__________
Attorneys and CPA
__________
Home Mortgage(s)
__________
Other Insurance (Credit Cards, Automobile)
__________
For Your Own Records
___________
Other
__________
Total Number Needed
Veteran Benefits
Veteran's Benefits
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) purpose is to administer the laws providing benefits and other services to veterans and their dependents and to the beneficiaries of veterans.
Information about a Veteran's Burial and Memorial benefits can be found at the Department of Veterans Affairs' web site: http://www.va.gov/. To ensure the most accurate information, Williams Funeral Home suggests you call or visit your regional Veterans Affairs Office. To reach the regional Veterans Affairs Office in your area, call 1-800-827-1000.
If you can't locate your DD214 or discharge, go here for help
We will notify the Social Security Administration of the death. We will explain and help you apply for any benefits you may be entitled to through Social Security. http://www.ssa.gov/
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Insurance Service
Many families choose to fund a funeral with the proceeds of a life insurance claim. Our staff will assist with the filing of life insurance claims for any family we serve.
IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO LOCATE A POLICY When someone dies, family members often remember previous discussions of life insurance, but can't find the policy or any record of it. Now, there's a way to track down a lost or misplaced life insurance policy, FOR FREE.
Write to: Policy Search,Dept.of the American Council of Life Insurance, 1001 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20004 (1-202-624-2000).
Include as many details as you can, such as: social security number, date of birth, place of residence, and maiden name (if appropriate), etc.
The council will send this information to 150 insurance companies to check if they issued a policy to such a person.
Veterans Life Insurance
Contact the Veterans Service Officer for G.I. Insurance, 1-800-669-8477. Office of Federal Group Life Insurance: 4 East 24th St., New York, NY 10001 Ask for Form FE6 Claim for Death Benefits
State Employees Retirement System
We contact them for you. They notify the beneficiary in 7 to 10 days with a claim form and letter outlining benefits. We will complete this form for you, notarize your signature and return with a certified death certificate.
Certified copies of the death certificate are legal documents issued through County and Health Department offices located throughout the State and charged for by the State of Georgia.