Losing vital records is one of the worst feelings, but there are things you can do to remedy the situation. If you’ve recently misplaced your Georgia birth certificate, here’s what you can do to get a new one so you don’t have to worry.
Who Handles Georgia Birth Certificates?
In the state of Georgia, the Department of Public Health manages all birth and death certificates. In addition to this, the Department of Public Health also holds marriage records from 1952 to 1996. If you misplace your birth certificate, the first thing you should do is contact the Georgia Department of Public Health or visit the State of Georgia’s online service ROVER.
Important Notes
While the process of getting a replacement Georgia birth certificate is fairly simple, there are some things you should know before you get started. For starters, only you, an immediate family member or a legal representative of yours can request a birth or death certificate. In addition to this, you’ll have to pay a small fee to get a replacement birth certificate. The fee for birth and death certificates is $25, which gets you one certified copy of your record of choice. This certified copy can be used for anything you need your birth certificate for as it’s issued by the state.
Getting a Copy
If you currently have your birth certificate and simply want copies so you don’t have to worry about losing it, the process is pretty much the same. All you need to do is get in touch with the Department of Public Health and let them know what types of records you need. After that, you can pay the same small fee to get as many copies as you need.
How Long Does It Take?
The amount of time it takes to receive a certified copy of your birth certificate depends on a few different things, primarily how you choose to request your records. If you decide to request a birth certificate through the online system, you can expect to receive your copy in 2-4 weeks. However, you can get a copy of your birth certificate in as little as 5 business days if you place an expedited order. If you opt to mail in a form to request a replacement birth certificate, expect to wait between 8-10 weeks to receive your birth certificate in the mail.
Losing vital records is not the best, but it’s not the end of the world. As long as you know the processes you need to go through to get a replacement birth certificate, all it takes is a small fee and a few weeks.
