Georgia
Georgia Birth Certificate: Fees, Who Can Order and How to Get One
Independently fact-checked against primary sources (last audited October 8, 2026). · 9 primary sources cited on this page. How we verify our legal content
The Georgia Department of Public Health's State Office of Vital Records (SOVR) and county vital records offices issue certified Georgia birth certificates. The Department of Public Health fee is $25.00 for a certified copy plus $5.00 for additional copies. You can order online through a state-approved vendor, by mail, or in person, but generally only if you are the person named, a close relative or a legal representative.
Information last verified on October 6, 2026. This article has not been reviewed by a licensed lawyer.
This guide covers births that took place in Georgia: who may order a certified copy, what it costs, how long each route takes and how to correct or amend the record. If you were born in another state, start with our guide to birth certificates by state, because each state's vital records office holds its own births.
Where to get a Georgia birth certificate
The Department of Public Health (DPH) says you may request a certified copy of a birth certificate from your local county office or the State Office of Vital Records, in person or by mail (DPH birth records page). You can also order online through one of the state's approved vendors.
The State Office of Vital Records is at:
1680 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349
County vital records offices are run by county health departments and probate courts. DPH lists them on its Find a Vital Records Office directory. The DPH pages we reviewed do not say whether every county office can issue a certificate for a birth in any Georgia county, or whether county offices charge the state fee, so call the county office before you go.
What only the State Office handles
County offices handle regular-service requests for birth, death and marriage certificates. DPH sends certain work to the State Office, including amendments, delayed birth certificates, home birth packets, foreign adoptions and putative father matters (DPH mail ordering page). If you need to change a record rather than just get a copy, plan on dealing with the State Office.
Who can order a Georgia birth certificate
Georgia is a closed-record state for birth certificates. DPH says birth certificates are only issued to applicants with a direct and tangible interest in the registrant, meaning immediate family members and legal representatives of the family, citing O.C.G.A. 31-10-26.
DPH lists these eligible applicants:
- The registrant (the person named on the certificate)
- The registrant's legal spouse
- Parents named on the certificate
- Grandparents
- Adult children
- Adult siblings
- Legal guardians or legal representatives
Georgia's disclosure rule (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 511-1-3-.33) also allows a person who has applied in good faith to become a legal guardian, and a person who shows a certified copy is needed to establish a legal right or claim.
What each applicant must show
DPH requires proof of the relationship, not just a statement of it:
| Applicant | What DPH asks for |
|---|---|
| Registrant | Valid physical government-issued photo ID |
| Parent | Valid photo ID; you must be listed as a parent on the certificate |
| Grandparent | The birth certificate of the registrant's parent |
| Adult child or adult sibling | Your own birth certificate listing the same parent, plus valid photo ID |
| Spouse | A copy of the marriage certificate, a photocopy of the spouse's signature and a notarized letter from the spouse giving permission |
| Legal guardian | A certified court order establishing guardianship |
| Attorney | A notarized letter on letterhead signed by the attorney, with bar number, stating the reason for the request and whom the attorney represents (must be an immediate family member), plus supporting documentation; in an adoption, a notarized release from the biological mother |
DPH states that it does not accept electronic or digital forms of identification. A valid physical government-issued photo ID is required for verification (DPH online ordering page).
Because Georgia restricts who can get a certified birth certificate, certified copies are not open to the general public, though anyone may get a plain paper copy of a birth more than 100 years old or of a deceased registrant (see the older records section below). For how this compares with other states, see are birth certificates public records.
How to order
Online
DPH says you can request certified copies online through one of its approved third-party vendors: GO Certificates, ROVER and VitalChek. ROVER is the State of Georgia's own portal. The online order asks for your current state-issued driver's license or ID, Social Security number, date of birth and address.
On ROVER, DPH says you pay a nonrefundable $25 per certified copy plus $8 for processing. The DPH pages we reviewed do not state the fees GO Certificates or VitalChek charge on top of the certificate fee, so compare totals at checkout. Start from the DPH online ordering page rather than a search result, so you land on an approved vendor and not a lookalike site.
Online orders can add expedited FedEx shipping for $16 per order. DPH is explicit that expedited shipping applies only to delivery time and does not reduce the standard processing time, which is up to 10 weeks.
By mail
You can mail a request either to your county vital records office (regular service) or to the State Office of Vital Records at 1680 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349. Payment must be a money order or cashier's check; DPH does not accept personal checks.
DPH says regular State Office orders are shipped within up to 10 weeks. It also warns that requests open for more than one year are automatically closed in its system, and you would have to resubmit with payment.
In person
You can apply in person at a county vital records office or at the State Office. For walk-in service, DPH accepts credit and debit cards and cash, as well as certified checks and money orders. Personal checks are not accepted. The DPH pages we reviewed do not list State Office walk-in hours or say whether appointments are required, so check before you travel.
How much a Georgia birth certificate costs
DPH's fee schedule (page last updated March 11, 2026) lists these birth-related fees:
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Certified birth certificate | $25.00 |
| Additional copies | $5.00 |
| ROVER online processing fee | $8 |
| Expedited FedEx shipping (online orders only, per order) | $16 |
| Amendment | $10.00 plus the cost of the certificate |
| Correction within one year of the child's birthday | Free |
| Certified copy of a paternity acknowledgement | $10.00, plus $10.00 for each additional copy |
Check your application carefully before paying. DPH says that if the record is not found, a not-on-file letter is issued, and fees are not refunded after the service is performed.
DPH did not publish a fee for a delayed birth certificate on the pages we reviewed.
How long it takes
DPH publishes one processing estimate for State Office orders: up to 10 weeks, whether you order online or by mail. Expedited FedEx shipping shortens only the delivery leg.
| Route | Published estimate |
|---|---|
| Online order | Up to 10 weeks processing; FedEx shipping ($16) shortens delivery only |
| Mail to the State Office | Shipped within up to 10 weeks |
| County office or walk-in | DPH does not publish a time |
These are estimates, not promises. For emergency or urgent travel, DPH says to visit your nearest vital records office; it does not handle same-day cruise rush requests.
Using a Georgia birth certificate
For a U.S. passport, federal rules say a birth certificate must show your full name, date and place of birth and your parents' full names, be signed by the official custodian, bear the issuing office's seal and show a filing date within one year of birth (22 CFR 51.42). For REAL ID, the federal rule lists a certified copy of a birth certificate filed with the state vital statistics office in your state of birth as an acceptable identity document (6 CFR 37.11).
The DPH pages we reviewed do not describe separate short-form and long-form birth certificates, so if an agency asks for a particular format, confirm with the State Office what it issues.
For use in another country, federal guidance says a vital record issued by a state needs an apostille from that state's secretary of state, not from the U.S. Department of State (USA.gov).
New parents should note that DPH says newborn birth certificates are not automatically mailed to parents. You need to request one through any of the routes above.
Correcting or amending a Georgia birth certificate
The State Office of Vital Records handles two kinds of changes, and which one applies depends on the child's age.
Current year corrections (within one year)
DPH defines current year corrections as corrections made to the certificate within one year of the child's birthday. There is no charge, and the correction is made by affidavit.
General amendments (after age one)
After the first year, changes are general amendments. DPH lists five reasons: a legal name change, an adoption, a legitimation, adding a spouse, or a paternity acknowledgement. The forms DPH names for this work are:
| Form | Use |
|---|---|
| Form 3977 | Affidavit for Amendment |
| Affidavit for Adding a Spouse (no form number shown) | Adding a spouse |
| Form 3927 | Adoption |
| Form 3929 | Legitimation |
| Form 3940 | Paternity acknowledgement |
An amendment costs $10.00 plus the cost of the certificate. When the amendment requires a court order, DPH needs the original order or a sealed certified copy, and it stays on file with the State Office.
Paternity and legitimation
DPH handles a paternity acknowledgement (Form 3940) and a legitimation (Form 3929) as general amendments at the State Office. A certified copy of a paternity acknowledgement costs $10.00. Ask the State Office which documents your situation requires before you file.
Legal name change
A court-ordered name change goes onto the birth certificate as a general amendment, with the certified court order. Getting the order itself is a court process, covered in our guide to Georgia name change laws.
Sex designation
The DPH pages in our research do not address changing the sex marker on a Georgia birth certificate. Contact the State Office of Vital Records for its current requirements before you apply.
Births never registered
A birth record created after the child's first birthday is a delayed birth certificate. DPH says the State Office handles these by mail, and its forms include a Delayed Certificate of Birth and a Court Ordered Delayed Certificate of Birth. The DPH pages we reviewed do not list the evidence required or the fee, so contact the State Office before you file.
Adoption and the original birth certificate
After an adoption, an amended certificate is issued through the State Office using Form 3927. Under Senate Bill 100 (Andee's Law), effective July 1, 2025, adults born in Georgia may request an uncertified copy of their original birth certificate. Who qualifies and how to apply are covered in our guide to Georgia adoption records.
Older records and genealogy
The State Office of Vital Records holds birth records from January 1919 to the present. For a birth before 1919, DPH says to contact the county where the birth occurred or the Georgia Archives.
Certified copies of births from 1919 on stay limited to the eligible applicants above. Under the Department of Public Health's disclosure rule (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 511-1-3-.33), anyone may get a plain paper copy of a birth certificate for a birth more than 100 years before the request, or for a registrant whose death can be verified (the copy is marked deceased). Ask the State Office how to request one.
This article provides general legal information about Georgia birth certificates, not legal advice. Fees, forms and procedures change, so confirm with the Georgia Department of Public Health, State Office of Vital Records, or your county vital records office before ordering. Information verified October 6, 2026.
Related
- Birth certificates by state
- Are birth certificates public records?
- Georgia adoption records
- Georgia name change laws
Last updated: October 6, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a birth certificate in Georgia?
The Department of Public Health fee is $25.00 for a certified copy plus $5.00 for additional copies. DPH's ROVER instructions say you pay a nonrefundable $25 per certified copy plus $8 for processing, so check the per-copy total at checkout.
Who can get a copy of a Georgia birth certificate?
DPH issues them to applicants with a direct and tangible interest: the registrant, a legal spouse, parents named on the certificate, grandparents, adult children, adult siblings, and legal guardians or representatives (O.C.G.A. 31-10-26, as cited by DPH). Each must show the proof DPH lists. Georgia's disclosure rule also allows a person who has applied in good faith to become a legal guardian, and a person who shows a certified copy is needed to establish a legal right or claim.
How long does it take to get a Georgia birth certificate?
DPH says State Office orders, online or by mail, can take up to 10 weeks. Expedited FedEx shipping ($16 per order, online only) shortens delivery, not processing.
Can I get a Georgia birth certificate at the county office?
Yes. DPH says you may request a certified copy from your local county office or the State Office of Vital Records, in person or by mail. County offices are listed on DPH's Find a Vital Records Office page.
What ID do I need for a Georgia birth certificate?
A valid physical government-issued photo ID. DPH does not accept electronic or digital IDs, and relatives other than parents must also show relationship documents.
How do I correct a birth certificate in Georgia?
Corrections within one year of the child's birthday are free. After that, changes are general amendments at the State Office, costing $10.00 plus the cost of the certificate.
Where can I find a Georgia birth record from before 1919?
The State Office holds births from January 1919 on. For earlier births, DPH says to contact the county where the birth occurred or the Georgia Archives.
Updates
Independently fact-checked against the cited primary sources
The Law Behind This Article
This article rests on the statutory provisions below, held in our own legal record and retrieved from the official source. Tap a section to read the operative text.
Official Code of Georgia Annotated
§ 31-10-26Issuance of certified copies of vital records, voluntary acknowledgments of paternity, voluntary acknowledgments of legitimation; certificates; use for statistical purposes; transmittal of records out of state; use for commercial or speculative purposes.In forcecited in 4 of our articles
(a) In accordance with Code Section 31-10-25 and the regulations adopted pursuant thereto: (1) The state registrar or local custodian, upon receipt of a written application, shall issue: (A) A certified copy of a vital record in that registrar's or custodian's custody or abstract thereof to any a
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-09-04 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.ga.gov
Cited in 2 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2025
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Scott v. State (Supreme Court of Georgia 2025, 321 Ga. 701)“…62 (261 SE2d 485) (1979), which relied on a predecessor to OCGA § 31-10-26. See King, 151 Ga. App. at 762-763. Be…”
- Sherrer v. Lynn (Court of Appeals of Georgia 1984, 172 Ga. App. 745)“…sis supplied; quoted language is identical to that found in OCGA § 31-10-26 (b), formerly OCGA § 31-10-14 (b)). Alt…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: How to Find a Cause of Death in Georgia (2026), Georgia Death Records: Are They Public and How to Get Them, How to Get a Georgia Death Certificate (2026)
Search our full record of US law — 2.1 million sections, every state + federal →
Sources and References
- Georgia Department of Public Health: Birth Records(dph.georgia.gov).gov
- Georgia Department of Public Health: Find a Vital Records Office(dph.georgia.gov).gov
- Georgia Department of Public Health: How to Order Birth and Death Records by Mail(dph.georgia.gov).gov
- O.C.G.A. 31-10-26 (disclosure of vital records)(law.justia.com)
- Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 511-1-3-.33: Disclosure of Vital Records and Information (Cornell LII copy)(law.cornell.edu)
- Georgia Department of Public Health: How to Order Birth and Death Records Online(dph.georgia.gov).gov
- Georgia Department of Public Health: Vital Records Fees(dph.georgia.gov).gov
- 22 CFR 51.42: Persons born in the United States applying for a passport for the first time (eCFR)(ecfr.gov).gov
- 6 CFR 37.11: REAL ID application documents (eCFR)(ecfr.gov).gov
- USA.gov: Authenticate an official document for use outside the U.S.(usa.gov).gov
- Georgia Department of Public Health: State Office of Vital Records location(dph.georgia.gov).gov