Vital records are restricted documents; only authorized individuals may request certified copies. Incomplete submissions may delay processing. Court staff cannot provide legal advice regarding eligibility.
• Certified copies of vital records (including birth and death certificates) may be requested in person or online, subject to eligibility requirements under Georgia law.
• Make sure you’re eligible. Only individuals with specific qualifying relationships to the person named on the record can receive a birth or death certificate.
• Individuals eligible to order a birth certificate include:
• Individuals eligible to order a death certificate include:
• Members of the public may also order the death record of anyone who has died in Georgia and will receive plain paper copies of the record with the Social Security number redacted.
Visit the Lanier County Probate Court during regular business hours with:
To submit a request electronically:
• Complete and sign the Vital Records Request Form.
• Submit the form electronically by emailing it to:
• Please include the following with your request:
Acceptable photo identification includes: Georgia driver’s license or ID card (expired no more than one year), Georgia Weapons Carry License, U.S. or foreign passport, military ID, consulate card, TWIC card, qualifying school ID, or other valid government-issued photo identification.
Additional documentation may be required depending on your relationship to the decedent, such as proof of relationship, a marriage certificate, guardianship documents, attorney authorization, or other documentation required by the Georgia Department of Public Health.
Requests are processed in the order they are received. Once your request is received, a clerk will contact you at the phone number provided to complete payment and finalize processing.
Birth certificates are vital records maintained by the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH).
Certain corrections may be completed administratively through Vital Records; others require a court order pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 31-10-23. Court staff cannot provide legal advice regarding eligibility or required documentation. Submission of a petition does not guarantee approval.
Certain errors on a Georgia birth certificate may be corrected administratively through the Georgia Department of Public Health, State Office of Vital Records, without the need for a court order. Administrative corrections are generally limited to minor errors such as typographical mistakes, misspellings, or other non-substantive inaccuracies, provided acceptable supporting documentation is submitted.
Requests for administrative corrections must be submitted directly to the Georgia Department of Public Health, Vital Records Office, in accordance with state procedures and documentation requirements. The Probate Court does not process administrative amendments and cannot alter a birth certificate without proper statutory authority.
If the requested change involves a legal name change, paternity determination, legitimacy, or other substantive amendment, a court order may be required pursuant to Georgia law.
Applicants are encouraged to review the Georgia Department of Public Health’s Vital Records guidelines to determine whether the requested correction qualifies as an administrative amendment or requires judicial action. Please visit the Department of Public Health website for more information on how to submit an administrative amendment:
If the Georgia Department of Public Health determines that the requested amendment cannot be completed administratively, you will be advised that a court order is required before the record may be changed. The type of court that must issue the order depends on the nature of the requested amendment.
Filing a petition in Probate Court does not guarantee jurisdiction or approval. The Court may decline to hear matters that require legal determinations beyond clerical or factual correction.
Applicants should contact Georgia Vital Records first to determine if the amendment can be handled administratively.
If you are uncertain which court has jurisdiction, you may wish to consult an attorney. The Probate Court cannot provide legal advice regarding which type of petition you should file. Applicants should not file a petition in Probate Court unless a statute specifically authorizes this Court to grant the requested relief.
