Another GA Death Certificate - with COD

I recently requested four death certificates from the GA Vital Records Department and received copies back in which the cause of death had been removed. It was suggested that this was a privacy issue, and that GA, like many states kept back the COD for deaths within the last 50 years. But, I had received back other certificates, from deaths within that time span, that did include the COD. And, the GA Vital Records Website does not state any such restrictions.

Now, I have received back a fourth recently requested death certificate - and this one did include the cause of death. The funny thing? I received two copies: one with the COD and one without. I only paid for one copy. Also, this ancestor died in 1953, the same year that one of the other ancestors died, and who's death certificate did not include COD.

I have to conclude that the GA Vital Records office doesn't know it's own policies! I've sent them an email, enquiring as to their policy on listing causes of death.

Here is the latest one I received, about my Great-Grandmother, Ruby Lee Waters Huyler. She died of "chronic and acute alcoholism." (click for a larger image)

"State fires head of Office of Vital Records"

Maybe this is why I haven't gotten any of the death certificates I've requested recently...

"[Georgia] State officials have fired the head of the office that handles records on births, deaths, marriages and divorces, saying he displayed gross mismanagement, officials said Tuesday.

“Our internal review revealed gross mismanagement and a lack of professional integrity on the part of the office director, which resulted in his dismissal,” said a statement by Taka Wiley, spokeswoman for the Georgia Department of Human Resources."

read more

Georgia Vital Records

One fantastic resource for genealogists are state and county Vital Records offices. I've been a frequent requester of records from the GA and SC Vital Records.

The Georgia Department of Human Resources hosts the Georgia Vital Records office. They have a great website (http://health.state.ga.us/programs/vitalrecords) with information on how to request the records they provide.

• Birth - $15; state; 1919 to present; certificate provided
• Death - $15; state or county; 1919 to present; certificate provided
• Marriage - $10; state, 1952 to 1996; county, pre-1952 & post-1996; license (not application) provided
• Divorce - $10; state, search & confirmation only, no records provided; county, contact superior court provides record

For each record, the website provides detailed information on what information will be provided, who can request it and what information is required to complete your request. For birth and death marriages, there is an online form that requesters can fill out and print in order to ensure that the correct information has been provided.

Requests can be placed via mail or in person at the Vital Records office in Atlanta. Payment methods include money orders or certified checks for mail requests, or cash for in person requests. Response times for requests vary, with records being received as quickly as two weeks and as slowly as a month and a half.

Today, I mailed off for the marriage license of my GG-Grandparents, Leveret Waters and Louise Smith. I'm eagerly awaiting it's delivery.