A Georgian death certificate is the official proof of a death registered in Georgia. It is usually needed by family or authorised representatives to settle the affairs that follow — here is what it is for and how to obtain it, including from abroad.

When you need a death certificate

The certificate confirms the fact and details of the death and is commonly required for:

• Inheritance and probate proceedings
• Closing bank accounts and transferring assets
• Pension, insurance and survivor-benefit matters
• Civil and court procedures in Georgia and abroad

Current record or archival copy?

Where the certificate comes from depends on when the death was registered. A recent death is held in Georgia’s civil registry, and a current certificate can be issued from it. A death registered long ago — including in the Soviet period — is usually kept in the national archives, and obtaining it means first locating the record in the archival holdings, which can also require proof of your connection to it. Knowing which source holds the record saves most of the effort.

Making it usable abroad

The certificate is issued in Georgian. For another country you will almost always need a certified translation into the target language and an apostille, which authenticates the document for Hague Convention countries (for non-Convention destinations, legalisation is used instead). Only once translated and apostilled will most foreign authorities accept it.

Getting it without being in Georgia

You do not need to travel to Georgia at a difficult time. The certificate can be requested, translated and apostilled on your behalf under a power of attorney, and the finished, legalised document sent to you. This is the route most families use from abroad — it turns several separate offices into one remote request. See how we obtain civil and archive documents from Georgia, including death certificates, end to end.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a Georgian death certificate from abroad?

Yes. Under a power of attorney it can be requested, translated and apostilled on your behalf and sent to you — no need to travel to Georgia.

What if the death was registered decades ago?

Older deaths are usually kept in the national archives rather than the current civil registry. The record is located in the archival holdings and an archival certificate is issued; this can require proof of your connection to the record.

Can I request the certificate as a relative?

Yes — a death certificate is typically obtained by family members or authorised representatives, most often for inheritance and estate matters. Tell us your relationship and the details and we will confirm what is needed.