This section of our newsletter is where we take time to respond to your inquiries! Based on your responses to last year’s newsletter survey, we learned that the “Director’s Desk” is the most favorite, highest rated section of our newsletter. If you have an inquiry you’d like to submit for inclusion in an upcoming issue, simply let me know!
Q1: How do we access forms, statutes, regulations, and information electronically?
A1: Go to https://dph.georgia.gov/training-materials-0 to access training materials and information including Title 31 Code & Regulations for Vital Records, easy reference guides, training videos, powerpoint presentations, and webinars. For example, I recorded a webinar on “Paternity Acknowledgements, Legitimations, and Rescissions” as a result of the law change that occurred last summer. Under Resources>Forms you can find a listing of forms that have been recently updated for your use in your vital records operation.
Q2: What is the difference between a local registrar and a custodian?
A2: In today’s world – there is no difference. When Title 31 was written and last updated, the custodian and the registrar were two distinct roles. In the past, records were held locally as original records and used by the registrar for issuance. In the last fifty years, we’ve seen a shift whereby the local registrars were required to send original records to the State Office, and in the last 30 years, we’ve seen an electronic system come online which allowed a central repository for records to be accessed by any county in Georgia. Today, a person born in Toombs county can purchase their birth record in any of our 159 county offices as well as the State Office. Additionally, with electronic and digitized records, there’s really no reason for a custodian locally. Why? Because the records are accessed via the State’s system for issuance. If you have original records in your local office, please contact Gwen Duffin, Deputy State Registrar, and let her know.