How long does the Georgia State Board of Funeral Service keep records of complaints?

The Georgia State Board of Funeral Service retains records of complaints for a period of 5 years from the date of resolution. This timeframe allows the board to effectively monitor and review past complaints, which can be essential for maintaining standards of practice and ensuring accountability within the profession. Keeping records for this duration also allows the board to address any repeated issues or patterns that may arise in the profession, offering a means for regulatory oversight and protecting the interests of the public.

In practice, retaining records for only 1 year or 3 years would not provide sufficient data for identifying long-term trends or addressing more serious issues that may take time to manifest. An indefinite retention period might result in an overwhelming number of records, making it difficult to manage and potentially obscuring valuable information that could help in the evaluation of current practices. Therefore, a 5-year retention aligns with balancing thorough review and practical management of records.