Dalton Obituary Records

Dalton obituary and death records are filed through the Whitfield County Probate Court. Dalton is the county seat of Whitfield County in northwest Georgia, near the Tennessee border. The Whitfield County Probate Court acts as the local registrar for the Georgia Department of Public Health and can issue certified death certificates for deaths that took place in Georgia from 1919 to the present. If you need a Dalton death record, the probate court is the first place to check.

Whitfield County Probate Court for Dalton

The Whitfield County Probate Court is the main office for Dalton obituary and death records. It serves all of Whitfield County, including Dalton and the surrounding area. Since Dalton is the county seat, the probate court is right in town. The office acts as the local agent for the Georgia DPH and can issue certified death certificates for deaths that happened in any Georgia county from 1919 forward.

The fee for a Dalton death certificate is $25 for the first certified copy. Extra copies of the same death record cost $5 each when ordered at the same time. This is the standard fee across all Georgia counties. The $25 is a non-refundable search fee that includes one certified copy if found. You need a valid photo ID and the full name and approximate date of death. Walk-in service at the Whitfield County Probate Court is typically same-day for records in the system. Since Dalton is the county seat, you do not have to travel to another city for this.

How to Get Dalton Death Records

You can get a Dalton obituary or death record several ways. The fastest is to visit the Whitfield County Probate Court in Dalton. Walk-in requests are usually done the same day. Bring your photo ID and $25 for payment. If you cannot go in person, mail a request with a completed form, a copy of your ID, and a money order for $25 to the Whitfield County Probate Court. Most mail orders take 2 to 4 weeks.

The state runs the ROVER online system for ordering death certificates too. ROVER costs $25 plus an $8 processing fee. Standard orders take 8 to 10 weeks. It is slower than going to the Dalton office, but works if you are not in the area. ROVER can be used from anywhere in the country to order a Georgia death record.

The DPH office locator shown below helps you find the nearest vital records office in Georgia.

This tool from the Georgia Department of Public Health finds offices near any zip code or city in the state.

Who Can Get a Dalton Death Certificate

Not everyone gets the same type of death certificate in Georgia. Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-26, certified copies are for people with a direct and tangible interest in the record. The legal spouse, adult children, parents, adult siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, and legal representatives all qualify. Insurance companies with a financial interest can get certified copies too. You must prove your connection to the deceased when requesting a Dalton obituary record.

A certified copy has an embossed seal, the signatures of the State and County Registrar, and is printed on security paper. Courts, banks, and insurance companies need this version. Members of the public who are not eligible parties can still order a Dalton death record. They get a plain paper copy with the Social Security number removed. That version shows the cause of death, the date, and the place. It works for genealogy and general research.

Historical Dalton Obituary Records

Georgia started its statewide death registration in 1919. The Whitfield County Probate Court can issue death certificates for Dalton deaths from that year forward. For deaths before 1919, records are hard to find. Some may exist in church records, old newspapers, or early county filings. The Georgia Archives in Morrow holds death certificates from 1919 through 1943. You can search in person or through their online Virtual Vault.

Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-27, the state retains death records indefinitely. Old Dalton death records from the early twentieth century should still be in the system. Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-15, every death in Georgia must be registered within 10 days. The funeral director files the certificate within 72 hours. Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-30, the State Registrar can match birth and death certificates to prevent identity fraud. These requirements have been in effect since 1919.

Georgia State Resources

If the Whitfield County Probate Court cannot help with your Dalton obituary search, the state has other options. The Georgia DPH Vital Records office at 1680 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349 takes walk-in, mail, and phone requests. Call (404) 679-4702 for questions. The state fee schedule is $25 for the first copy. Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-31, these fees cover the cost of maintaining Georgia's vital records system.

The ROVER portal shown below is the state's online ordering system for death certificates.

ROVER works for any Georgia death record. It is not limited to Dalton or Whitfield County.

Nearby Cities

These cities near Dalton also have their own obituary and death record pages.