Hinesville Obituary Lookup

Hinesville obituary and death records are managed by the Liberty County Probate Court. Hinesville is the county seat of Liberty County and the largest city in the area, located in southeastern Georgia near Fort Stewart. The Liberty County Probate Court serves as the local registrar for the Georgia Department of Public Health and can issue certified death certificates for deaths that occurred in Georgia from 1919 to the present. For a Hinesville death record, the probate court is the primary local office.

Liberty County Probate Court for Hinesville

The Liberty County Probate Court is the main office for Hinesville obituary and death records. It serves all of Liberty County, including Hinesville and surrounding communities. Since Hinesville is the county seat, the probate court is located in the city itself. 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 Hinesville death certificate is $25 for the first certified copy. Each extra copy of the same record costs $5 when ordered at the same time. This is a standard fee across all Georgia counties, set by the DPH. The $25 is a non-refundable search fee that includes one certified copy if the record is found. You need to bring a valid photo ID and know the full name and approximate date of death. Walk-in service at the Liberty County Probate Court in Hinesville is usually same-day. The area around Fort Stewart means the office handles a fair number of military-related death record requests too.

How to Get Hinesville Death Records

There are a few ways to get a Hinesville obituary or death record. Walking into the Liberty County Probate Court is the fastest. Same-day service is typical for records already in the system. Bring a photo ID and $25. If you cannot visit in person, you can mail a request with a completed application form, a copy of your ID, and a money order for $25 to the Liberty County Probate Court. Mail orders usually take 2 to 4 weeks to come back.

The state also offers the ROVER online system for ordering death certificates from anywhere. ROVER costs $25 plus an $8 processing fee. Standard delivery takes 8 to 10 weeks. That is slower than the local office, but it works if you are no longer in the Hinesville area. Many military families who were once stationed near Fort Stewart use ROVER to order Hinesville death records after they have moved to other states.

The DPH office locator below can help you find the nearest vital records office in Georgia.

This DPH tool lets you search by zip code or city name to find offices near you.

Who Can Get a Hinesville Death Certificate

Georgia law limits who can receive a certified death certificate. Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-26, certified copies are for people with a direct and tangible interest in the record. That includes the legal spouse, adult children, parents, adult siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, and legal representatives. Insurance companies with a financial interest also qualify. You must show proof of your relationship when requesting a Hinesville death record.

A certified copy has an embossed seal, the signatures of both the State and County Registrar, and is printed on security paper. Banks, courts, and insurance companies need this type. The general public can still get a Hinesville obituary record. The public version is a plain paper copy with the Social Security number removed. It shows the cause of death, the date, and the place. It is fine for genealogy and general research.

Historical Hinesville Obituary Records

Georgia's statewide death registration began in 1919. The Liberty County Probate Court can issue death certificates for Hinesville deaths from that year forward. For deaths before 1919, records are harder to find. Some may exist in church records, old newspaper obituaries, or early county files. The Georgia Archives in Morrow has death certificates from 1919 through 1943 and offers both in-person and online access through the Virtual Vault.

Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-27, the state keeps death records indefinitely. Old Hinesville death records should still exist 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 within 72 hours. Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-30, the State Registrar matches birth and death certificates to prevent identity fraud. These rules have been in place since 1919 and keep the records reliable.

Georgia State Resources

If the Liberty County Probate Court cannot help with your Hinesville obituary search, the state has other options. The Georgia DPH Vital Records office at 1680 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349 handles statewide requests. Call (404) 679-4702 for help. 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.

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

ROVER handles orders for any Georgia death record. It is not limited to Hinesville or Liberty County.

Nearby Cities

These cities near Hinesville have their own obituary and death record pages on this site.