Find Ben Hill County Death Records

Ben Hill County obituary and death records are available through the Ben Hill County Probate Court in Fitzgerald, Georgia. The probate court is a local agent for the Georgia Department of Public Health and can issue certified death certificates for any death that occurred in the state since 1919. Fitzgerald is a small city in south-central Georgia, and the probate court on South Sheridan Street is where Ben Hill County residents go for vital record requests. If visiting in person is not an option, you can order online or by mail through the state.

Ben Hill County Probate Court

The Ben Hill County Probate Court is at 111 South Sheridan Street in Fitzgerald. This office processes death certificate requests and can pull records from the statewide database. The probate court handles other matters too, but vital records are a regular part of their work.

When you visit the Ben Hill County Probate Court, bring a valid photo ID. The fee for the first certified copy of a death certificate is $25. Each extra copy of the same Ben Hill County death record costs $5 if ordered at the same time. Payment is by cash or money order at this office. Walk-in requests for recent deaths are usually handled the same day. Older Ben Hill County records may need more time. The office is open during normal business hours on weekdays, but it is wise to call ahead if you are driving a long distance to get a record.

Ordering Ben Hill County Death Certificates

There are three ways to get a Ben Hill County death certificate. Walk in at the Fitzgerald office. Order through the state's online system. Or send a mail request.

For online orders, the ROVER system is available around the clock. ROVER charges $25 for the certificate plus $8 for processing. You enter the full name of the deceased, the date of death, and the county of death. Standard delivery takes 8 to 10 weeks for Ben Hill County records ordered this way. It is the same wait for every Georgia county. Walk-in service in Fitzgerald is much faster if you can make the trip.

Mail requests should include a signed letter with the name and date of death for the person whose record you need. Add your own name, address, and a copy of your photo ID. Include a money order for $25 made out to the Georgia Department of Public Health. Mail it to the Ben Hill County Probate Court at the Fitzgerald address or to the state DPH office at 1680 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349. Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-15, deaths in Georgia must be registered within 10 days. Funeral directors file the death certificate within 72 hours. Ben Hill County death records are usually in the system shortly after the death takes place.

Who Qualifies for Ben Hill County Death Records

Certified copies are restricted under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-26. Only people with a direct and tangible interest can get a certified Ben Hill County death certificate. The list includes the surviving spouse, adult children, parents, adult siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, legal representatives, and insurance companies with a financial interest in the death.

A certified copy of a Ben Hill County obituary record comes on security paper with a raised seal and the signatures of the State and County Registrar. This version is needed for legal and financial matters. If you do not qualify for a certified copy, you can still request a non-certified version. It omits the Social Security number but otherwise shows the same death record details. Non-certified copies work for genealogy and general research. O.C.G.A. § 31-10-27 makes it illegal to provide false information on a vital records application in Georgia.

State Death Record Options

The Georgia DPH Vital Records office in College Park is another option for Ben Hill County death records. Their phone number is (404) 679-4702. The DPH death records page explains how to order by mail, phone, or in person.

For old Ben Hill County death records, try the Georgia Archives in Morrow. They have records from 1919 through 1943. Some have been digitized and are searchable online. DPH Regulation 511-1-3 requires funeral homes to maintain their own case files, which can be another source of information. The fee schedule page shows current costs for all record types.

The image below shows the Georgia ROVER online ordering system, which you can use to request Ben Hill County death certificates from anywhere.

ROVER is available 24 hours a day and works for death certificate orders from any Georgia county, including Ben Hill.

Nearby Counties

Ben Hill County is in south-central Georgia. These bordering counties have vital records offices that can also issue Georgia death certificates.