Early County Death Records

Early County obituary and death records are processed at the Early County Probate Court in Blakely. The probate court serves as a local agent for the Georgia Department of Public Health and can issue certified death certificates for deaths that took place anywhere in Georgia from 1919 forward. Early County is in the southwest part of the state, close to the Alabama border. If you need to find an obituary record or request a copy of a death certificate in Early County, the probate court on Court Square is your local option. The state also offers mail and online ordering.

Early County Probate Court

The Early County Probate Court in Blakely handles vital records requests for the county. As a local DPH agent, the probate court can issue certified death certificates for any death in Georgia. The office is on Court Square in Blakely, the Early County seat. Walk-in visits are the quickest way to get a death record from this office.

When you visit, bring a valid photo ID and the $25 fee for the first certified copy. Additional copies of the same Early County death record cost $5 each when ordered at the same time. The office takes cash and money orders. Walk-in requests are usually processed the same day, but some older Early County obituary records may need more time if the state has to pull the file from archives. For mail requests, send a completed application, a copy of your ID, and a money order payable to the Georgia Department of Public Health. Include the full name and date of death of the person whose record you need.

Early County is a smaller county, so the probate court handles vital records along with other duties. It helps to call ahead.

How to Get Early County Death Records

Three options exist for getting Early County obituary and death records. Visit the probate court in Blakely. Mail a request. Or order online through the state portal. The fee is $25 for the first certified copy no matter which method you use.

For online orders, the Georgia ROVER system handles death certificate requests for all Georgia counties. You need the full name of the deceased, the date of death, and the county where the death happened. ROVER charges $25 plus an $8 processing fee. Standard delivery takes 8 to 10 weeks. If speed matters, visit the Early County Probate Court in person for same-day service. Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-15, every death in Georgia must be registered within 10 days. The funeral director files the death certificate within 72 hours. Most Early County death records are available within two weeks of the death.

Mail requests go to the Early County Probate Court or the Georgia DPH office. Include a signed request, your name, address, phone number, a photo ID copy, and a money order for $25.

Who Can Get Early County Death Certificates

O.C.G.A. § 31-10-26 controls who gets certified death certificates in Georgia. Certified copies of Early County death records are available to people with a direct and tangible interest. This includes the spouse, adult children, parents, siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren of the person who died. Legal representatives and insurance companies qualify too.

A certified copy of an Early County death record has a raised seal and signatures from the State and County Registrar on security paper. Banks, courts, and insurance firms need this type. If you lack a direct interest, you can still get a non-certified copy. This version has the Social Security number removed but still lists the cause, date, and place of death. It works for genealogy and general research into Early County obituary records. O.C.G.A. § 31-10-27 makes tampering with or forging a death certificate a crime in Georgia.

Georgia State Death Record Resources

The Georgia DPH Vital Records office at 1680 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349 accepts requests from all 159 counties. Call (404) 679-4702 for information. They handle walk-in, mail, and phone orders for Early County death records and records from every other Georgia county.

For older Early County obituary records, the Georgia Archives in Morrow holds death records from 1919 through 1943. Some of these are available online through the Virtual Vault. DPH Regulation 511-1-3 sets the rules for how vital records are maintained across Georgia. Funeral homes must also keep their own case records, which means multiple sources may have Early County death information on file.

The DPH fee schedule lists current costs for all vital record types. Always confirm fees before you send payment.

The image below shows the Early County Probate Court listing on the Georgia DPH website, where you can check contact details for the Blakely office.

Use this page to confirm hours and get directions before visiting the Early County office.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Early County. Any Georgia county vital records office can issue a death certificate for a death that happened anywhere in the state. If one of these offices is more convenient, you can request your record there.