Gilmer County Obituary Search

Gilmer County obituary and death records are managed by the Gilmer County Probate Court in Ellijay. As a local agent for the Georgia Department of Public Health, the probate court issues certified death certificates for deaths that occurred in Georgia from 1919 forward. Need a Gilmer County death record or a certified copy of a death certificate? The probate court on Broad Street in Ellijay is where you start. Residents can also order death records online through the state system or send a request by mail to the DPH office in Atlanta.

Gilmer County Probate Court

The Gilmer County Probate Court is the local vital records office for Gilmer County. Staff at this office help residents request death certificates for deaths that took place anywhere in Georgia. The court is at 1 Broad Street, Suite 204 in Ellijay. Walk-in visits are the most common way to get records at this location.

When you visit, bring a valid photo ID. The fee is $25 for the first certified copy of a Gilmer County death certificate. Each extra copy of the same record costs $5 when ordered at the same time. The Gilmer County office accepts cash and money orders. Walk-in processing is usually same day. However, some Gilmer County obituary records may take longer if the file needs to be pulled from state archives. For mail requests, send a completed application along with 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 Gilmer County death record you need.

How to Get Gilmer County Death Records

You have three main ways to get Gilmer County obituary and death records. Walk in at the probate court in Ellijay. Order by mail. Or use the state online system. Each method has the same $25 base fee for the first certified copy.

The Georgia ROVER system lets you request death certificates from any county online. You need the full name of the person who died, the date of death, and the county where the death took place. ROVER charges the $25 state fee plus an $8 processing fee. Standard delivery takes 8 to 10 weeks. If you need a Gilmer County death record faster, visiting the probate court in Ellijay is the best option. 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 of taking charge of the body. Most Gilmer County death records are in the system within two weeks of the death.

Mail orders go to the Gilmer County Probate Court or the state vital records office. Include a signed request with your name, address, phone number, and a copy of your photo ID. Add the full name and date of death for the person whose Gilmer County record you need. Payment should be a money order payable to the Georgia Department of Public Health.

Who Can Get Gilmer County Death Certificates

Georgia law controls who can get what type of death certificate from Gilmer County. Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-26, certified copies go to people with a direct and tangible interest. That means the spouse, adult children, parents, siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren of the person who died. Legal representatives and insurance companies also qualify for certified copies of Gilmer County death certificates.

A certified copy has a raised seal and signatures from both the State and County Registrar. It is printed on security paper. Banks, courts, and insurance firms require this type. If you do not have a direct interest in the Gilmer County death record, you can still get a non-certified copy. This version has the Social Security number removed but still shows the cause, date, and place of death. It works fine for genealogy and general research into Gilmer County obituary records.

Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-27, forging or tampering with a death certificate is a crime. Providing false info on a vital records application also breaks the law in Georgia.

Georgia State Death Record Resources

Beyond the Gilmer County Probate Court, the state has other options. The Georgia DPH Vital Records office handles requests from across the state. You can visit in person at 1680 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349, or call (404) 679-4702. They process walk-in, mail, and phone orders for Gilmer County death records and records from all 159 Georgia counties.

For historical Gilmer County obituary records, the Georgia Archives in Morrow holds death records from 1919 through 1943. These older records are also available through the Georgia Archives Virtual Vault online. DPH Regulation 511-1-3 governs how vital records are kept across Georgia, and funeral homes must maintain their own detailed records for each case under these rules.

The DPH fee schedule page lists current costs for all vital record types. Fees may change, so check before sending payment for a Gilmer County death record request.

The image below shows the Gilmer County Probate Court page on the Georgia DPH website, where you can find contact details and directions for the Ellijay office.

Use this page to confirm hours and get directions before you visit the Gilmer County probate court.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Gilmer 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 closer to you, it may be more convenient for your Gilmer County obituary record request.