Houston County Obituary Records

Houston County obituary and death records are handled by the Houston County Probate Court in Perry. This court serves as a local agent for the Georgia Department of Public Health and can issue certified death certificates for deaths that occurred in Georgia from 1919 forward. Houston County is home to Warner Robins and Robins Air Force Base, making it one of the more populated counties in middle Georgia. If you need a Houston County death record or a certified death certificate, the probate court on Perry Parkway is the local office to visit. You can also use the state online system or order by mail.

Houston County Probate Court

The Houston County Probate Court is the local vital records office for Houston County. Staff can issue certified death certificates for any death that occurred in Georgia. The court is at 201 Perry Pkwy in Perry, the Houston County seat. Walk-in service is the main way residents get their records here.

When you visit, bring a valid photo ID. The fee is $25 for the first certified copy of a Houston County death certificate. Each extra copy of the same record costs $5 when ordered at the same time. Cash and money orders are accepted. Walk-in processing is usually same day. Some Houston County obituary records may take longer if the file has to be pulled from state archives. Houston County has a sizable population, so expect some wait time at the probate court during busy periods. For mail requests, send a completed application with a copy of your ID and a money order payable to the Georgia Department of Public Health.

How to Search Houston County Death Records

Three methods are available for getting Houston County obituary and death records. Walk in at the probate court in Perry. Order by mail. Or use the state online system. Each costs $25 for the first certified copy.

For online orders, the Georgia ROVER system lets you request death certificates from any Georgia county. 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 Houston County death record sooner, visiting the probate court in Perry is faster. 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. Most Houston County death records enter the system within two weeks of the death.

For mail orders, send a signed request to the Houston County Probate Court or the state office. Include your name, address, phone number, and a copy of your photo ID. List the full name and date of death for the person whose Houston County death record you need. Payment should be a money order payable to the Georgia Department of Public Health.

Who Can Get Houston County Death Certificates

Georgia law controls who receives what type of death certificate. Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-26, certified copies of Houston County death records go to people with a direct and tangible interest. That includes the spouse, adult children, parents, siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren of the deceased. Legal representatives and insurance companies also qualify.

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 lack a direct interest in the Houston County death record, you can still get a non-certified copy. The non-certified version has the Social Security number removed but still shows cause, date, and place of death. It works well for genealogy and general research into Houston County obituary records. Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-27, tampering with or forging a death certificate is a crime in Georgia. False statements on a vital records application are also illegal.

Georgia State Death Record Resources

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

For historical Houston County obituary records, the Georgia Archives in Morrow holds death records from 1919 through 1943. These are also available through the Georgia Archives Virtual Vault online. DPH Regulation 511-1-3 governs vital records maintenance, and funeral homes must keep their own detailed records under these rules. The DPH fee schedule page shows current costs. Check before sending payment for a Houston County death record.

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

Use this page to confirm hours and get driving directions before visiting the Houston County probate court.

Cities in Houston County

Warner Robins is the largest city in Houston County and has its own page. All Houston County cities use the probate court in Perry for obituary and death records.

Nearby Counties

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