Long County Obituary Records

Long County obituary and death records are filed through the Long County Probate Court in Ludowici. This office acts as a local agent for the Georgia Department of Public Health and can issue certified death certificates for deaths that occurred anywhere in Georgia from 1919 forward. If you need to find a Long County death record or get a copy of a death certificate, the Probate Court on West Academy Street is your local starting point. You can also order records online through the state system or by mail from the state vital records office in Atlanta. The first certified copy costs $25.

Long County Probate Court

The Long County Probate Court handles vital records for Long County residents. Staff can help you request death certificates for any death that took place in Georgia. The court is on West Academy Street in Ludowici, the Long County seat. Walk-in service is the fastest way to get a Long County obituary record.

Bring a valid photo ID when you visit. The fee is $25 for the first certified copy of a Long County death record. Each extra copy costs $5 when ordered at the same time. The office takes cash and money orders. Most walk-in requests are done the same day. Long County sits next to Liberty County, and some residents who live closer to Hinesville may find it easier to use the Liberty County Probate Court instead. Some Long County obituary records may take more time if the file has 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.

How to Search Long County Death Records

You have three ways to get Long County obituary and death records. Walk in at the Probate Court in Ludowici. Send a mail request. Or use the state online system. All three methods cost $25 for the first certified copy.

The Georgia ROVER system lets you order death certificates from any Georgia county online. You need the full name of the deceased, date of death, and county where the death occurred. ROVER charges the $25 state fee plus an $8 processing fee. Standard delivery takes 8 to 10 weeks. If you need a Long County death record sooner, visit the Probate Court in Ludowici for same-day service. Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-15, every death in Georgia must be registered within 10 days. Funeral directors file the certificate within 72 hours. So most Long County death records are in the system within about two weeks of the death.

For mail orders, send your request to the Long County Probate Court or the state DPH office in Atlanta. Include a signed letter with your name, address, phone number, and a copy of your photo ID. Add a money order for $25 for the Long County death record you need.

Who Can Get Long County Death Certificates

Georgia law sets rules on who can receive each type of death certificate. Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-26, certified copies of Long County death records go to those with a direct and tangible interest. This includes the spouse, adult children, parents, siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren of the deceased person. Legal agents and insurance companies can get certified copies as well.

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

Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-27, forging or tampering with a death certificate is a crime in Georgia. O.C.G.A. § 31-10-31 addresses late-filed records and corrections to vital records.

Georgia State Death Record Resources

Besides the Long County Probate Court, the state has other places to search. The Georgia DPH Vital Records office in College Park 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 handle walk-in, mail, and phone orders for Long County death records.

For historical Long 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 vital records maintenance across the state. Funeral homes must keep their own detailed records of each case under these rules.

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

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

Check this page to confirm hours and get directions before going to the Long County office.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Long County. Any Georgia county vital records office can issue a death certificate for a death that happened anywhere in the state. If you are closer to one of these offices, it may be easier to request your record there.