Lowndes County Death Record Search

Lowndes County obituary and death records are managed through the Lowndes County Health Department in Valdosta. As a local agent for the Georgia Department of Public Health, this office can issue certified death certificates for deaths that occurred anywhere in Georgia from 1919 forward. If you need a Lowndes County death record, the health department on Patterson Street in Valdosta is where to start. You can also use the state online ordering system or send a mail request to the state vital records office. The first certified copy costs $25.

Lowndes County Health Department

The Lowndes County Health Department serves as the local vital records office for Lowndes County. Staff at this office can help you request death certificates for deaths that took place anywhere in Georgia. The office is on Patterson Street in Valdosta, the Lowndes County seat. Walk-in service is the most common way locals get their records here.

When you visit in person, bring a valid photo ID and be ready to pay the $25 fee for the first certified copy. Each extra copy of the same Lowndes County death record costs $5 when ordered at the same time. The office accepts cash and money orders. Processing time for walk-in requests is usually same day. Lowndes County is the most populous county in south Georgia, and the Valdosta health department handles a large volume of vital records requests. Some Lowndes County obituary records may take a bit longer if the file needs to come from state archives. For mail requests, include a completed application, a copy of your ID, and a money order payable to the Georgia Department of Public Health.

How to Get Lowndes County Death Records

You have three ways to get Lowndes County obituary and death records. Walk in at the health department in Valdosta. Send a request by mail. Or use the state online system. All three methods cost $25 for the first 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 Lowndes County death record sooner, visit the health department in Valdosta 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 certificate within 72 hours. Most Lowndes County death records are in the system within about two weeks of the death.

For mail orders, send your request to the Lowndes County Health Department or the state DPH office. Include a signed letter with your name, address, phone number, and a copy of your photo ID. Add a money order for $25 payable to the Georgia Department of Public Health.

Who Can Get Lowndes County Death Certificates

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

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 Lowndes 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 Lowndes County obituary records. Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-30, the state registrar may also issue verification letters for vital records when a full certified copy is not needed.

Tampering with or forging a death certificate is a crime under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-27.

Georgia State Death Record Resources

Besides the Lowndes County Health Department, the state offers more search options. 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 Lowndes County death records.

For historical Lowndes 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 lists current costs for all vital record types. Fees can change, so check before sending payment for a Lowndes County death record request.

The image below shows the Lowndes County Health Department page on the Georgia DPH website, where you can find contact details and directions for the Valdosta office.

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

Cities in Lowndes County

The following city in Lowndes County has its own detailed page for obituary and death record information.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Lowndes 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, it may be more convenient for you.