Find Monroe County Obituary Records

Monroe County obituary and death records are managed by the Monroe County Probate Court in Forsyth. This court 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 since 1919. If you need a Monroe County death record or a copy of a death certificate, the Probate Court on West Main Street is the place to start. The state online ordering system and mail requests through the state vital records office in Atlanta are also available to Monroe County residents.

Monroe County Probate Court

The Monroe County Probate Court serves as the local vital records office for Monroe County. Located on West Main Street in Forsyth, this court handles death certificate requests for deaths that happened anywhere in Georgia. Walk-in service is the standard way locals get their Monroe County obituary and death records, and the staff handles these requests on a regular basis.

Bring a valid photo ID when you go. The fee for the first certified copy of a Monroe County death record is $25. Each additional copy ordered at the same time costs $5. The court accepts cash and money orders. Most walk-in requests at the Monroe County Probate Court are processed the same day. Older obituary records may take longer if the state archives have to retrieve the file. For mail-in requests, send your completed application with a photocopy of your ID and a money order payable to the Georgia Department of Public Health. Include the full name and date of death for the person whose Monroe County death record you need.

How to Search Monroe County Death Records

You have three ways to get Monroe County obituary and death records. Walk in at the Probate Court in Forsyth. Mail your request. Or order online. The fee is $25 for the first certified copy regardless of which method you choose.

The Georgia ROVER system handles online orders for death certificates from any Georgia county. You need the full name of the deceased, the date of death, and the county where the death occurred. ROVER charges the $25 state fee plus an $8 processing fee on top. Standard delivery takes 8 to 10 weeks. If you need a Monroe County death record sooner, going to the Probate Court in Forsyth is the fastest way. Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-15, every death in Georgia must be registered within 10 days of the event. Funeral directors file the certificate within 72 hours of taking charge of the body. This means most Monroe County death records are in the system within two weeks.

Mail orders can go to the Monroe County Probate Court or the state vital records office. Include a signed request with your name, address, and phone number. Attach a copy of your photo ID. Also list the full name and date of death for the person whose Monroe County death record you are looking for. Payment should be by money order.

Who Can Get Monroe County Death Certificates

Georgia law determines who can receive certified versus non-certified death certificates. O.C.G.A. § 31-10-26 says certified copies of Monroe County death records go only 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 can also get certified copies.

A certified copy bears a raised seal and the signatures of the State and County Registrar. It comes on security paper. Courts, banks, and insurance firms typically need this version. If you do not have a direct interest, you can still get a non-certified copy of a Monroe County death record. The non-certified version removes the Social Security number but still shows the cause, date, and place of death. It is fine for genealogy and general research into Monroe County obituary records. O.C.G.A. § 31-10-27 makes it a crime to forge or tamper with a death certificate in Georgia.

Georgia State Death Record Resources

The state offers several options beyond the Monroe County Probate Court. The Georgia DPH Vital Records office handles requests from across Georgia. 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 Monroe County death records and records from every Georgia county.

For historical Monroe County obituary records, the Georgia Archives in Morrow holds death records from 1919 through 1943. These older records can also be viewed at the Georgia Archives Virtual Vault online. DPH Regulation 511-1-3 sets the rules for how vital records are maintained across Georgia. O.C.G.A. § 31-10-30 gives the state registrar authority to issue certified copies from the statewide file for any Monroe County death record on file.

The DPH fee schedule lists current costs. Check it before sending payment for a Monroe County record.

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

Use this page to confirm office hours and directions before you visit the Monroe County Probate Court.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Monroe 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 easier to request your record there.