Search Rabun County Death Records

Rabun County obituary and death records are handled by the Rabun County Probate Court in Clayton. This court is a local agent for the Georgia Department of Public Health, issuing certified death certificates for deaths that occurred anywhere in Georgia from 1919 to the present. If you need a Rabun County death record or want a copy of a death certificate, the Probate Court at the Courthouse Square is your local starting point. Residents can also use the state's online ordering system or mail a request to the state vital records office in Atlanta.

Rabun County Probate Court

The Rabun County Probate Court in Clayton serves as the local vital records office for Rabun County. Staff at this court process death certificate requests for deaths that took place anywhere in Georgia. The office is at the Courthouse Square in the Rabun County seat. Walk-in service is the standard way locals get their obituary and death records.

When you visit the Rabun County Probate Court, bring a valid photo ID. The fee is $25 for the first certified copy of a death record. Each additional copy costs $5 when ordered at the same time. The court accepts cash and money orders. Walk-in requests for Rabun County death certificates are usually processed the same day. Some older Rabun County obituary records may need more time if the state archives have to pull the file. 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 for the person whose Rabun County death record you need.

How to Search Rabun County Death Records

There are three main ways to get Rabun County obituary and death records. Walk in at the Probate Court in Clayton. Order by mail. Or use the state's online ordering system. Each method costs $25 for the first certified copy.

For online orders, the Georgia ROVER system lets you request death certificates from any county in Georgia. You will 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. Standard delivery takes 8 to 10 weeks. If you need a Rabun County death record sooner, going to the Probate Court in Clayton is the fastest way. 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. So most Rabun County death records enter the system within two weeks of the death.

Mail orders go to the Rabun County Probate Court or the state office. Include a signed request with your name, address, phone number, and a copy of your photo ID. List the full name and date of death for the person whose Rabun County obituary record you need. Send a money order for the total fee.

Who Can Get Rabun County Death Certificates

Georgia law sets rules for who can get different types of death certificates. Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-26, certified copies of Rabun 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 person who died. Legal representatives and insurance companies can also get certified copies of Rabun County death records.

A certified copy has a raised seal and the signatures of the State and County Registrar. It is printed on security paper. Banks, courts, and insurance firms need this version. If you do not have a direct interest in a Rabun County death record, you can still get a non-certified copy. The non-certified version has the Social Security number removed but still shows the cause, date, and place of death. It works well for genealogy research and for general look-ups of Rabun County obituary records. O.C.G.A. § 31-10-27 makes forging or tampering with a death certificate a crime in Georgia.

Georgia State Death Record Resources

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

For historical Rabun 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 maintained across the state. O.C.G.A. § 31-10-30 gives the state registrar authority to issue certified copies from the statewide file for any Rabun County death record. O.C.G.A. § 31-10-31 requires funeral homes to keep their records on file for at least five years.

The DPH fee schedule page lists current costs for all vital record types. Check fees before sending payment for a Rabun County death record request.

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

Use this page to confirm hours and get directions before you visit the Rabun County Probate Court in Clayton.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Rabun 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, you may find it more convenient to request your record there.