Rockdale County Death Records

Rockdale County obituary and death records are handled through the Rockdale County Probate Court in Conyers. As a local agent for the Georgia Department of Public Health, this court issues certified death certificates for deaths that took place in Georgia from 1919 forward. Rockdale County sits east of Atlanta in the metro area, so residents have easy access to both local and state offices. If you need a Rockdale County death record, the probate court on North Main Street is the place to start. You can also order records online through the state system or by mail.

Rockdale County Probate Court

The Rockdale County Probate Court is the local vital records office for the county. Staff at this office can help you request death certificates for deaths that happened anywhere in Georgia. The court is at 874 North Main Street in Conyers, the Rockdale County seat. Walk-in service is the fastest way to get records here.

Bring a valid photo ID when you visit. The fee is $25 for the first certified copy. Each extra copy of the same Rockdale County death record costs $5 when ordered at the same time. The office accepts cash and money orders. Processing for walk-in requests is usually same day. Some Rockdale County obituary records may take longer if the file needs to be pulled from the state archive system. 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. Include the full name, date of death, and any other details you know about the person whose Rockdale County death record you need.

How to Search Rockdale County Death Records

There are three main ways to get Rockdale County obituary and death records. Walk in at the probate court in Conyers. Order by mail. Or use the state online ordering system. Each method charges the same base fee of $25 for the first certified copy of a Rockdale County death record.

For online orders, the Georgia ROVER system lets you request death certificates from any county in the state. You need the full name of the person who died, the date of death, and the county where death took place. ROVER charges the standard $25 state fee plus an $8 processing fee. Standard delivery takes 8 to 10 weeks. If you need a Rockdale County death record sooner, going to the probate court in Conyers is your best bet. Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-15, every death in Georgia must be registered within 10 days. The funeral director files the death certificate within 72 hours of taking charge of the body. So most Rockdale County death records show up in the system within about two weeks of the death.

Mail orders go to the Rockdale County Probate Court or to the state office in Atlanta. Include a signed request with your name, address, phone number, and a copy of your photo ID. Also include the full name and date of death for the person whose record you need.

Who Can Get Rockdale County Death Certificates

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

A certified copy has a raised seal and both the State and County Registrar signatures. It is printed on security paper. Banks, courts, and insurance firms need this type. If you do not have a direct interest in a Rockdale County death record, you can still get a non-certified copy. This version has the Social Security number taken out but still shows the cause, date, and place of death. It works fine for genealogy work and general research into Rockdale County obituary records. Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-27, tampering with or forging a death certificate is a crime. False statements on an application also break the law.

Georgia State Death Record Resources

Beyond the Rockdale County Probate Court, the state has several other places to search. The Georgia DPH Vital Records office in College Park handles requests from across the state. 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 Rockdale County death records and records from all 159 Georgia counties. Since Rockdale County is part of the Atlanta metro area, the state office is a reasonable drive for many residents.

For historical Rockdale 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. Funeral homes must keep detailed records of each case under these rules as well.

The DPH fee schedule page has current costs for all vital record types. Fees can change, so check before you send payment for a Rockdale County death record request.

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

Use this page to confirm hours and get directions before you visit the Rockdale County office.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Rockdale 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 more convenient to request your record there.