Schley County Obituary Lookup

Schley County obituary and death records are managed through the Schley County Probate Court in Ellaville. This office acts as a local agent for the Georgia Department of Public Health. It can issue certified death certificates for deaths that happened anywhere in Georgia from 1919 to the present. Schley County is one of the smaller counties in the state, so the probate court handles vital records along with its other duties. If you need to get a Schley County death record or look up an obituary, the probate court on North Pecan Street is your starting point.

Schley County Probate Court

The Schley County Probate Court serves as the local vital records office. Staff can help you request death certificates for deaths that took place anywhere in Georgia. The court sits at 47 North Pecan Street in Ellaville, the Schley County seat. Walk-in service is the most common way to get records here. Call ahead to make sure the office is open, as small county offices may have limited staff.

When you visit, bring a valid photo ID and be ready to pay $25 for the first certified copy. Each extra copy of the same Schley County death record costs $5 if ordered at the same time. The office accepts cash and money orders. Processing for walk-in requests is typically same day. Some Schley County obituary records may take longer if the file needs to come from the state archive. 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 all the details you have about the person and the date of death so staff can locate the right Schley County record quickly.

How to Search Schley County Death Records

You have three main ways to get Schley County obituary and death records. Walk in at the probate court in Ellaville. Order by mail. Or use the state online system. Each method charges the same base fee of $25 for the first certified copy.

For online orders, the Georgia ROVER system lets you request death certificates from any county in Georgia. You need the full name of the deceased, the date of death, and the county where death occurred. ROVER charges the standard $25 state fee plus an $8 processing fee. Standard delivery takes 8 to 10 weeks. If you need a Schley County death record sooner, visiting the probate court in Ellaville is your best option. 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. Most Schley County death records are in the system within two weeks.

Mail orders go to the Schley County Probate Court or the state office in Atlanta. Include a signed request with your name, address, phone number, and a copy of your photo ID. Put the full name and date of death for the person whose Schley County record you need. Send a $25 money order with your application.

Who Can Get Schley County Death Certificates

Georgia law sets out who can get certain types of death certificates. Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-26, certified copies of Schley 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 can also get certified copies of Schley County obituary records.

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

Georgia State Death Record Resources

Beyond the Schley County Probate Court, the state offers other places to search. The Georgia DPH Vital Records office in College Park handles requests from all over 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 Schley County death records and records from all 159 Georgia counties.

For historical Schley 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 their own detailed records of each case under these rules.

The DPH fee schedule page lists current costs for all vital record types. Check before you send payment for a Schley County death record request since fees may change.

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

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

Nearby Counties

These counties border Schley 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, you may find it easier to get your record there.