Stephens County Obituary Records

Stephens County obituary and death records are handled by the Stephens County Probate Court in Toccoa. As a local agent for the Georgia Department of Public Health, this court issues certified death certificates for deaths that occurred in Georgia from 1919 forward. Stephens County is in the northeast corner of Georgia near the South Carolina border. If you need to find a Stephens County death record, the probate court on North Alexander Street is the local office to visit. You can also order records through the state online system or by mail from the state vital records office.

Stephens County Probate Court

The Stephens 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 is at 70 North Alexander Street in Toccoa, the Stephens County seat. Walk-in service is the fastest option for getting 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 Stephens County death record costs $5 when ordered at the same time. The office takes cash and money orders. Processing for walk-in requests is usually same day. Some Stephens County obituary records may take longer if the file needs to come 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. Be sure to include the full name, date of death, and any other details you know about the person whose Stephens County death record you need.

How to Search Stephens County Death Records

There are three main ways to get Stephens County obituary and death records. Walk in at the probate court in Toccoa. Order by mail. Or use the state online ordering 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 person who died, 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 Stephens County death record sooner, going to the probate court in Toccoa 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. So most Stephens County death records are in the system within about two weeks of the death.

Mail orders go to the Stephens 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 in the full name and date of death for the person whose Stephens County record you need. Enclose a money order for $25.

Who Can Get Stephens 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 Stephens 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 deceased. Legal representatives and insurance companies also qualify for certified copies of Stephens County obituary records.

A certified copy has a raised seal and the signatures 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 Stephens 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. False information on a vital records application also breaks Georgia law.

Georgia State Death Record Resources

Beyond the Stephens County Probate Court, the state has other places to search for records. 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 Stephens County death records and records from all 159 Georgia counties.

For historical Stephens County obituary records, the Georgia Archives in Morrow holds death records from 1919 through 1943. These older records are available through the Georgia Archives Virtual Vault online as well. 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.

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

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

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

Nearby Counties

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