Telfair County Death Record Lookup

Telfair County obituary and death records are managed through the Telfair County Health Department in McRae-Helena. As a local agent for the Georgia Department of Public Health, this office can issue certified death certificates for deaths that occurred in Georgia from 1919 forward. Telfair County is located in south central Georgia. If you need to find a Telfair County death record, the health department on Telfair Avenue is your starting point. Records can also be ordered through the state online system or by mail from the state vital records office in Atlanta.

Telfair County Health Department

The Telfair County Health Department serves as 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 department is at 89 Telfair Avenue in McRae-Helena, the Telfair County seat. Walk-in service is the quickest way to get records.

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 Telfair 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, though some Telfair County obituary records may take longer if the file needs to come from the state archive. 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 about the person whose Telfair County record you need.

How to Search Telfair County Death Records

There are three main ways to get Telfair County obituary and death records. Walk in at the health department in McRae-Helena. Order by mail. Or use the state online ordering system. Each method has 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 the state. You need the full name of the person who died, the date of death, and the county where death occurred. ROVER charges the $25 state fee plus an $8 processing fee. Standard delivery takes 8 to 10 weeks. If you need a Telfair County death record sooner, the health department in McRae-Helena is your best bet for same day service. 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 Telfair County death records are in the system within two weeks of the death.

Mail orders go to the Telfair County Health Department or the state office. 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 Telfair County record you need. Send a $25 money order with the application.

Who Can Get Telfair 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 Telfair 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 Telfair 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 Telfair 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 for genealogy and general research. Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-27, tampering with or forging a death certificate is a crime. Providing false information on a vital records application also breaks the law in Georgia.

Georgia State Death Record Resources

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

For historical Telfair 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. Fees can change, so check before you send payment for a Telfair County death record request.

The image below shows the Telfair County Health Department listing on the Georgia DPH website, where you can find contact details and directions for the McRae-Helena office.

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

Nearby Counties

These counties border Telfair 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, it may be more convenient to get your record there.