Find Terrell County Death Records

Terrell County obituary and death records are handled by the Terrell County Probate Court in Dawson. This court acts as a local agent for the Georgia Department of Public Health and can issue certified death certificates for deaths that took place in Georgia from 1919 to the present. Terrell County is in southwest Georgia. If you need a Terrell County death record, the probate court on Rountree Drive in Dawson is the local office. You can also order records through the state online system or by mail from the state vital records office.

Terrell County Probate Court

The Terrell County Probate Court serves as the local vital records office for Terrell County. Staff at this office can help you request death certificates for deaths that occurred anywhere in Georgia. The court is at 499 Rountree Drive, Southwest in Dawson, the Terrell County seat. Walk-in service is the most common 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 Terrell 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 Terrell County obituary records may take a bit 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 Terrell County record.

How to Search Terrell County Death Records

You have three main ways to get Terrell County obituary and death records. Walk in at the probate court in Dawson. 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 fee plus an $8 processing fee. Standard delivery takes 8 to 10 weeks. If you need a Terrell County death record faster, the probate court in Dawson can often process walk-in requests the same day. 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 Terrell County death records enter the system within about two weeks of the death.

Mail orders go to the Terrell County Probate Court or the state office. 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 Terrell County record you need. Send a money order for $25 with your application.

Who Can Get Terrell 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 Terrell 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 Terrell 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 companies need this type. If you do not have a direct interest in a Terrell 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 illegal.

Georgia State Death Record Resources

Beyond the Terrell County Probate Court, the state has other resources for death 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 Terrell County death records and records from all 159 Georgia counties.

For historical Terrell 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. 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 may change, so check before you send payment for a Terrell County death record request.

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

Check this page to confirm hours and get driving directions before visiting the Terrell County office.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Terrell 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 get your record there.