Tift County Death Record Search

Tift County obituary and death records are managed through the Tift County Health Department in Tifton. As a local agent for the Georgia Department of Public Health, this office issues certified death certificates for deaths that took place anywhere in Georgia from 1919 forward. Tift County is one of the key counties in south central Georgia, with Tifton serving as a regional hub. If you need to find a Tift County death record, the health department on East 12th Street is your local starting point. You can also order records through the state online system or by mail.

Tift County Health Department

The Tift County Health Department serves as the local vital records office for the county. Staff can help you request death certificates for deaths that happened anywhere in Georgia. The department is at 305 East 12th Street in Tifton, the Tift County seat. Walk-in service is the fastest way to get records here.

When you visit in person, bring a valid photo ID and be ready to pay $25 for the first certified copy. Each extra copy of the same Tift 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 Tift 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 the full name, date of death, and any other details you have about the person whose Tift County record you need.

How to Search Tift County Death Records

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

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 $25 state fee plus an $8 processing fee. Standard delivery takes 8 to 10 weeks. If you need a Tift County death record sooner, visiting the health department in Tifton is the 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 Tift County death records are in the system within about two weeks of the death.

Mail orders go to the Tift County Health Department 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 Tift County record you need. A money order for $25 should go with the application.

Who Can Get Tift County Death Certificates

Georgia law sets out who can get what type of death certificate. Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-26, certified copies of Tift 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 Tift 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 Tift County death record, you can still get a non-certified copy. This version has the Social Security number removed but shows the cause, date, and place of death. It works well for genealogy and general research into Tift County obituary records. 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 is also against the law in Georgia.

Georgia State Death Record Resources

Beyond the Tift County Health Department, the state has 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 Tift County death records and records from all 159 Georgia counties.

For historical Tift 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 sending payment for a Tift County death record request.

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

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

Nearby Counties

These counties border Tift 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.