Towns County Obituary Lookup

Towns County obituary and death records are managed through the Towns County Probate Court in Hiawassee. 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. Towns County is in the far northeast mountains of the state, near the North Carolina border. If you need a Towns County death record, the probate court on River Street in Hiawassee is the local office to contact. Records can also be ordered through the state online system or by mail.

Towns County Probate Court

The Towns County Probate Court serves as the local vital records office for Towns County. Staff at this office help you request death certificates for deaths that occurred anywhere in Georgia. The court is at 48 River Street, Suite C in Hiawassee, the Towns County seat. Walk-in service is the most common way locals get their records. Given the mountain location, the drive to the state office in Atlanta is a long one, so the local court is the practical choice for most residents.

Bring a valid photo ID when you visit. The fee is $25 for the first certified copy. Each extra copy of the same Towns 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 Towns 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 find the right Towns County record.

How to Search Towns County Death Records

There are three main ways to get Towns County obituary and death records. Walk in at the probate court in Hiawassee. 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 the state. You need the full name of the person who died, the date of death, and the county where death took place. ROVER charges the standard $25 state fee plus an $8 processing fee. Standard delivery takes 8 to 10 weeks. If you need a Towns County death record faster, going to the probate court in Hiawassee is the best bet. 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 Towns County death records are in the system within about two weeks of the death.

Mail orders go to the Towns 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 Towns County record you need. Enclose a money order for $25.

Who Can Get Towns 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 Towns 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 Towns 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 require this type. If you do not have a direct interest in a Towns 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, forging or tampering with a death certificate is a crime in Georgia. Providing false information on a vital records application is also against the law.

Georgia State Death Record Resources

Beyond the Towns County Probate Court, 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 Towns County death records and records from all 159 Georgia counties. For Towns County residents, though, the drive to Atlanta is about two hours, so mail or online options may be more practical.

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

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

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

Nearby Counties

These counties border Towns 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.