Wilkes County Death Record Lookup

Wilkes County obituary and death records are managed by the Wilkes County Probate Court in Washington. This office is a local agent for the Georgia Department of Public Health and can issue certified death certificates for deaths that occurred anywhere in Georgia from 1919 forward. The Probate Court on Court Street is the main resource for Wilkes County residents who need death certificates or other vital records. Washington is the county seat and is located in east-central Georgia. The Probate Court in Room 422 handles a variety of records services for the area. You can also get Wilkes County death records through the state's online ordering system or by sending a mail request.

Wilkes County Probate Court

The Wilkes County Probate Court on Court Street in Washington is the local vital records office. Staff here process death certificate requests for Wilkes County and for deaths that happened in any Georgia county. Walk-in service is the fastest way to get your records.

Bring a valid photo ID when you visit the Wilkes County Probate Court. The fee is $25 for the first certified copy of a death record. Extra copies of the same Wilkes County death record are $5 each if ordered at the same time. Cash and money orders are accepted. Walk-in requests are usually completed the same day. Some older Wilkes County obituary records may take extra time if the state office has to pull the file from archives. For mail requests, include a signed application, a photocopy of your ID, and a money order payable to the Georgia Department of Public Health. Provide the deceased person's full name and date of death. O.C.G.A. § 31-10-15 requires that all deaths be registered within 10 days, with the funeral director filing within 72 hours.

How to Get Wilkes County Death Records

Three methods are available for Wilkes County obituary and death records. Walk in at the Probate Court in Washington. Send a mail request. Or order online. Each method charges $25 for the first certified copy.

The Georgia ROVER system is the state's online portal for ordering vital records. You can request Wilkes County death certificates from home through this system. You need the full name of the person who died, the date of death, and the county where it happened. ROVER charges the $25 state fee plus an $8 processing fee. Standard delivery takes 8 to 10 weeks. If you need a Wilkes County death record sooner, the Probate Court in Washington provides same-day processing for most walk-in requests. Under Georgia law, funeral directors file death certificates promptly, so recent Wilkes County death records are usually available within two weeks.

Mail requests go to the Wilkes County Probate Court or the state vital records office. Include a signed request with your name, address, phone number, and a photocopy of your ID. State the full name and date of death for the person whose Wilkes County death record you need. Attach a money order for $25.

Who Can Request Wilkes County Death Certificates

Georgia law governs access to certified death records. Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-26, you must show a direct and tangible interest. For Wilkes County death records, the spouse, parents, adult children, siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren of the deceased all qualify. Legal representatives and insurance companies with a claim can also receive certified copies.

A certified copy has a raised seal and signatures from both the State and County Registrar on security paper. This is the type that courts, banks, and insurance firms require. If you do not have a direct interest in the Wilkes County death record, you can still request a non-certified copy. This version removes the Social Security number but keeps the cause, date, and place of death. Non-certified copies are suitable for genealogy and general research into Wilkes County obituary records. O.C.G.A. § 31-10-27 makes it a crime to forge or tamper with a death certificate, and false statements on a records application carry penalties.

Georgia State Death Record Resources

The Georgia DPH Vital Records office at 1680 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349 is the main state office. Call (404) 679-4702 for help. They handle Wilkes County death records and records from all 159 Georgia counties through walk-in, mail, and phone orders.

Historical Wilkes County obituary records from 1919 through 1943 are available at the Georgia Archives in Morrow. The Georgia Archives Virtual Vault provides free online access to some older records. DPH Regulation 511-1-3 sets the rules for vital records maintenance in Georgia. The DPH fee schedule page lists current costs for all vital record types.

Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-30, the state registrar can correct errors on Wilkes County death certificates. Contact the Probate Court in Washington or the state office to start the process. O.C.G.A. § 31-10-31 covers delayed registrations for deaths that were not filed on time.

The image below shows the Wilkes County Probate Court page on the Georgia DPH website, with contact details for the Washington office.

Verify the office hours on this page before making a trip to the Wilkes County Probate Court.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Wilkes County in east Georgia. Any Georgia county vital records office can issue a death certificate for a death that occurred anywhere in the state. If one of these offices is more convenient, you can request Wilkes County obituary records there.