Bacon County Death Certificates

Bacon County death records go back to 1915, making this one of the few Georgia counties with vital records older than the state system itself. The Probate Court in Alma handles all death certificate requests for the county. Judge Joe Boatright oversees the office. Whether you need a recent death certificate or a record from over a century ago, the Bacon County Probate Court can help you search for it. Walk-in service is available at the courthouse on West 12th Street, and you can also use state mail or online ordering to get certified copies.

Bacon County Probate Court Death Records

The Bacon County Probate Court handles death certificates along with birth, marriage, and probate records. Judge Joe Boatright runs the office. It is located at 502 W 12th St, Suite 100, in Alma. The phone number is (912) 632-7661 and the fax is (912) 632-7662. Staff at the Bacon County probate court can search records and give you certified copies while you wait if you come in person.

What makes Bacon County stand out is that it has vital records going back to 1915. The state system only starts in January 1919. So the Bacon County Probate Court holds four extra years of local death records that are not in the state database. If you need a death record from 1915 to 1918 for someone who died in Bacon County, you must contact this office directly. The state office in Atlanta will not have it. Under OCGA § 31-10-2, local offices keep their own records in addition to feeding into the state system.

The Bacon County Probate Court page on the Georgia Department of Public Health website shows the office details for death record requests.

This listing confirms the Bacon County Probate Court as the designated vital records office for the county, with all the contact details you need to request a death certificate.

How to Get a Bacon County Death Certificate

The simplest way is to visit the courthouse in Alma. Bring a valid photo ID. Tell the staff the full name of the deceased, the date of death, and where the death happened. They search the records. If found, you get a certified copy that day. The fee is $25 for the first copy. Extra copies from the same order cost $5 each.

If you cannot visit in person, you have two other options for Bacon County death records. First, you can order by mail. Fill out Form 3912 and send it to the Georgia DPH State Office of Vital Records at 1680 Phoenix Blvd, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349. Include a money order or certified check for $25. No personal checks. Under OCGA § 31-10-27, fees must be paid before any record search starts. The state office takes 8 to 10 weeks to process mail orders and ships by first class USPS.

Second, you can use the ROVER online system to order a Bacon County death certificate from home. ROVER charges $25 plus an $8 processing fee. Standard delivery takes 8 to 10 weeks, same as mail. Third-party vendors like VitalChek (877-572-6343) also process orders but add their own service fees.

Note: If the state cannot find the death record, they mail you a "not on file" letter and keep the $25 search fee.

What Bacon County Death Certificates Show

A death certificate from Bacon County contains key facts about the death. It shows the full name of the deceased, date and place of death, cause of death, and the name of the certifying physician. It also lists the age, sex, and race of the person. Other details include the place of burial or cremation, the name of the funeral home, and information about the person's parents and spouse.

The Georgia Probate Court page for Bacon County gives an overview of the court's role in maintaining these vital records.

This resource provides additional background on how the Bacon County Probate Court manages death records and other vital documents within the state system.

Certified copies of Bacon County death certificates carry a raised seal and the signature of the registrar. These are the versions you need for legal matters like settling an estate or claiming life insurance. Plain paper copies, which have the Social Security number removed, are available to the general public. Under OCGA § 31-10-25, certified copies go only to people with a direct and tangible interest in the record, such as close family members or legal reps.

Death Certificate Filing in Bacon County

When someone dies in Bacon County, the death certificate follows a set path before it reaches the public record system. The funeral director who takes charge of the body must file the certificate with the Bacon County Probate Court within 72 hours. A physician completes and signs the cause of death section. Under OCGA § 31-10-15, the full certificate must be filed with the local registrar within ten days of the death.

Once the Bacon County office gets the complete certificate, it sends the record to the State Office of Vital Records in Atlanta. The state registers it in the central database. After that, under OCGA § 31-10-26, certified copies can come from either the Bacon County Probate Court or the state office. Both versions hold the same legal weight. If someone who lived in Bacon County died in a different county, a copy of the death certificate also gets sent back to the Alma office.

Older Bacon County Death Records

Bacon County has a notable advantage for people researching older deaths. The probate court holds records from 1915, four years before the state started its system in 1919. For deaths between 1915 and 1918, the Bacon County Probate Court is the only source. Call (912) 632-7661 to ask about these early records.

For records even older than 1915, the Georgia Archives in Morrow may help. They keep microfilm and digital copies of early Georgia vital records. Church records, cemetery records, and old newspaper notices can also fill in gaps for Bacon County deaths from before formal record keeping began.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Bacon County. All Georgia vital records offices can issue death certificates for any county in the state, so the closest office to you may be the best choice.