Early County Death Records

Early County death records are filed at the Probate Court in Blakely, a small town in southwest Georgia. The probate court serves as the local vital records registrar and can search the state database for death certificates from any Georgia county. If you need a copy of a death certificate from Early County or from elsewhere in the state, the Blakely office is one place to get it. You can also use the state ROVER system to order online or submit a mail request to the Georgia Department of Public Health in Atlanta. This page explains each method in detail.

Early County Probate Court Vital Records

The Early County Probate Court is located at 111 Court Square, Suite D, in Blakely. This is the local office for all death certificate requests. Staff can search the statewide vital records database and issue certified copies. Bring a valid photo ID when you visit. Walk-in requests are the quickest way to get an Early County death certificate. In many cases, you can leave with a copy the same day.

The Early County Probate Court listing on the Georgia DPH site shows the office details for vital records requests in this county.

The DPH listing confirms that the Blakely probate court handles death records for Early County. Under OCGA § 31-10-2, every county vital records office in Georgia connects to the same central system, so the Early County office can pull records from any county in the state.

How to Get Early County Death Certificates

Three methods work for getting a death certificate in Early County. You can go to the probate court in Blakely, mail a request to the state, or order online through ROVER.

For walk-in requests, bring your photo ID to 111 Court Square in Blakely. Give the clerk the full name of the person who died, the date of death, and where the death took place. The fee is $25 for the first certified copy and $5 for each extra in the same order. Most county offices accept cash and cards. If the record is in the system, you can get your copy that same day at the Early County Probate Court.

By mail, fill out Form 3912 and send it with a money order or certified check for $25 to the Georgia DPH at 1680 Phoenix Blvd, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349. Include a copy of your photo ID. Mail orders take 8 to 10 weeks to process. Under OCGA § 31-10-27, fees are due before the search starts and are not refunded even if the record is not found.

Note: The state sends a "not on file" letter when no record turns up, but the search fee is still kept.

Order Early County Death Records Online

The ROVER system lets you order any Georgia death certificate online. That includes Early County records. ROVER charges $25 plus an $8 processing fee. Standard delivery takes 8 to 10 weeks by USPS from the state office in Atlanta.

VitalChek is a third-party vendor that also handles Georgia death record orders. Call 877-572-6343 for phone orders or use their website. GO Certificates is another approved option. Both charge extra fees on top of the state price. Rush service through these vendors cuts the wait to about 5 business days plus shipping time. The DPH third-party ordering page explains what each vendor charges for Early County death records.

You will need the full name of the deceased, date of death, place of death, your relationship to the person, and a valid photo ID to complete any online order.

Who Can Request Early County Death Records

Under OCGA § 31-10-25, certified copies of death certificates go to people with a direct and tangible interest. Close family qualifies: spouse, adult children, parents, siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren. So do legal representatives and insurance beneficiaries.

Anyone else can request a plain paper copy from the Early County Probate Court. This version has the Social Security number blacked out. It works for genealogy or general reference but not for legal use like settling an estate. All visitors need a valid photo ID to pick up any type of death record.

Death Certificate Filing in Early County

Under OCGA § 31-10-15, a death certificate in Georgia must be filed within ten days. The funeral director files it with the local registrar within 72 hours of taking custody of the body. A doctor signs the medical section listing the cause and manner of death. Once filed, the Early County registrar sends the record to the State Office of Vital Records in Atlanta for storage in the central database.

After registration, both the state office and the Early County Probate Court can issue certified copies. The state system has records from 1919 to now. For older Early County deaths, the Georgia Archives in Morrow may have early indexes and documents. Church records and cemetery logs can also help with research into deaths before 1919 in this part of southwest Georgia.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Early County in southwest Georgia. Any vital records office in the state can issue death certificates from any Georgia county.