Franklin County Death Records
Franklin County death records are filed at the Probate Court in Carnesville, Georgia. The probate court serves as the local vital records registrar for this northeast Georgia county near the South Carolina border. Staff at the Carnesville office can search the statewide database and issue certified copies of death certificates from any county in Georgia. You can walk in for same-day service, use the state ROVER system online, or send a mail request to the Georgia Department of Public Health in Atlanta. This page covers all the ways to find and get death records in Franklin County.
Franklin County Quick Facts
Franklin County Probate Court Vital Records
The Franklin County Probate Court is at 7085 Highway 145, Suite A, in Carnesville. This is the office for local death certificate requests. The court links to the statewide vital records database and can issue certified copies for deaths from any Georgia county. Walk-in service is available during business hours. Bring a valid photo ID to request any death record.
Franklin County is a rural county in northeast Georgia with a population just over 23,000. The Carnesville office handles a moderate volume of vital records requests. Under OCGA § 31-10-2, every county office connects to the same central database, so even smaller offices like Franklin County can pull records from anywhere in the state.
The Georgia DPH Vital Records page explains how the statewide system works, including how county offices like the Franklin County Probate Court process death certificate requests.
The page above covers the full range of vital records services available across Georgia, from county walk-in options to online and mail ordering.
| Office | Franklin County Probate Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 7085 Hwy 145, Suite A, Carnesville, GA 30521 |
| Type | Probate Court (Local Registrar) |
How to Get Franklin County Death Certificates
Three methods work for getting a death certificate in Franklin County. Walk into the Carnesville office, mail a request, or order online through the state system.
In-person visits are the fastest. Go to 7085 Highway 145 in Carnesville with your photo ID. Provide the full name of the deceased, date of death, and place of death. The fee is $25 for the first certified copy and $5 for each extra in the same order. If the record is in the system, the Franklin County Probate Court can hand you a copy that day. Wait times tend to be short at smaller county offices like this one.
To order by mail, fill out Form 3912 from the Georgia DPH. Mail it with a money order or certified check for $25 to 1680 Phoenix Blvd, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349. Include a copy of your photo ID. Processing takes 8 to 10 weeks. Under OCGA § 31-10-27, the fee is collected before the search begins and is not returned even if the record cannot be found.
Note: Requests left open for more than one year get closed by the state office, so follow up if you have not received your Franklin County death certificate.
Order Franklin County Death Records Online
The ROVER system processes online death certificate orders for all 159 Georgia counties. You can order a Franklin County death record from anywhere. ROVER charges the $25 certificate fee plus $8 for processing. Delivery takes 8 to 10 weeks by USPS.
VitalChek is another approved vendor for Georgia death records. Call 877-572-6343 for phone orders. GO Certificates also handles orders. Both vendors add service fees and offer rush shipping options that speed things up. The DPH online ordering page has the details for each vendor.
To complete an online order for a Franklin County death record, you need the full name of the deceased, date of death, place of death, your relationship to the person, and a valid photo ID.
Who Can Get Franklin County Death Records
Under OCGA § 31-10-25, certified death certificates go to close family with a direct interest: spouse, adult children, parents, siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren. Legal reps and insurance beneficiaries also qualify.
Anyone else can get a plain paper copy from the Franklin County Probate Court. The Social Security number is blacked out on the public version. This type works for genealogy or general research but not for legal purposes. All visitors must present a valid photo ID at the Franklin County office.
Death Certificate Filing in Franklin County
When someone dies in Franklin County, the funeral director files the death certificate with the local registrar within 72 hours. Under OCGA § 31-10-15, a physician certifies the cause and manner of death. The complete certificate must be filed within ten days. The Franklin County registrar sends the record to the State Office of Vital Records in Atlanta for inclusion in the central database.
The state system has records from 1919 to now. For older Franklin County deaths, the Georgia Archives in Morrow holds early indexes and historical records. Church records and cemetery records from the Carnesville area can help trace deaths that happened before the modern state system began. Franklin County has been around since 1784, so local historical records may go back quite far.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Franklin County in northeast Georgia. Any vital records office in the state can issue death certificates from any Georgia county.