Henry County Death Record Search

Henry County death records are maintained by the probate court in McDonough, Georgia. As one of the fastest-growing counties in metro Atlanta, Henry County processes a large number of vital records requests each year. The probate court acts as the local registrar for death certificates and serves residents from its office on Sims Street. You can visit in person for same-day service, or use the state mail and online systems to order Henry County death certificates from anywhere.

Henry County Probate Court Death Records

The Henry County Probate Court at 99 Sims Street in McDonough is the primary office for death certificate requests. The probate court staff search the state vital records database and issue certified copies. You need a valid photo ID for any death record request. Walk-in requests during business hours typically result in same-day copies, though wait times can be longer during busy periods given the county's large population.

Under OCGA § 31-10-2, Georgia runs a unified vital records system connecting all county offices. The Henry County Probate Court can pull death records from any county in the state through this system. You do not need to travel to the county where the death took place. If you live in or near McDonough, the Henry County office can get you a death certificate from anywhere in Georgia.

The Henry County Probate Court page on the Georgia DPH website has the office details and services for death certificate requests.

This page confirms the Henry County Probate Court in McDonough as the local registrar for vital records, including death certificates.

How to Get Henry County Death Certificates

Three options exist for getting a Henry County death certificate. Visit the probate court, send a request by mail, or order online. The base fee is $25 across all methods. Online orders add an extra processing charge.

For in-person requests at the Henry County Probate Court in McDonough, bring photo ID and the information about the deceased. You need the full name, date of death, and where the death happened. Staff search the system and can print a certified copy the same day. The first copy is $25. Each additional copy from the same order costs $5. Cash, credit, and debit cards are accepted. Personal checks are not accepted for vital records orders. Given that Henry County has a large population, the office can be busy. You may want to go early in the day to avoid long waits.

To request by mail, complete Form 3912 from the Georgia DPH. Send it with a $25 money order or certified check to 1680 Phoenix Blvd, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349. Mail orders take 8 to 10 weeks. Delivery is by first class USPS.

Note: If the record is not found, the state sends a "not on file" letter and keeps the $25 search fee.

Order Henry County Death Records Online

Georgia's ROVER system lets you order death certificates from any county online. A Henry County death certificate costs $25 plus an $8 processing fee through ROVER. Standard delivery takes 8 to 10 weeks from the state office. All orders ship by USPS first class.

VitalChek and other third-party vendors also take Henry County death record orders. Call 877-572-6343 for VitalChek phone orders. These services charge their own fees beyond the $25 state fee. Some offer faster shipping, but the state processing time stays the same. Under OCGA § 31-10-27, the state sets uniform fees for all certified copies that apply regardless of ordering method.

Who Can Request Henry County Death Certificates

Georgia law determines who receives certified death certificates. Under OCGA § 31-10-25, you need a direct and tangible interest in the record. Eligible people include:

• Spouses of the deceased
• Adult children, parents, or siblings
• Grandparents and grandchildren
• Legal representatives and estate executors
• Insurance beneficiaries

The public can still order copies of Henry County death records. Public copies come on plain paper with the Social Security number blacked out. These work for genealogy and personal research but not for legal or financial purposes. To get a certified copy, show documents that prove your relationship to the deceased, such as a birth certificate, marriage license, or court order.

Henry County Death Certificate Filing

Deaths in Henry County must be filed with the local registrar within ten days. Under OCGA § 31-10-15, the funeral director files the death certificate within 72 hours of taking custody. The attending physician signs the medical certification covering cause and manner of death. If the cause cannot be determined within 48 hours, "pending" is entered on the certificate.

After the Henry County registrar receives the filed certificate, it moves to the State Office of Vital Records for state registration. Both the state office and the Henry County Probate Court can then issue certified copies under OCGA § 31-10-26. When a Henry County resident dies in another Georgia county, a copy of their death certificate is also sent to the McDonough office for local files.

Older Death Records in Henry County

State records cover deaths from January 1919 to the present. For Henry County deaths before 1919, records are scarce. The Georgia Archives in Morrow has some older death records. Call (678) 364-3700 for genealogy help.

The Henry County Probate Court may hold local records from before the state system. Contact the McDonough office to find out what they have. Church records, cemetery logs, and newspaper death notices from the Henry County area can also help trace deaths before 1919. The state archives maintains microfilm of many early Georgia vital records that may include Henry County entries.

Cities in Henry County

Two qualifying cities are in Henry County. Residents of these cities use the Henry County Probate Court in McDonough for death certificate requests.

Nearby Counties

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