Find Long County Death Records
Long County death records are processed by the probate court in Ludowici, Georgia. The Long County Probate Court serves as the local registrar for vital records in this small southeast Georgia county. Like neighboring Liberty County, Long County is part of the Coastal Health District. Death certificate requests go through the Ludowici office, which connects to the statewide vital records database. If you cannot visit in person, you have the option of ordering online through the state system or mailing a request to the Atlanta office.
Long County Quick Facts
Long County Probate Court Death Records
The Long County Probate Court manages death records at 75 W Academy Street in Ludowici. The mailing address is P.O. Box 426, Ludowici, GA 31316. You can reach the office by phone at (912) 545-2315 or fax at (912) 545-2150. Staff at the probate court search the state database for death certificates and issue certified copies to eligible requestors. A valid photo ID is required for all requests.
Georgia operates a centralized vital records system under OCGA § 31-10-2. The Long County Probate Court connects to this same statewide database. That means the Ludowici office can pull death records from any of Georgia's 159 counties. You do not have to visit the county where the death took place. Long County residents who need records from Liberty County, Wayne County, or any other part of the state can handle it at the Ludowici probate court.
The Long County Probate Court listing on the Georgia DPH site provides current office details and location information.
The listing above from the Georgia DPH directory confirms the Long County Probate Court in Ludowici as the vital records office for this county.
The Coastal Health District vital records page also covers death record services for the coastal region that includes Long County.
| Office | Long County Probate Court |
|---|---|
| Physical Address | 75 W Academy Street, Ludowici, GA 31316 |
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 426, Ludowici, GA 31316 |
| Phone | (912) 545-2315 |
| Fax | (912) 545-2150 |
| Type | Probate Court (County Registrar) |
Getting Long County Death Certificates
There are three ways to get a Long County death certificate: in person, by mail, or online. The first copy costs $25. Extra copies from the same order are $5 each.
For in-person requests, go to the Long County Probate Court at 75 W Academy Street in Ludowici. Bring a valid photo ID and know the full name of the person who died, the date of death, and where the death happened. Staff will search the system. If the record is found, you can get a certified copy that same day. The office takes cash, credit, and debit cards. Personal checks are not accepted for death record orders in Long County.
Mail orders use Form 3912 from the Georgia DPH. Complete the form and send it with a $25 money order or certified check to 1680 Phoenix Blvd, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349. Processing takes 8 to 10 weeks. All mail orders ship by first class USPS from the state office.
Note: If you need a Long County death certificate for a time-sensitive matter, visiting the Ludowici probate court in person is the best option since mail and online orders take weeks.
Order Long County Death Records Online
The ROVER online portal processes death certificate orders for all Georgia counties, Long County included. ROVER charges the $25 base fee plus $8 for processing. Standard delivery takes 8 to 10 weeks after the state processes the order. You can access ROVER at any time.
VitalChek handles Long County death record orders by phone and online as well. Call 877-572-6343 for VitalChek service. Third-party vendors charge their own fees beyond the state cost. Some offer faster shipping, though the state's internal processing stays at 8 to 10 weeks. Under OCGA § 31-10-27, the department sets uniform fees for all certified copies. The base $25 applies no matter how you place the order.
Who Can Get Long County Death Certificates
Georgia law restricts access to certified death certificates. Under OCGA § 31-10-25, you need a direct and tangible interest in the record. Eligible requestors include the spouse, adult children, parents, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, legal representatives, and insurance beneficiaries. Proof of your connection to the deceased may be required.
Members of the public can still request plain paper copies of Long County death records. These have the Social Security number blacked out. Public copies are fine for genealogy and reference but lack legal standing for estate or insurance matters. All requests at the Ludowici office require a photo ID regardless of the type of copy you want.
Long County Death Certificate Filing
When a death happens in Long County, the death certificate must be filed with the local registrar within ten days. Per OCGA § 31-10-15, the funeral director files the certificate within 72 hours. The physician signs the medical section with the cause and manner of death. If the cause is unclear within 48 hours, "pending" gets written on the form until the medical review is done.
After the Long County Probate Court gets the death certificate, it forwards to the State Office of Vital Records in Atlanta for registration. Under OCGA § 31-10-26, both the state registrar and local custodian can issue certified copies once the record is registered. A certificate from Ludowici holds the same legal weight as one from the state office. If a Long County resident dies in a different county, a copy of the certificate is also sent to the Ludowici office.
Older Long County Death Records
Georgia's state system covers death records from January 1919 forward. Long County was created in 1920, so the county and the state system started around the same time. For earlier records from this area (which was part of Liberty County), the Georgia Archives in Morrow can help. Call (678) 364-3700.
The Long County Probate Court may hold local records from the early years of the county. Call (912) 545-2315 to ask what they have on file. Church records, cemetery logs, and old newspaper notices from the Ludowici area can also provide information about older deaths. The state archives maintains microfilm of early Georgia vital records that may include this region.
Nearby Counties
These counties surround Long County. Any vital records office in Georgia can issue death certificates from any county.