Newton County Death Records
Death records in Newton County are kept by the probate court in Covington, Georgia. The Newton County Probate Court acts as the local registrar for all vital records, including death certificates. Covington sits about 35 miles east of Atlanta, and the county has grown a lot in the past two decades. If you need a death certificate for someone who died in Newton County or anywhere else in Georgia, the probate court on Usher Street can help you get one. Walk-in requests are processed the same day in most cases.
Newton County Quick Facts
Newton County Probate Court Vital Records
The Newton County Probate Court handles death certificate requests on Usher Street in Covington. This is the main local office for vital records in the county. Staff there can search the state database and print certified copies while you wait. You need a valid photo ID for all requests. The court sits in the Newton County Courthouse, and parking is free in the lot next to the building.
Under OCGA § 31-10-2, Georgia runs one central vital records system. That means the Newton County Probate Court can pull death records from any county in the state. You do not have to travel to where the death happened. The Covington office connects to the same state database used by every other vital records office in Georgia. This is a real time saver if you live in Newton County but need a record from somewhere else.
The Newton County Probate Court page on the Georgia DPH site gives office details and contact info for death certificate requests.
The screenshot above shows the Georgia DPH listing for the Newton County vital records office. It confirms the Covington address and services for death record orders.
| Office | Newton County Probate Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 1132 Usher Street, Room 148, Covington, GA 30014 |
| Type | Probate Court (County Registrar) |
How to Get Newton County Death Certificates
You have three main ways to get a death certificate from Newton County. In person, by mail, or online. Each has its own cost and timeline. The base fee stays the same no matter which method you pick, but online orders come with an extra processing charge.
For in-person requests, visit the probate court at 1132 Usher Street in Covington. Bring your photo ID and the full name of the person who died plus the date and place of death. The clerk will search for the record in the system. If they find it, you can walk out with a certified copy that same day. The fee is $25 for the first copy and $5 for each extra copy on the same order. You can pay with cash, credit card, or debit card. The Newton County Probate Court does not take personal checks for vital records.
Mail orders go to the state office. Fill out Form 3912 from the Georgia Department of Public Health. Send it with a money order or certified check for $25 to 1680 Phoenix Blvd, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349. Processing takes 8 to 10 weeks by mail. The state sends all mail orders by first class USPS.
Note: If no record is found after a search, the state issues a "not on file" letter. The $25 fee is not refunded.
Order Newton County Death Records Online
Georgia's online system for death certificates is called ROVER. It stands for Request Official Vital Events Records. You can order a Newton County death certificate from anywhere through this portal. The site charges an $8 processing fee on top of the $25 base cost. Standard delivery takes the same 8 to 10 weeks as a mail order.
Third-party vendors like VitalChek also process Newton County death record orders. Call 877-572-6343 to order by phone through them. These vendors add their own service fees. Some offer faster shipping, but the state office processing time stays the same. Under OCGA § 31-10-27, the department sets all fees for certified copies. Those fees apply no matter how you place the order.
Who Can Get Death Records in Newton County
Georgia law limits who can get a certified death certificate. Under OCGA § 31-10-25, certified copies go to people with a direct and tangible interest. That includes a spouse, adult children, parents, siblings, grandparents, or grandchildren. Legal reps and insurance beneficiaries also qualify for certified copies.
The general public can still get copies. The public version comes on plain paper with the Social Security number blacked out. This type works fine for genealogy or general research. It does not work for legal matters like estate settlement. If you need a certified copy from Newton County, bring proof of your relationship to the person who died. A birth certificate, marriage license, or court order will do.
Note: Every request at the Newton County Probate Court needs a valid photo ID, regardless of the type of copy you want.
Newton County Death Certificate Filing Process
When a death happens in Newton County, the death certificate must be filed with the local registrar within ten days. Under OCGA § 31-10-15, the funeral director or person who takes custody of the body files the certificate within 72 hours. A physician signs the medical section covering cause and manner of death. If the cause cannot be set within 48 hours, the certificate will say "pending" until the doctor finishes the review.
After the Newton County registrar receives the death certificate, it goes to the State Office of Vital Records in Atlanta. The state registers the record and adds it to the central database. Under OCGA § 31-10-26, both the state registrar and local custodian can issue certified copies after that point. So you can get a Newton County death certificate from the Covington probate court or from the state office. Either copy is valid for legal use.
If someone dies outside Newton County but lived here, a copy of the death certificate also gets sent to Newton County. The probate court may have records for Newton County residents who died in other parts of the state.
Older Death Records in Newton County
The state system holds death records from January 1919 to the present. For deaths before 1919 in Newton County, records are harder to find. The Georgia Archives in Morrow keeps some older death records and can help with genealogy searches. Their phone number is (678) 364-3700.
Some county offices have records that go back further than the state system. The Newton County Probate Court may have local records from before 1919 in their files. Call the court to ask what they have on hand. Church records, cemetery logs, and newspaper death notices can also help fill gaps for older Newton County deaths. The state archives keeps microfilm copies of many early Georgia vital records.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Newton County. Any Georgia vital records office can issue death certificates from any county, so you can visit the closest office if that works better for you.