Peach County Death Records Search

Death records in Peach County are managed by the probate court in Fort Valley, Georgia. The Peach County Probate Court is the local registrar that handles death certificate requests for the county. Fort Valley sits in central Georgia, and the court office is on West Church Street. If you need to find a death record or order a certified copy, the probate court staff can help. They connect to the statewide database and can pull records for deaths that happened anywhere in Georgia, not just Peach County.

Peach County Probate Court Death Records

The Peach County Probate Court at 205 West Church Street in Fort Valley is the place to go for death certificates. The office serves as the county's local registrar for vital records. Staff can search the statewide database and issue certified copies during your visit. You must have a valid photo ID to make any request.

Under OCGA § 31-10-2, Georgia maintains a central vital records system. The Peach County Probate Court connects to this same system. That means they can pull death records from any Georgia county, not just local ones. If you live near Fort Valley and need a death certificate from another part of the state, you can get it here without making a long trip.

The Peach County Probate Court page on the Georgia DPH site shows office details and services for vital records.

The DPH listing confirms the Peach County vital records office location in Fort Valley and the services it offers for death record requests.

Getting Peach County Death Certificates

Three methods are available for getting a death certificate from Peach County. You can go in person to Fort Valley, mail a request to the state, or order online. The base fee is $25 for the first certified copy and $5 for each extra copy ordered at the same time.

In-person visits to the Peach County Probate Court are the fastest option. Go to 205 West Church Street with your photo ID and information about the deceased. You need the full name, date of death, and place of death. The clerk searches the database. If the record is found, you can leave with a certified copy that same day. The court accepts cash, credit cards, and debit cards. Personal checks are not accepted for vital records orders.

For mail orders, use Form 3912 from the Georgia DPH. Send it to 1680 Phoenix Blvd, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349 with a money order or certified check for $25. Expect 8 to 10 weeks for processing and delivery. All mail orders go out by first class USPS.

Note: The search fee of $25 is not refunded if the state cannot find the record. A "not on file" letter is sent instead.

Order Peach County Death Records Online

ROVER is Georgia's official online portal for ordering death certificates. It works for all counties including Peach. The system charges an $8 fee on top of the standard $25. Delivery takes 8 to 10 weeks. VitalChek is another option for phone orders at 877-572-6343.

Under OCGA § 31-10-27, the state sets the base fees for certified copies. Third-party vendors add their own service charges, but the state fee portion stays the same. All orders ship from the state office in Atlanta by USPS. If you need a copy faster, visit the Peach County Probate Court in person.

Who Can Get Peach County Death Records

Certified death certificates are for people with a direct and tangible interest under OCGA § 31-10-25. This group includes the spouse, adult children, parents, siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren. Legal representatives and insurance beneficiaries also qualify for certified copies.

Anyone can order a plain paper copy. These have the Social Security number removed. Plain paper copies work for genealogy and general research but not for legal use. To get a certified copy from Peach County, you need to show proof of your link to the deceased. Accepted proof includes birth certificates, marriage licenses, and court orders.

Note: Valid photo ID is required for every death certificate request at the Peach County Probate Court, no matter the type of copy.

Death Certificate Filing in Peach County

A death certificate must be filed within ten days of a death in Peach County. Under OCGA § 31-10-15, the funeral director has 72 hours to file the certificate with the local registrar. The physician signs the medical section listing the cause and manner of death. If the cause is not clear within 48 hours, "pending" is entered on the form until the doctor can complete the review.

Once filed, the death certificate goes from Peach County to the State Office of Vital Records in Atlanta. The state registers it in the central database. Under OCGA § 31-10-26, both the state and the local office can then issue certified copies. A death certificate from the Fort Valley probate court is just as valid as one from the state office.

Older Peach County Death Records

Georgia's state records begin in January 1919. For deaths before that date in Peach County, try the Georgia Archives at (678) 364-3700. They have some older records and help with genealogy research. Peach County itself was only created in 1924 from parts of Houston and Macon counties. So older death records for what is now Peach County may be filed under those parent counties. Church records and cemetery logs can also help track down pre-1919 deaths in the area.

Nearby Counties

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