Pulaski County Death Records

Death records for Pulaski County are maintained by the probate court in Hawkinsville, Georgia. The Pulaski County Probate Court on Commerce Street serves as the local registrar for vital records in this central Georgia county. Hawkinsville is a small city on the Ocmulgee River, and the courthouse is where you go for death certificate requests. The probate court staff can search the state database and issue certified copies on the same day for walk-in visitors. Mail and online options are also available through the state.

Pulaski County Probate Court Vital Records

The Pulaski County Probate Court at 141 Commerce Street in Hawkinsville is the go-to office for death certificates. The court handles vital records for the whole county. Staff can pull up any death record from the state database and issue certified copies while you wait. Bring a valid photo ID with you. The courthouse is easy to find in downtown Hawkinsville.

Under OCGA § 31-10-2, Georgia runs one central vital records system. The Pulaski County office connects to this system, so they can access death records from all 159 Georgia counties. You do not have to go to the county where the death took place. If you live near Hawkinsville and need a death certificate from another part of the state, the Pulaski County Probate Court can get it for you.

The Pulaski County Probate Court listing on the Georgia DPH website has the office details.

This Georgia DPH page shows the Pulaski County vital records office location and confirms the services available in Hawkinsville.

Getting Pulaski County Death Certificates

There are three ways to request a death certificate. In person at the Hawkinsville court, by mail through the state, or online. The cost is $25 for the first copy and $5 for each additional copy on the same order.

Walk-in visits are the fastest. Go to 141 Commerce Street in Hawkinsville with your photo ID. You need the full name of the deceased, the date of death, and where the death occurred. The clerk will search the system. If the record shows up, you can leave with a certified copy that same day. Pulaski County accepts cash, credit, and debit cards. Personal checks are not accepted for vital records. Being a smaller county, wait times are typically short.

For mail requests, use Form 3912. Send it to the state office at 1680 Phoenix Blvd, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349. Include a money order or certified check for $25. Processing takes 8 to 10 weeks by mail. All orders ship first class USPS.

Note: If no record is located, the state issues a "not on file" letter. The $25 search fee is not refunded.

Order Pulaski County Death Records Online

The ROVER portal handles online death certificate orders for all Georgia counties including Pulaski. The system adds an $8 processing fee to the $25 base cost. Delivery takes 8 to 10 weeks by standard mail. VitalChek at 877-572-6343 is another phone-order option.

The state sets uniform fees under OCGA § 31-10-27. Third-party vendors tack on their own charges but the state portion of the fee remains the same. All orders are processed at the state office in Atlanta. If you need a Pulaski County death certificate in a hurry, visiting the court in Hawkinsville is much faster than ordering online or by mail.

Who Can Get Pulaski County Death Records

Under OCGA § 31-10-25, certified death certificates are for those with a direct and tangible interest. Spouses, adult children, parents, siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren of the deceased all qualify. So do legal representatives and insurance beneficiaries.

The public can order plain paper copies. These have the Social Security number removed. They work for genealogy and general research but not for legal matters. If you need a certified copy from Pulaski County, bring proof of your relationship. A birth certificate, marriage license, or court order is accepted.

Note: All requests at the Pulaski County Probate Court require a valid photo ID.

Death Certificate Filing in Pulaski County

A death in Pulaski County triggers a filing requirement within ten days. Under OCGA § 31-10-15, the funeral director files the death certificate with the local registrar within 72 hours. A physician completes the medical certification with the cause and manner of death. If the cause cannot be determined within 48 hours, "pending" is placed on the form until the doctor completes the assessment.

The local office then sends the record to the State Office of Vital Records in Atlanta. Under OCGA § 31-10-26, both the state registrar and local custodian can issue certified copies after registration. A Pulaski County death certificate from Hawkinsville is just as valid as one from the state office. If a Pulaski County resident dies in another county, a copy is sent back to the local office.

Older Death Records in Pulaski County

State records begin in January 1919. For Pulaski County deaths before that, contact the Georgia Archives at (678) 364-3700 in Morrow. They have some pre-1919 records. The Pulaski County Probate Court may also have older local records in their files. Church records, cemetery logs, and newspaper death notices from the Hawkinsville area can help with genealogy research for deaths before the state system began.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near Pulaski County. Any vital records office in Georgia can issue death certificates from any county in the state.