Find Turner County Death Records
Turner County death records are maintained by the probate court in Ashburn, Georgia. The probate court acts as the local registrar for vital records in this south-central Georgia county along Interstate 75. If you need a death certificate, you can visit the Ashburn courthouse, order by mail through the state office, or use the ROVER online system. The Turner County office connects to the statewide database, giving it access to death records from all 159 Georgia counties.
Turner County Quick Facts
Turner County Probate Court Vital Records
The Turner County Probate Court on East College Avenue in Ashburn is the local registrar for death records. The office can search for records, check details, and issue certified copies. Walk-in visitors can typically get a death certificate the same day. You must bring a valid photo ID. There are no exceptions to this rule.
Georgia runs a single statewide vital records system under OCGA § 31-10-2. Every registrar in the state connects to the same central database. The Turner County Probate Court can access death records from any Georgia county. If you need a death certificate from a different county, the Ashburn office can pull it for you. You don't have to make a trip to where the death happened.
The Turner County Probate Court listing on the Georgia DPH website provides current office information for vital records services.
The listing above shows the Ashburn address and service details for Turner County vital records.
| Office | Turner County Probate Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 219 East College Avenue, Room 4, Ashburn, GA 31714 |
| Type | Probate Court (County Registrar) |
How to Get Turner County Death Certificates
Three ways exist for getting a death certificate from Turner County. Walk into the probate court in Ashburn, send a mail request to the state, or order online. The cost is $25 for the first copy. Additional copies from the same request run $5 each. In-person is fastest.
For walk-in service, visit the probate court on East College Avenue in Ashburn. Bring your photo ID along with the full name of the deceased, date of death, and county of death. The clerk will search the system and print a certified copy if a match is found. You can pay with cash, credit, or debit card. Personal checks are not accepted for death record orders. Turner County is small, so check the office hours before going.
Mail orders go to the Georgia Department of Public Health at 1680 Phoenix Blvd, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349. Complete Form 3912 and include a money order or certified check for $25. Processing takes 8 to 10 weeks. The state mails everything by USPS first class.
Note: The $25 search fee does not get refunded when no matching record is found. You receive a "not on file" letter.
Order Turner County Death Records Online
The ROVER online system is the state's official portal for death certificate orders. It covers Turner County and every other county in Georgia. The fee is $25 plus an $8 online processing charge. Standard delivery takes 8 to 10 weeks from the state office in Atlanta.
VitalChek provides phone orders at 877-572-6343 and online ordering. Third-party services add their own fees. Some have expedited shipping. The state processing time stays the same regardless. Under OCGA § 31-10-27, the department sets uniform fees for certified copies.
Who Can Get Death Certificates in Turner County
Certified death certificates are limited under OCGA § 31-10-25. You need a direct and tangible interest. Spouses, adult children, parents, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, legal reps, and insurance beneficiaries qualify.
The public can get plain paper copies with the Social Security number removed. These work for genealogy and general research. They don't hold up for legal use like estate settlement or insurance claims. When requesting a certified copy at the Turner County Probate Court, bring proof of your connection to the deceased. Birth certificates, marriage licenses, and court orders serve as valid documentation.
Turner County Death Certificate Filing
After a death in Turner County, the funeral director files the death certificate with the local registrar within 72 hours. OCGA § 31-10-15 requires the full certificate to be on file within ten days. The physician signs the medical section with the cause and manner of death. If the cause can't be established within 48 hours, "pending" is entered on the form.
The Turner County registrar sends the certificate to the State Office of Vital Records in Atlanta for central registration. Under OCGA § 31-10-26, both the state and local offices can then issue certified copies. Turner County residents who die in other parts of Georgia also have their certificates forwarded back to the Ashburn office.
Older Death Records in Turner County
The state has records from January 1919 forward. For Turner County deaths before 1919, try the Georgia Archives in Morrow at (678) 364-3700. They hold older records and assist with genealogy.
The Turner County Probate Court may also keep some local files that predate 1919. Church records, cemetery logs, and newspaper obituaries from the Ashburn area are additional sources for tracing older deaths. The Georgia Archives maintains microfilm copies of early vital records from across the state.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Turner County. Any Georgia vital records office can issue death certificates from any county, so pick the most convenient office for your request.