Search Webster County Death Records

Webster County death records are managed by the probate court in Preston, Georgia. Webster County is one of the smallest counties in the state, and the probate court handles vital records along with its other duties. Staff at the Hamilton Street office can search for death certificates from any county in Georgia and issue copies on the spot. If you need a death certificate from Webster County or elsewhere in the state, the Preston office can help with same-day in-person service. State mail and online options are also available for those who live far from the courthouse.

Webster County Probate Court Vital Records

The Webster County Probate Court on Hamilton Street in Preston is the place to get death certificates. As the local registrar, the court ties into the statewide vital records database. The clerk can look up death records from any Georgia county. This means you do not have to go to the county where someone died to get a copy of the certificate.

Under OCGA § 31-10-2, Georgia keeps one central vital records system. All local offices connect to it. The Webster County Probate Court gives you the same access as the state office in Atlanta. You can get certified copies for legal use or plain paper copies for personal records or genealogy work.

The Webster County Probate Court listing on the Georgia DPH website shows the office details for vital records requests.

The page above from the Georgia Department of Public Health confirms the Preston address and lists the Webster County Probate Court as the vital records office for this county.

How to Get Webster County Death Certificates

Three options exist for getting a death certificate in Webster County. You can walk into the probate court in Preston, mail a request to the state, or order online. The base cost is $25 for all methods.

Walk-in service is the fastest. Go to 6330 Hamilton Street in Preston with your photo ID. Have the full name, date of death, and place of death ready. If the record is in the system, you can get a certified copy that same day. The first copy costs $25 and each extra copy from the same order is $5. The office takes cash and cards. Personal checks are not accepted.

To order by mail, use Form 3912 from the Georgia DPH. Mail 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. Orders ship by first class USPS.

Note: Webster County has a very small population, and the probate court may keep limited hours. It is best to call ahead before making the trip to Preston.

Order Webster County Death Records Online

The ROVER system handles online orders for Georgia vital records. ROVER stands for Request Official Vital Events Records. You can order a Webster County death certificate through this site. It adds an $8 processing fee to the $25 base cost. Processing takes 8 to 10 weeks.

VitalChek is another option for phone orders. Call 877-572-6343 to place an order. Third-party vendors charge their own fees. Under OCGA § 31-10-27, the state sets the base fee for all certified copies. That fee stays the same regardless of how you order.

If no record is found, you get a "not on file" letter. The fees are not refunded.

Who Can Request Webster County Death Certificates

Under OCGA § 31-10-25, certified death certificates go to people with a direct and tangible interest in the record. This means spouses, adult children, parents, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, legal reps, and insurance beneficiaries.

Anyone can still get a plain paper copy of a Webster County death record. These copies have the Social Security number blacked out. They work for genealogy and personal research but not for legal purposes like estate settlements. If you need a certified copy, show proof of your connection to the deceased. A valid photo ID is required for all requests at the Webster County Probate Court.

Webster County Death Certificate Filing

When someone dies in Webster County, the death certificate must be filed within ten days. Under OCGA § 31-10-15, the funeral director files the certificate with the probate court within 72 hours. A physician signs the medical section stating cause and manner of death. If the cause cannot be determined within 48 hours, "pending" goes on the form.

After filing with the Webster County Probate Court, the certificate goes 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 local office can then issue certified copies. You can get a Webster County death certificate from Preston or from the state office.

If a Webster County resident dies in a different Georgia county, a copy of the certificate also gets sent to the Preston probate court. The local office may hold records for residents who died in other parts of the state.

Older Death Records in Webster County

Georgia's state system has death records from January 1919 to the present. For deaths before 1919 in Webster County, records are scarce. The Georgia Archives in Morrow keeps some older records and helps with genealogy. Call (678) 364-3700.

The Webster County Probate Court may have some local files from before the state system started. Church records, cemetery logs, and old newspaper notices from the Preston area can fill gaps for older deaths. The Georgia Archives has microfilm copies of early vital records from many Georgia counties.

Nearby Counties

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