Access McDonough Death Records

McDonough death index records are kept at the Henry County Probate Court, which is right in McDonough on Sims Street. As the county seat of Henry County, McDonough hosts the main vital records office for the entire county. If you are searching for a death certificate for someone who died in McDonough or anywhere in Henry County, the probate court is the first stop. You can walk in, send a mail request, or use state online tools to find death records. This page covers the process, fees, and all the ways to search for death records tied to McDonough.

Henry County Probate Court in McDonough

The Henry County Probate Court handles all death certificate requests for McDonough. It is at 99 Sims St, McDonough, GA 30253. This is the same office that serves Stockbridge and all other Henry County cities. Walk-in visits are the fastest way to get a certified copy. You need a valid photo ID and the full name and date of death for the person you are looking up. Staff can search the system and print a copy while you wait.

McDonough is the county seat, so the probate court is right in town. That is a big plus for local residents. Henry County has grown a lot in recent years, and the probate court handles a higher volume of requests than it used to. You may hit a wait during busy times, but most visits still wrap up in under an hour. The office handles death certificates, birth certificates, and marriage licenses all in the same location.

McDonough Death Certificate Fees

A certified death certificate costs $25.00 for the first copy. Extra copies are $5.00 each if you get them at the same time. State law under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-26 sets these fees, and they are the same at every county office in Georgia. Cash works at the window. So do credit and debit cards. Mail requests need a money order or certified check. No personal checks.

The $5.00 extra copy rate only works during one visit or one mail order. A separate visit means $25.00 for each request. If you are handling an estate in McDonough, order all the copies you need at once. Banks, insurance companies, and courts each want their own certified copy.

Note: If you need copies for multiple people, each person's death certificate is a separate $25.00 order.

How to Search McDonough Death Index

The simplest way to search for a McDonough death record is to visit the Henry County Probate Court. Staff can search by name and date. Bring a valid photo ID.

Online tools are another option. The ROVER system is Georgia's official vital records portal. You make an account, enter the details, and order a death certificate. ROVER covers deaths from 1919 to the present. Delivery by mail takes several weeks. VitalChek adds a service fee but can process things faster. GO Certificates is another approved vendor. All three pull from the state database that holds McDonough death records.

For old death records from McDonough, check the Georgia Archives. They hold historical files. A digital collection from 1919 to 1927 is free to browse. The FamilySearch Georgia Death Index covers 1933 through 1998 and is free. These tools help when you have a name but not the exact date of death.

Who Can Get McDonough Death Records

Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-15, you need a direct and tangible interest in the record to get a certified death certificate. Spouses, parents, adult children, and legal representatives of the deceased qualify. Funeral directors who handled the case can get copies too. Bring proof of your role if you are an executor or insurance beneficiary.

Informational copies are available to anyone. They are not certified and carry no legal weight. The Social Security number is removed. Genealogists and researchers use these for family history. The Georgia Rules 511-1-3 lay out the full requirements for both types of copies from the Henry County Probate Court in McDonough.

Mail Requests for McDonough Death Records

Mail requests go to Henry County Probate Court, 99 Sims St, McDonough, GA 30253. Include a money order for $25.00, the full name of the deceased, the date of death, your relationship, and a copy of your photo ID. County mail requests take about 2 to 4 weeks.

The state office also takes mail orders. Send them to Georgia Department of Public Health, Vital Records, 1680 Phoenix Blvd Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349. The phone number is (404) 679-4702. State requests take 8 to 10 weeks. The probate court in McDonough is the faster option. Walk-in visits are the fastest of all.

The McDonough city government website provides local services and information for residents.

McDonough is the county seat of Henry County. The probate court is located right in town, which makes it easy for local residents to handle death record requests in person.

Nearby Cities

Stockbridge is the nearest qualifying city and shares the same Henry County vital records office.