Macon County Death Index
Death index records for Macon County are kept at the Probate Court in Oglethorpe. The Macon County Probate Court handles all death certificate requests for the county. Macon County sits in southwest Georgia and should not be confused with the city of Macon, which is in Bibb County. If you need a death certificate from Macon County, the Probate Court in Oglethorpe is your local source. Georgia state death records begin in 1919, and the Macon County office may have some older files. This guide covers the steps, fees, eligibility, and online options for searching Macon County death records.
Macon County Death Index Facts
Macon County Probate Court Details
The Macon County Probate Court is at 121 South Sumter Street, Oglethorpe, GA 31068. This is the local office for death certificates in Macon County. The court is open on weekdays during regular business hours.
Walk-in requests are handled the same day most of the time. You need a valid photo ID and the full name and date of death for the person whose record you want. Staff at the Macon County Probate Court search the death index and can print a certified copy while you wait. If the record is not on file locally, they may suggest checking with the state office or a neighboring county. Deaths are recorded in the county where they occurred, not where the person lived.
Macon County is a small, rural county. The Probate Court office in Oglethorpe serves the whole county for all vital records needs including birth, death, and marriage certificates.
| Office | Macon County Probate Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 121 South Sumter Street, Oglethorpe, GA 31068 |
| Type | Probate Court |
Macon County Death Certificate Fees
Macon County death certificates cost $25.00 for the first certified copy. Additional copies cost $5.00 each when ordered at the same time. O.C.G.A. § 31-10-26 sets these prices for all counties in Georgia.
Cash is accepted at the Probate Court for walk-in visits. Credit cards and debit cards work too. Mail requests need a money order or certified check. Personal checks are not accepted. The fee applies even when no record is found. You will get a not-on-file letter instead of a certificate. Order multiple copies at once if you need them for estate or insurance work.
Note: The $5.00 extra copy rate only applies to copies ordered in the same visit or mail request to Macon County.
How to Search Macon County Death Records
The Probate Court in Oglethorpe is the fastest local option for searching Macon County death records. Staff search by name and date of death. If you cannot visit, online tools are available.
Georgia's ROVER system is the official state online portal. You set up an account, enter the details, and pay by credit card. ROVER handles Georgia deaths from 1919 forward. VitalChek and GO Certificates are approved vendors that take online orders with added service fees. All three can access Macon County death records from the state database. Processing takes several weeks.
For historical Macon County death records, the Georgia Archives is the best resource. Their digital death certificates from 1919 to 1927 are free online. The FamilySearch Georgia Death Index covers 1933 to 1998 at no charge.
Eligibility for Macon County Death Certificates
Georgia law restricts certified death certificates to those with a direct and tangible interest. O.C.G.A. § 31-10-15 lists the qualified parties: spouses, parents, adult children, grandchildren, legal guardians, and legal representatives. Funeral directors who handled the case can also get copies from Macon County.
Plain paper copies are available to anyone. These have the Social Security number removed and may not include the cause of death. They work for research but are not valid for legal purposes. The Georgia Rules 511-1-3 cover the full eligibility rules.
Macon County Death Records by Mail
Mail your request to the Macon County Probate Court at 121 South Sumter Street, Oglethorpe, GA 31068. Include the deceased person's name, date of death, your relationship, a photo ID copy, and a money order or certified check for $25.00.
The state office at 1680 Phoenix Blvd Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349, also handles mail requests. Phone: (404) 679-4702. State requests take 8 to 10 weeks. The Macon County Probate Court usually turns around mail requests in 2 to 4 weeks.
The Macon County Probate Court page is shown below.
The Georgia Department of Public Health website lists the Macon County Probate Court for vital records.
This page shows the Macon County Probate Court location in Oglethorpe and the death record services it provides.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Macon County. Check neighboring offices if you are unsure where a death was filed.