Terrell County Death Records
Terrell County death index records go through the Probate Court in Dawson. If you need a death certificate from Terrell County, the courthouse on Rountree Drive is the local place to start. The Probate Court handles all vital records requests for the county, and you can walk in or send a request by mail. State online tools also let you search for Terrell County death records without making the trip. Georgia holds death records at the state level from 1919 onward. This page walks through the process, fees, and resources for finding death records in Terrell County.
Terrell County Death Index Facts
Terrell County Probate Court Office
The Terrell County Probate Court is at 499 Rountree Drive, Southwest, Dawson, GA 39842. This office manages death certificates and other vital records for Terrell County. A walk-in visit gets you a certified copy the fastest. Staff will look up the record by name and date of death, then print a certified copy while you wait. Bring a valid photo ID and as much detail as you have about the deceased.
Terrell County sits within the West Central Health District, one of the larger health districts in Georgia. The district spans 17 counties and maintains its own vital records resources. If the Probate Court in Dawson cannot find a particular death record, the West Central Health District may have a copy or know where it was filed. This can happen with older records that were transferred or deaths that occurred near county lines.
Dawson is a small city in southwest Georgia. The Probate Court is the center of vital records activity for the whole county. Staff there juggle multiple responsibilities, so bring patience if the office is busy.
| Office | Terrell County Probate Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 499 Rountree Drive, Southwest, Dawson, GA 39842 |
| District | West Central Health District |
Note: Call the Terrell County Probate Court ahead of your visit to confirm hours and ask about payment methods.
Death Certificate Fees for Terrell County
Certified death certificates from Terrell County cost $25.00 for the first copy. Additional copies cost $5.00 each when ordered together. O.C.G.A. § 31-10-26 sets these fees across all Georgia counties. For walk-in requests, cash is standard. Mail requests need a money order or certified check. Ask the Probate Court about card payments if you prefer that route.
Order all copies at once to save. That $5.00 discount for extras only applies during one transaction. Coming back another day means $25.00 per copy all over again. If you are dealing with an estate or insurance claim in Terrell County, get a few copies at once so you have them when different agencies ask.
How to Search Terrell County Death Index
The Probate Court in Dawson offers in-person lookups for Terrell County death records. Staff can search by name and date. But you can also search from home using online state tools.
Georgia's ROVER system handles online death certificate orders. Make an account, fill in the details, and place your order. ROVER has records from 1919 to today. Mailed copies take a few weeks. VitalChek offers a quicker turnaround but tacks on a service fee. GO Certificates is a third online path for Georgia death certificates. Each of these services taps into the same state database that holds Terrell County death records.
For historical records, the Georgia Archives stores death files going back to the early 1900s. A digital set from 1919 to 1927 is free to browse. The FamilySearch Georgia Death Index covers 1933 to 1998 at no charge. Both may include Terrell County entries for researchers and genealogists.
Eligibility for Terrell County Death Certificates
Georgia law limits who can receive a certified death certificate. Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-15, the person requesting must have a direct and tangible interest in the record. Spouses, parents, children, and legal representatives meet this standard. Funeral directors involved in the case do as well. Bring documentation that shows your connection to the deceased when you visit the Terrell County Probate Court.
Informational copies have no such restrictions. Anyone can request one. They lack the certified stamp and hold no legal weight, but they show the same data. Genealogists working on Terrell County family histories use informational copies all the time. Georgia Rules 511-1-3 lay out the full details on access types.
Mail-In Requests for Terrell County Records
You can request Terrell County death records by mail. Send your request to the Terrell County Probate Court at 499 Rountree Drive, Southwest, Dawson, GA 39842. Include a money order or certified check for $25.00 payable to the Terrell County Probate Court. Write out the full name of the deceased, the date of death, and your relationship to the person. Attach a copy of your photo ID. County processing takes about 2 to 4 weeks.
The state vital records office also takes mail requests. Mail to Georgia Department of Public Health, Vital Records, 1680 Phoenix Blvd Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349. Phone (404) 679-4702 for questions. State processing runs 8 to 10 weeks. The Dawson courthouse is quicker if you can get there in person.
The Terrell County Probate Court page is shown below.
The Georgia Department of Public Health website lists the Terrell County Probate Court as a vital records location.
This listing shows the office address in Dawson and the types of vital records you can request at the Terrell County Probate Court.
Nearby Counties
Terrell County borders several other counties in southwest Georgia. Check these offices if you are not certain where a death was recorded.