Ware County Death Records

Ware County death index records are held at the county health department in Waycross. The Ware County Health Department is one of three locations in the Southeast Health District that provides certified birth and death certificates. If you need to search for a death record or get a certified copy from Ware County, you can go to the office on Riverside Drive or use the state's online tools. Georgia death records at the state level start from 1919. This page covers the fees, search methods, eligibility rules, and online databases that can help you find Ware County death index records.

Ware County Health Department

The Ware County Health Department is the main office for death certificates in Ware County. The office is at 604 Riverside Drive in Waycross, GA 31501. Walk-in visits are the fastest way to get a copy. Staff can search for death records by name and date of death and print a certified copy while you wait. Bring a valid photo ID and the details of the person whose record you need. You can also reach the office by phone at 1-855-473-4374.

Ware County is part of the Southeast Health District, which covers Ware along with Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Brantley, Charlton, Coffee, and Pierce counties. The Ware County Health Department is one of three district locations that issue certified birth and death certificates. That makes this Waycross office a regional resource, not just a county one. If you live in a nearby county that does not have its own vital records office, the Ware County Health Department may be able to help you.

Ware County Death Certificate Fees

Ware County death certificates cost $25.00 for the first certified copy. Additional copies are $5.00 each when ordered in the same request. These fees are set by O.C.G.A. § 31-10-26 and are the same across Georgia. Cash, credit cards, and debit cards work for walk-in payments. Mail requests need a money order or certified check. Personal checks are not accepted at the Ware County Health Department.

Get all your copies in a single visit. The extra-copy rate of $5.00 only applies to the same request. A separate visit later means the full $25.00 again. For estate or insurance work in Ware County, most people order two or three certified copies.

How to Search Ware County Death Index

The quickest search is a trip to the health department in Waycross. Staff there look up records by name and date of death right at the counter.

Georgia's ROVER system is the online portal for ordering death certificates. Create an account, enter the details, and the state mails a certified copy. ROVER covers Georgia deaths from 1919 to the present. VitalChek is another online option that charges a service fee on top of the state cost. GO Certificates processes orders the same way. All three can pull Ware County death records from the state file.

For historical death records, the Georgia Archives has files going back to the early 1900s. Their digital collection of death records from 1919 to 1927 is free. The FamilySearch Georgia Death Index covers 1933 through 1998 at no cost. Both are good for genealogy projects tied to Ware County.

Note: Mail orders to the state office at 1680 Phoenix Blvd Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349 take 8 to 10 weeks to process.

Eligibility for Ware County Death Certificates

Georgia law restricts who can get a certified death certificate. Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-15, you need a direct and tangible interest in the record. Spouses, parents, children, and legal representatives can get certified copies. Funeral directors qualify too. If you are handling an estate or insurance claim in Ware County, bring documents that prove your connection to the deceased.

Informational copies are available to everyone. They are not certified and have no legal standing. They show the same data without the state seal. Genealogists and researchers often use informational copies of Ware County death records. The Georgia Rules 511-1-3 spell out who qualifies for each type of copy.

Ware County Death Records by Mail

Send mail requests to the Ware County Health Department at 604 Riverside Drive, Waycross, GA 31501. Include a money order or certified check for $25.00. Write down the full name of the deceased, the date of death or a range, your relationship, and a copy of your photo ID.

The state office accepts mail requests at Georgia Department of Public Health, Vital Records, 1680 Phoenix Blvd Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349. The phone number is (404) 679-4702. State requests run 8 to 10 weeks. The Ware County office is faster at 2 to 4 weeks. For the quickest result, visit the Waycross office in person.

The Ware County Health Department vital records page is shown below.

The Georgia Department of Public Health website lists the Ware County Health Department and its vital records services.

This page shows the office location, contact details, and the vital records services at the Ware County Health Department in Waycross.

Nearby Counties

These counties share a border with Ware County. If you are unsure where a death was filed, check these neighboring county offices.