Wayne County Death Index
Wayne County death index records are filed at the probate court in Jesup. The Wayne County Probate Court handles all death certificate requests for the county. If you need to find a death record from Wayne County, you can visit the courthouse on East Walnut Street or use one of the state online tools. Georgia keeps state-level death records going back to 1919. Some Wayne County local files may cover a different date range depending on when registration started. This page goes over the fees, search methods, who can get copies, and where to look for historical Wayne County death index records.
Wayne County Death Index Facts
Wayne County Probate Court
The Wayne County Probate Court is the local office for death certificates in Wayne County. The courthouse is at 359 East Walnut Street in Jesup, GA 31546. Wayne County uses the probate court for vital records instead of a health department. Walk in with a valid photo ID and the details about the deceased. Staff can search the files and issue a certified copy if the record is on file.
Wayne County sits in southeast Georgia within the coverage area of the Southeast Health District. The probate court handles the vital records piece. If the courthouse does not have the record you need, the state office in Atlanta maintains a statewide database going back to 1919. You can also try ordering through one of the state's online tools. Calling the Wayne County Probate Court first is a smart move since it lets you know if the record is there before you make the trip.
| Office | Wayne County Probate Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 359 East Walnut Street, Jesup, GA 31546 |
Note: Call the Wayne County Probate Court to confirm hours before heading to the courthouse.
Wayne County Death Certificate Fees
A certified death certificate from Wayne County costs $25.00 for the first copy. Additional copies run $5.00 each when ordered in the same request. These fees come from O.C.G.A. § 31-10-26 and are uniform across all Georgia counties. The Wayne County Probate Court accepts cash for walk-in visits. Mail requests take a money order or certified check. Personal checks are not accepted at most county offices.
Get all the copies you need in one trip. The $5.00 extra-copy price only applies to the same visit or mail request. A return visit later means paying $25.00 again. If you are settling an estate or filing an insurance claim in Wayne County, order two or three copies so you have enough.
Search Wayne County Death Index Online
You do not have to visit Jesup to search for a Wayne County death record. Georgia has online tools that work from anywhere.
The ROVER system is the state's online portal. Create an account, fill in the details, and the state mails a certified copy to you. ROVER covers Georgia deaths from 1919 forward. Processing takes a few weeks. VitalChek is another choice that adds a service fee. GO Certificates works similarly. All three pull from the state database, so Wayne County death records are accessible through any of them.
The Georgia Archives holds historical death files. Their digital collection of death records from 1919 to 1927 is free to browse. The FamilySearch Georgia Death Index covers 1933 through 1998 at no cost. Both are useful for genealogy and family history research connected to Wayne County.
Who Can Get Wayne County Death Records
Georgia law controls who can get a certified death certificate. Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-15, you must show a direct and tangible interest. Spouses, parents, children, and legal representatives of the deceased qualify. Funeral directors can also get copies. If you are working on legal matters in Wayne County like probate or insurance, bring documents proving your role.
Informational copies are available to anyone. These are not certified and do not carry legal weight. They show the same information but without the state seal. Genealogists and researchers use informational copies of Wayne County death records regularly. The Georgia Rules 511-1-3 provide the full details on eligibility.
Wayne County Death Records by Mail
Send mail requests to the Wayne County Probate Court at 359 East Walnut Street, Jesup, GA 31546. Include a money order or certified check for $25.00. Write the full name of the deceased, date of death or a range, your relationship, and attach a copy of your photo ID.
You can also mail to the state office at Georgia Department of Public Health, Vital Records, 1680 Phoenix Blvd Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349. The phone number is (404) 679-4702. State mail requests take 8 to 10 weeks. The Wayne County office is faster at 2 to 4 weeks. For the quickest turnaround, visit the Jesup courthouse in person.
The Wayne County Probate Court vital records page is shown below.
The Georgia Department of Public Health website lists the Wayne County Probate Court and its vital records services.
This page shows the courthouse location and the types of vital records available through the Wayne County Probate Court in Jesup.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Wayne County. If you are not sure where a death was recorded, try the neighboring county offices.