Athens Genealogy Records

Athens genealogy records are held at the Clarke County courthouse. Clarke County and the City of Athens merged into a single government in 1991, so all vital records, probate files, and land deeds for this area are in one place.

Clarke County Probate Court

The Clarke County Probate Court is the main office for genealogy records in Athens. Marriage licenses go back to 1801. Probate files start the same year. The court keeps wills, estate inventories, guardianship records, and letters of administration. Under O.C.G.A. § 15-9-30, the Probate Court has full jurisdiction over these types of records.

You can visit in person or send a request by mail. Walk-in requests are handled at the courthouse on Washington Street. Phone the office to ask about fees before you go. Copy costs vary. Certified copies cost more than plain ones. The court staff can help you find the right record if you have a name and rough date range.

Clarke County is a consolidated city-county government. This means there is no separate city clerk for Athens. All records go through the county offices. This can make genealogy research simpler since you only have one place to check.

Land and Deed Records in Athens

Land records for Athens date back to 1801. The Clarke County Superior Court Clerk holds deed books, plat maps, and property transfers. These records show who owned land, when they bought or sold it, and who their neighbors were. Land records are some of the most useful tools for genealogy in Athens because they place your ancestors in a specific spot at a specific time.

Deed records often list family members. A father selling land to a son, or a widow transferring property after a death, can confirm family ties. You may also find references to enslaved persons in pre-Civil War deeds, which helps with African American genealogy in Clarke County.

Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, land records are public. Anyone can view them. You do not need to prove a family connection. The Superior Court Clerk can help you search by name or by property description. Fees for copies are set by state law, with standard pages at 10 cents under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71.

Vital Records for Athens Genealogy

Birth and death records for Athens follow the state system. Georgia began statewide vital records in 1919 under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-9. For records after 1919, contact the Georgia Department of Public Health. Birth certificates cost $25 for the first copy. Death certificates cost the same.

Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-26, birth certificates have restrictions. Only the named person, parents, grandparents, adult children, adult siblings, spouses, or legal guardians can get a certified copy. Death certificates are more open. They are useful for genealogy since they list parents' names, birth dates, and burial details.

For records before 1919, look at church records, cemetery transcriptions, and old newspaper notices. Athens had several churches with long histories that kept baptism and burial records. The Clarke County GAGenWeb page has some of these transcribed. The Georgia Archives in Morrow has death certificates from 1919 to 1943 on the Virtual Vault, free to search online.

Georgia Probate Courts Directory

The Georgia Probate Courts Directory lists contact details for every probate court in the state, including Clarke County.

Use this directory to find phone numbers, addresses, and hours for the Clarke County Probate Court before you visit or call.

Online Genealogy Resources for Athens

Several free online databases can help with Athens genealogy. FamilySearch has Georgia marriages from 1754 to 1960, probate records from 1742 to 1990, and death records from 1914 to 1943. These are free to search and view.

The Georgia Historic Newspapers archive has old Athens newspapers. Obituaries, legal notices, and marriage announcements in these papers can fill gaps in official records. This is a free resource run by the University of Georgia.

The University of Georgia in Athens has its own special collections library. The Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library holds papers, maps, and photographs tied to Clarke County history. The Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies also has useful collections. Both are open to the public and free to use for genealogy research.

Georgia's statewide E-Access to Court Records system lets you search probate cases online. Registration is free. Basic case information costs nothing. Viewing full documents costs $2.50 for the first page and $1.00 for each page after that.

Research Tips for Athens Genealogy

Start with what you know. Write down names, dates, and places. Then work back one generation at a time. Census records are a good next step. The federal census from 1820 to 1940 is available at the Georgia Archives and through Ancestry.com.

Keep in mind that the 1790, 1800, 1810, and 1890 federal census records for Georgia were destroyed. For those years, use Clarke County tax digests instead. Tax records show who lived in the county and what property they owned. The 1850 census was the first to list every person in a household by name.

Athens and Clarke County consolidated in 1991. But for genealogy, the records were always kept at the county level anyway. So the merger did not change where you look for old records. All historical files stayed in the same courthouse.

• Check cemetery records when vital records are missing
• Search church records for baptisms and burials
• Look at the UGA libraries for maps and photographs
• Use the Virtual Vault for free death certificates from 1919 to 1943
• Review estate files when you cannot find a death record

The Georgia Archives in Morrow has microfilm copies of many Clarke County records. They offer free access to Ancestry.com, FamilySearch, and Fold3 in their search room. The address is 5800 Jonesboro Road, Morrow, GA 30260. Open Tuesday through Saturday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

Clarke County Records

Athens is part of Clarke County. All genealogy records for Athens are filed at the Clarke County courthouse. Visit the full county page for more details on available records and research options.

Nearby Cities

These cities are near Athens. If your ancestors lived in this part of Georgia, check records in these locations too. Families moved between nearby towns often.