Find Genealogy Records in Canton

Canton genealogy records are at the Cherokee County courthouse, right in town. Canton is the county seat, so the probate court, superior court clerk, and all county offices are here.

Cherokee County Probate Court in Canton

The Cherokee County Probate Court is in Canton on North Street. This is where all marriage licenses, wills, estate records, and guardianship files are kept for the entire county. Records start in 1832, the year Cherokee County was organized. Under O.C.G.A. § 15-9-30, the Probate Court handles wills, estates, guardianships, and marriage licenses.

Since Canton is the county seat, you can walk to the courthouse. The Probate Court staff can help you look up records by name. Bring as much information as you can. A full name and approximate date range makes the search faster. If you find what you need, ask for copies right there. Certified copies cost more than plain ones.

Cherokee County records begin in 1832 because the county was formed from Cherokee Nation land that year. Before 1832, this area was not part of any Georgia county. Some related records may exist in Georgia's lottery records from the same period.

Land and Deed Records in Canton

The Cherokee County Superior Court Clerk in Canton keeps all land records. Deed books, plat maps, and property transfers go back to 1832. These records are public under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70.

Land records are strong genealogy tools. They show where people lived and who their neighbors were. Deed transfers within families, like a father giving land to a son, prove family links. Look for deeds of gift in particular. Also check for estate sales where land was divided among heirs.

The 1832 Georgia Land Lottery is an important source for early Canton and Cherokee County genealogy. Georgia gave away the former Cherokee Nation lands through a lottery system. Winners received lots of 160 acres (gold lots were 40 acres). The Georgia Archives has the full lottery records with names, counties of residence, and lot numbers.

Copy fees for land records are set by state law. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71, standard copies from public agencies cost 10 cents per page. Court records may have slightly different fees. Call the Superior Court Clerk for current costs.

Vital Records for Canton Genealogy

Georgia started statewide birth and death registration in 1919 under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-9. For records after that date, contact the Georgia Department of Public Health. Birth certificates cost $25. Death certificates are the same price.

Birth certificate access has limits. Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-26, certified copies go only to the named person, parents, grandparents, adult children, siblings, spouses, or guardians. Death certificates are more open and very useful for genealogy. They list parents' names, birth dates, and burial information.

For older death records, the Virtual Vault has free Georgia death certificates from 1919 to 1943. FamilySearch has Georgia death records from 1914 to 1943 indexed and free. Start with these before making a trip to the courthouse or paying for copies.

Cherokee County GAGenWeb Resources

The Cherokee County GAGenWeb page provides free genealogy resources compiled by volunteers, including cemetery lists, old census data, and family files.

This volunteer-run site has transcriptions of records from the Cherokee County courthouse and local cemeteries. Check here for free genealogy data before you visit in person.

Online Genealogy Tools for Canton

FamilySearch has Georgia marriages from 1754 to 1960 and probate records from 1742 to 1990. These are free. The Georgia Historic Newspapers archive has old papers with obituaries and legal notices. Both are useful for Cherokee County research.

The E-Access to Court Records system lets you search court cases for Cherokee County online. Registration is free. Basic case data is available at no cost. Viewing full documents costs $2.50 for page one, then $1.00 per page.

The Georgia Archives in Morrow has microfilm copies of Cherokee County records dating back to the 1830s. Free access to Ancestry.com, FamilySearch, and Fold3 is available in their search room. The archives are at 5800 Jonesboro Road, Morrow, GA 30260, open Tuesday through Saturday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

• Check cemetery headstones when other records are missing
• Look at church records for baptisms and marriages
• Search the 1832 Land Lottery for early Cherokee County settlers
• Use tax digests to fill gaps from destroyed census years
• Review old newspaper obituaries for family details

Cherokee County Records

Canton is the county seat of Cherokee County. All genealogy records for this area are at the courthouse on North Street. Visit the full county page for more information.

Nearby Cities

These cities are near Canton. Families in this part of Georgia often moved between nearby towns, so check neighboring records too.