Carrollton Genealogy Record Lookup

Carrollton genealogy records are held at the Carroll County Probate Court and Superior Court Clerk at 323 Newnan Street. Records go back to 1826 when Carroll County was created. The county also has some early birth records from 1875, predating the statewide vital records system by over four decades.

Carroll County Probate Court Records

The Carroll County Probate Court is the main source for Carrollton genealogy records. It holds marriage licenses from 1826 to the present. Wills, estate files, guardianship records, and letters of administration are also kept here. Under O.C.G.A. § 15-9-30, the Probate Court has jurisdiction over all estate and marriage records in Carroll County.

Carrollton is the county seat. All probate records for Carroll County are stored at this courthouse. You can visit in person to search records. The court also takes mail requests. Include the full name of the person, any dates you have, and what type of record you need. A search fee and copy fees apply.

Regular copies cost about $1 per page. Certified copies cost more. Call ahead to verify current fees before sending a payment by mail.

Early Birth Records in Carroll County

Carroll County has some early birth records starting in 1875. Georgia passed an act that year requiring certain counties to register births and deaths. Most Georgia counties did not start keeping birth records at the state level until 1919 under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-9. Carroll County's early birth records are a valuable resource for genealogy researchers.

These early records may not be complete. Not every birth was registered. But when they exist, they give you the child's name, date of birth, parents' names, and sometimes the parents' birthplaces. Check with the Probate Court in Carrollton to see what is available for the years between 1875 and 1919.

For birth records after 1919, the Georgia Department of Public Health is the main source. Birth certificates cost $25 for the first copy and $5 for each extra. Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-26, certified birth certificates are only available to close family members and legal guardians.

Land Records and Superior Court

The Carroll County Superior Court Clerk holds land deeds, plat maps, divorce records, and civil case files going back to 1826. These records help with Carrollton genealogy by showing property transfers, family connections, and legal disputes.

Land records are important for west Georgia genealogy. Deed books show when your ancestors bought or sold property. They list names, prices, and descriptions of each tract. Plat maps show the exact location. If your family owned land near Carrollton in the 1800s, the Superior Court has those records.

Divorce records are also worth checking. They often name children, list property, and give ages or birth dates. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, most court records in Carroll County are open to the public. Visit the clerk's office during business hours.

Vital Records for Carrollton

Beyond the early 1875 birth records, Georgia's full statewide vital records system started in 1919. Death certificates from 1919 forward are at the state level. For deaths before 1919, check cemetery records, church records, and family Bibles.

Death certificates are useful for genealogy. They list the person's name, date and place of death, parents' names, and burial location. The Georgia DPH charges $25 for the first death certificate and $5 for each extra copy.

Marriage records from 1952 to 1996 were also filed at the state level with the DPH. But the Carroll County Probate Court in Carrollton is the best source for marriage records going back to 1826. Those early marriage records can be a goldmine for genealogy. They often list the bride's and groom's names, ages, and sometimes their parents' names.

Online Genealogy Resources

The Georgia Probate Courts directory lists contact details for all 159 Georgia counties, including the Carroll County Probate Court in Carrollton.

This directory is helpful if you need to contact courts in multiple Georgia counties for your genealogy research.

Free resources for Carrollton genealogy include FamilySearch, which has Georgia marriages from 1754 to 1960, probate records from 1742 to 1990, and death records from 1914 to 1943. The Georgia Historic Newspapers archive has over a million pages of old newspapers with obituaries, legal notices, and family announcements.

The University of West Georgia in Carrollton has special collections and archives. The Irvine Sullivan Ingram Library holds local history materials, manuscripts, and records tied to Carroll County and west Georgia. If you are doing in-person research, the university library is worth checking out alongside the courthouse.

Georgia Archives and E-Access

The Georgia Archives is at 5800 Jonesboro Road in Morrow, about 55 miles east of Carrollton. Call (678) 364-3710 for hours. The archives hold microfilmed Carroll County records, vital records, military records, and land grants. Free access to Ancestry.com, FamilySearch.org, and Fold3 is available in the search room.

The Virtual Vault gives you free online access to some collections from home. Death certificates from 1919 to 1943 are there. So are Confederate pension applications, county maps, and the Vanishing Georgia photo collection.

The E-Access to Court Records system lets you search Carroll County records online. Registration is free. Basic case data costs nothing. Documents cost $2.50 for the first page and $1.00 for each page after. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71, the Open Records Act limits copy fees for public records.

Research Tips for Carrollton Genealogy

Start with what you know. Write down names, dates, and places. Work backward one generation at a time.

Census records are a good next step. Federal census data from 1820 to 1950 is at the Georgia Archives. Carroll County appears in censuses starting with 1830. The 1850 census was the first to name every person in each household. The 1890 census was mostly destroyed. For that gap, use tax digests.

Carroll County was created from Creek Nation lands ceded in the 1826 Treaty of Indian Springs. If your ancestors were in this area before 1826, check neighboring counties to the east for earlier records. Douglas County was later carved from Carroll County in 1870, so some Carroll County families ended up in Douglas County records after that date. The Virtual Vault has a free resource on Georgia county boundary changes.

• Check the early 1875 birth records at the Carroll County Probate Court
• Search cemetery records when vital records are missing
• Look at the University of West Georgia special collections
• Use the Vanishing Georgia collection for old Carroll County photos
• Try estate records when birth or death dates are unknown

Carroll County Genealogy Records

Carrollton is the county seat of Carroll County. All marriage licenses, probate records, land deeds, and court cases are filed at the Carroll County courthouse. Records go back to 1826.

View Carroll County Genealogy Records

Nearby Georgia Cities

These cities are near Carrollton. Each has its own page with local genealogy resources and courthouse information.