Find Cartersville Genealogy Records

Cartersville genealogy records are held at the Bartow County Probate Court and Superior Court Clerk at 135 W. Cherokee Avenue. Records go back to 1832 when Bartow County (originally called Cass County) was formed from Cherokee County.

Bartow County Probate Court Records

The Bartow County Probate Court is the main source for Cartersville genealogy records. It holds marriage licenses from 1832 to the present. Wills, estate files, guardianship records, and letters of administration are also stored here. Under O.C.G.A. § 15-9-30, the Probate Court has jurisdiction over all estate and marriage records in Bartow County.

Cartersville is the county seat. All probate records for Bartow County are kept at this courthouse. You can visit in person. The court also accepts mail requests. Include the full name, any dates you have, and the type of record you need. Search fees and copy fees apply. Regular copies cost about $1 per page. Certified copies cost more. Call ahead to check current fees.

One thing to know: Bartow County was called Cass County until 1861. If you are searching records or indexes from before that year, look under "Cass County" instead. The name changed during the Civil War, but the records are the same continuous set going back to 1832.

Superior Court Clerk and Land Records

The Bartow County Superior Court Clerk holds land deeds, plat maps, divorce records, and civil and criminal case files from 1832 onward. These records are valuable for Cartersville genealogy because they show property ownership, family connections, and legal disputes.

Land records are especially useful for northwest Georgia genealogy. This area opened to settlement after the Cherokee removal in the 1830s. Early land lottery records and deed books show who got land and when. If your ancestors came to the Cartersville area in the 1830s or 1840s, the Superior Court has the paperwork.

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

The Etowah Indian Mounds historic site is near Cartersville. While it predates the county records, it shows the deep roots of human settlement in this area. Some genealogy researchers use the site's history as context for understanding early Bartow County settlement patterns.

Vital Records for Cartersville

Georgia started keeping vital records at the state level in 1919 under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-9. For Cartersville, birth and death records before 1919 may not exist at the state level. Church records, cemetery records, and family Bibles are the best sources for earlier dates.

The Georgia Department of Public Health handles state vital records. Birth certificates cost $25 for the first copy and $5 for each extra. Death certificates are the same. Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-26, certified birth certificates are only available to close family members and legal guardians.

Death certificates have fewer restrictions. They list the person's name, date and place of death, parents' names, and burial site. For genealogy research, death certificates are often the best starting point.

Marriage records from 1952 to 1996 were also filed at the state level. But the Bartow County Probate Court is the best source for marriage records going back to 1832.

Online Genealogy Resources

The Georgia Probate Courts directory lists contact details for all 159 Georgia counties, including the Bartow County Probate Court that serves Cartersville.

This directory helps you find contact information for courts across the state if your genealogy research spans more than one county.

Free resources for Cartersville 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. Search for the Cartersville newspapers and other Bartow County publications for obituaries, legal notices, and family news.

Georgia Archives and E-Access

The Georgia Archives is at 5800 Jonesboro Road in Morrow, about 60 miles south of Cartersville. Call (678) 364-3710 for hours. The archives hold microfilmed Bartow County records, vital records, military records, land grants, and more. 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. Remember to search under both "Bartow County" and "Cass County" for records before 1861.

The E-Access to Court Records system lets you search Bartow 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 Georgia Open Records Act limits copy fees for public records.

Research Tips for Cartersville 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. Bartow County (as Cass County) first appears in the 1840 census. For ancestors in this area before 1832, check Cherokee County records. The land was Cherokee Nation territory until the removal treaties of the 1830s.

The Cass to Bartow name change in 1861 is important for genealogy research. Census indexes, military records, and other databases may list early records under "Cass County" while later records appear under "Bartow County." Always search both names. The Virtual Vault has a free resource on Georgia county boundary changes.

• Check cemetery records when vital records are missing
• Search under both "Cass County" and "Bartow County" for pre-1861 records
• Look at land lottery records for early settlers in the 1830s
• Use the Vanishing Georgia collection for old Bartow County photos
• Try estate records when birth or death dates are unknown

Bartow County Genealogy Records

Cartersville is the county seat of Bartow County. All marriage licenses, probate records, land deeds, and court cases are filed at the Bartow County courthouse. Records go back to 1832.

View Bartow County Genealogy Records

Nearby Georgia Cities

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