Gainesville Genealogy Record Search

Gainesville genealogy records are at the Hall County courthouse on Green Street. Marriage licenses, probate files, land deeds, and court records for Gainesville date back to 1819 when Hall County was formed.

Hall County Probate Court in Gainesville

The Hall County Probate Court in Gainesville handles all marriage licenses, wills, and estate records for the county. Records go back to 1819. The court keeps marriage licenses, wills, letters of administration, guardianship files, and estate inventories. Under O.C.G.A. § 15-9-30, the Probate Court has jurisdiction over these record types.

Since Gainesville is the county seat, all Hall County records are right in town. Walk into the courthouse during business hours. Staff can search by name. Bring the full name and an approximate date range for faster results. Copies are available for a fee. Certified copies cost more than plain ones.

Mail requests work too. Send the person's full name, type of record, approximate dates, and your return address. Include any required fees. Call ahead to confirm the current cost.

Birth Records on Microfilm

Hall County has something unusual for Georgia. Birth records from 1908 to 1911 for the Gainesville area are on microfilm at the Georgia Archives in Morrow. Most Georgia counties do not have local birth records before the 1919 statewide system started under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-9. These early Gainesville birth records can be very helpful if you are researching family born in that period.

The Georgia Archives address is 5800 Jonesboro Road, Morrow, GA 30260. They are open Tuesday through Saturday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. You can view the microfilm in person for free. The archives also have free access to Ancestry.com, FamilySearch, and Fold3 in the search room.

For death certificates from 1919 to 1943, check the Virtual Vault. These are free to search online. FamilySearch also has Georgia death records from 1914 to 1943 at no cost. Both are useful starting points for Gainesville genealogy.

Land Records for Gainesville

The Hall County Superior Court Clerk in Gainesville has all land records. Deed books, plat maps, and property transfers go back to 1819. Land records are public under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70.

Land records are valuable for genealogy. They show where your ancestors lived and when they bought or sold property. Deeds between family members often name the relationship. Estate divisions list heirs. Tax digests show what property a person owned each year. The Superior Court Clerk can help you search by name or by property description.

Copy fees are governed by state law. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71, standard copies from public agencies cost 10 cents per page. Court records may charge slightly different rates. Call the clerk for current fees.

Vital Records for Gainesville Genealogy

Birth and death records after 1919 come from the Georgia Department of Public Health. Birth certificates cost $25. Death certificates are the same. Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-26, birth certificates are limited to family members and legal representatives. Death certificates are more open.

For records before 1919, use church records, cemetery transcriptions, and newspaper notices. The Georgia Historic Newspapers archive has old Gainesville papers with obituaries and family announcements. This is a free resource.

Hall County GAGenWeb

The Hall County GAGenWeb page offers free genealogy resources from volunteers, including cemetery transcriptions, census data, and family research files for Hall County.

This volunteer-run site has courthouse record transcriptions, headstone photos, and other primary sources. It is a free place to start your Gainesville genealogy research and connect with other researchers.

Online Resources for Gainesville Genealogy

FamilySearch has Georgia marriages from 1754 to 1960, probate records from 1742 to 1990, and death records from 1914 to 1943. All free. The E-Access to Court Records system lets you search Hall County court cases from home. Registration is free. Basic case data costs nothing.

• Check the 1908-1911 Gainesville birth records on microfilm at the Georgia Archives
• Search cemetery records when vital records are missing
• Look at church records for baptisms and burials
• Use tax digests for years when census records were destroyed
• Review estate inventories for family details

Hall County Records

Gainesville is the county seat of Hall County. All genealogy records are at the courthouse on Green Street. Visit the full county page for more information.

Nearby Cities

These cities are near Gainesville. Families in north Georgia moved between towns often, so check nearby records too.