Access Kennesaw Genealogy Records

Kennesaw genealogy records are filed at the Cobb County courthouse in Marietta. Marriage records, wills, land deeds, and court files for Kennesaw families are all kept at the county level.

Cobb County Courthouse Records for Kennesaw

Kennesaw does not have its own courthouse. All genealogy records for Kennesaw are at the Cobb County courthouse in Marietta, about 6 miles south of Kennesaw. The drive takes roughly 15 minutes.

The Probate Court holds marriage licenses from 1865 to the present. It also keeps wills, estate inventories, guardianship files, and letters of administration. The Superior Court Clerk has land deeds, divorce records, and civil court files going back to 1865. These records are open to the public for genealogy research.

Under O.C.G.A. § 15-9-30, the Probate Court has jurisdiction over wills, estates, guardianships, conservatorships, and marriage licenses in Cobb County. This is the primary office for Kennesaw genealogy records. Walk-in visits are welcome, and you can also send written requests by mail.

Vital Records for Kennesaw Genealogy

Georgia began statewide vital records in 1919 under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-9. The Department of Public Health manages birth and death certificates. Before 1919, some local areas kept their own records, but not all did. Coverage for rural areas like Kennesaw was spotty before statewide registration.

A birth certificate costs $25 for the first copy and $5 for each extra copy. Death certificates are the same price. Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-26, certified birth certificates can only go to the person named, parents, grandparents, adult children, adult siblings, spouses, or legal guardians. Death certificates are less restricted.

Free death certificates from 1919 to 1943 are on the Georgia Archives Virtual Vault. FamilySearch has indexed Georgia death records from 1914 to 1943. Both sites are free. Marriage records from 1952 to 1996 were filed at both the county and state level.

Online Genealogy Records for Kennesaw

You can search Cobb County records online through the E-Access to Court Records system. Registration is free. Basic case data is available at no charge. If you need actual documents, the first page costs $2.50 and each page after that is $1.00.

Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, most government records in Georgia are open to the public. You have the right to see court records at the Cobb County courthouse. Written open records requests go to the clerk. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71, copy fees from public agencies are capped at 10 cents per page for standard copies.

FamilySearch has free Cobb County records. The Georgia Historic Newspapers archive has old papers from the Marietta area with obituaries and legal notices. These free resources are a good place to start before paying for courthouse copies.

Cobb County GAGenWeb for Kennesaw Research

The Cobb County GAGenWeb page has free genealogy data contributed by volunteers. You can find cemetery records, census data, family files, and more for the Cobb County area.

This site has free volunteer records for Cobb County that may include data relevant to Kennesaw families.

The Georgia Archives Virtual Vault is another free resource. It has digitized death certificates, military records, and other documents. The Georgia Historic Newspapers collection has old papers with obituaries and family notices from across the state. Both can help with Kennesaw genealogy.

Kennesaw Genealogy Research Tips

Start with what you know. Write down all names, dates, and places for your Kennesaw family. Work backward from there.

Census records are a strong next step. Federal census data from 1820 to 1950 is on Ancestry.com and FamilySearch. The 1850 census was the first to name everyone in the household. The 1890 census was mostly destroyed by fire. For that gap, Cobb County tax digests at the Georgia Archives can help.

Kennesaw was originally called Big Shanty. The name changed in 1887. If you are looking for ancestors who lived here before 1887, search under both names. Civil War records are also important for Kennesaw, since the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain took place here in 1864. Military records from that era may mention local families.

The Kennesaw area sits in northern Cobb County. Cherokee County borders to the north. If your family lived near the county line, check Cherokee County records too. County borders shifted over the years, and an ancestor counted in one county might show up in a different county on the next census.

• Check cemetery records at local churches and graveyards
• Search for "Big Shanty" in pre-1887 records
• Look at Civil War military records for local family names
• Use the Georgia Archives for free Ancestry.com access
• Review land deed books for property ownership history

Cobb County Records

Kennesaw is part of Cobb County. All genealogy records are filed at the county level in Georgia. Visit our Cobb County page for full courthouse details and contact information.

Nearby Cities

These cities are near Kennesaw. Families often moved short distances, so records in nearby cities may have clues about your Kennesaw ancestors.