Lawrenceville Genealogy Records

Lawrenceville genealogy records are kept at the Gwinnett County courthouse, located right in downtown Lawrenceville. As the county seat, Lawrenceville is the hub for all Gwinnett County genealogy research.

Gwinnett County Courthouse in Lawrenceville

Lawrenceville is the county seat of Gwinnett County. The courthouse is right here in town. This makes Lawrenceville the best place for in-person genealogy research if you have Gwinnett County roots.

Gwinnett County has some of the deeper record collections in metro Atlanta. Probate records go back to 1818. Marriage records start in 1871. Divorce and court files date from 1858. Land records begin in 1871. These records cover every community in the county, from Lawrenceville to Duluth, Peachtree Corners, Sugar Hill, and beyond.

Birth and death certificates at the county level start in 1919. The first certified copy costs $25. Each additional copy is $5. The Probate Court handles marriage licenses, wills, estate files, and guardianships under O.C.G.A. § 15-9-30. The Superior Court Clerk keeps land deeds, divorce records, and civil cases.

Vital Records for Lawrenceville Genealogy

Georgia began statewide vital records in 1919 under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-9. The Department of Public Health handles birth and death certificates. Before 1919, most areas did not keep systematic vital records. Gwinnett County has some local records from before statewide registration, but coverage is uneven.

Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-26, certified birth certificates are restricted. Only the person named, parents, grandparents, adult children, adult siblings, spouses, or legal guardians can get one. Death certificates are less restricted and more helpful for genealogy research.

For older records, the Georgia Archives Virtual Vault has free death certificates from 1919 to 1943. FamilySearch has indexed Georgia death records from 1914 to 1943. Marriage records from 1952 to 1996 were filed at both the county and state level. Check the Georgia Department of Public Health if the county does not have the record you need.

Online Access to Lawrenceville Genealogy Records

The E-Access to Court Records system lets you search Gwinnett County records from home. Registration is free. Basic case info is free. Document copies cost $2.50 for the first page and $1.00 per page after.

Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, most government records in Georgia are open to the public. Court records at the Gwinnett County courthouse fall under this law. You can file a written open records request with the clerk for anything not in the online system. Copy fees are capped at 10 cents per page under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71 for standard documents from public agencies.

Free sites include FamilySearch for indexed Georgia records, the Georgia Archives Virtual Vault for digitized documents, and the Georgia Historic Newspapers collection. Old Lawrenceville and Gwinnett County newspapers have obituaries, legal notices, and family announcements that can help with your research.

Gwinnett County Probate Court Resources

The Gwinnett County government website has information on the Probate Court, including forms, fees, and office hours for genealogy record requests.

This page shows the Gwinnett County Probate Court with details on how to request genealogy records, available record types, and current fee schedules.

Lawrenceville Genealogy Research Tips

Start with what you know. List every name, date, and place. Then work backward one generation at a time.

Lawrenceville has been the county seat since Gwinnett County was created in 1818. The courthouse has always been here. This means the oldest Gwinnett County records are in Lawrenceville. Probate records from 1818 are among the oldest in the metro Atlanta area.

Census records are a great next step. Federal data from 1820 to 1950 is available on Ancestry.com and FamilySearch. The 1850 census was the first to name every household member. The 1890 census was destroyed. For that decade, use Gwinnett County tax digests at the Georgia Archives.

Keep in mind that Gwinnett County was much larger in the early 1800s. Parts of what became Walton County, Jackson County, and other nearby counties were once part of the original Gwinnett County territory. If your Lawrenceville ancestors seem to disappear from records, they may have ended up in a new county when borders changed.

• Check the 1818 probate records for early Gwinnett County families
• Search cemetery records at Lawrenceville City Cemetery and local church graveyards
• Look at old Gwinnett County newspapers for obituaries
• Use the Georgia Archives search room for free database access
• Review land deeds for property transfers and family connections

Gwinnett County Records

Lawrenceville is the county seat of Gwinnett County. Visit our Gwinnett County page for full details on courthouse records, fees, and how to request genealogy documents.

Nearby Cities

These cities are near Lawrenceville. Families often moved between nearby towns, so check these areas for additional genealogy records.