Access McDonough Genealogy Records

McDonough genealogy records go back to 1821 at the Henry County courthouse. McDonough is the county seat, so all probate, marriage, land, and court records for Henry County are kept right in town.

Henry County Probate Court in McDonough

The Henry County Probate Court sits right on the square in McDonough. Marriage licenses here go back to 1821. That is when Henry County was first organized. The court keeps wills, estate files, guardianship records, and letters of administration. Under O.C.G.A. § 15-9-30, the Probate Court has full jurisdiction over these record types in Henry County.

Being the county seat, McDonough is the most convenient place to research Henry County genealogy. You can walk into the Probate Court during business hours and ask staff to help you search. Bring the full name of the person you are looking for and an approximate time period. That speeds up the process.

Mail requests are also accepted. Send the person's name, type of record, and approximate dates along with your return address and any required fees. Call first to confirm current fee amounts. Certified copies cost more than plain copies.

Land Records in McDonough

The Henry County Superior Court Clerk in McDonough holds all land records for the county. Deed books, plat maps, and property transfers date back to 1821. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, these records are open to the public.

Land records can reveal family connections that other records miss. When property changed hands between family members, the deeds often name the relationship. Estate sales divided land among heirs and listed each one by name. These records are especially useful for early Henry County genealogy when vital records did not exist yet.

Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71, standard copies from public agencies cost 10 cents per page. Court record fees may differ slightly from this rate, so ask the clerk about current costs before you order copies. The Superior Court Clerk is in the same courthouse complex as the Probate Court.

Vital Records for McDonough Genealogy

Georgia started statewide vital records in 1919. That is when birth and death registration became required under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-9. For records after 1919, the Georgia Department of Public Health handles requests. Birth certificates cost $25 for the first copy.

Birth certificates have access limits. Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-26, only certain family members and legal representatives can get certified copies. Death certificates are more open and more useful for genealogy. They show parents' names, birth information, and burial location.

Free death records from 1919 to 1943 are on the Virtual Vault at the Georgia Archives. FamilySearch has Georgia death records from 1914 to 1943 indexed and free to search. Check these first before ordering paid copies from the state.

Henry County GAGenWeb

The Henry County GAGenWeb page has free genealogy data from volunteers, including cemetery records, census extracts, and family files for Henry County.

Volunteers post transcriptions of courthouse records, headstone inscriptions, and other genealogy sources on this site. It is a free resource for anyone researching Henry County families.

Online Tools for McDonough Genealogy

FamilySearch has Georgia marriages from 1754 to 1960 and probate records from 1742 to 1990. All free. The Georgia Historic Newspapers archive has old papers with obituaries and legal notices.

The E-Access to Court Records system lets you search Henry County court cases from home. Registration is free. Basic case information costs nothing. Full document viewing is $2.50 for the first page and $1.00 per page after that.

The Georgia Archives at 5800 Jonesboro Road in Morrow has microfilm of Henry County records. The search room has free access to Ancestry.com, FamilySearch, and Fold3. Open Tuesday through Saturday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Morrow is a short drive north from McDonough on I-75.

• Check cemetery headstones when vital records are not available
• Look at church records for baptisms, marriages, and burials
• Use tax digests for years when census records were destroyed
• Search old newspapers for obituaries and legal notices
• Review wills and estate inventories for lists of heirs

Henry County Records

McDonough is the county seat of Henry County. All genealogy records for this area are at the courthouse on the square. Visit the full county page for more details.

Nearby Cities

These cities are near McDonough. Families often moved between towns in this part of Georgia, so check nearby records when researching your family.