Newnan Genealogy Records

Newnan genealogy records are held at the Coweta County Probate Court and Superior Court Clerk at 200 E. Court Square in Newnan. Records here go back to 1826 when Coweta County was created, making it one of the older counties in Georgia for genealogy research.

Coweta County Probate Court Records

The Coweta County Probate Court is the main source for Newnan genealogy records. Marriage licenses go back to 1826. The court also keeps wills, estate files, guardianship records, and letters of administration. Under O.C.G.A. § 15-9-30, the Probate Court has jurisdiction over all estate and marriage records in Coweta County.

Newnan is the county seat. All probate records for Coweta County are kept right here. You can visit the courthouse in person to search records. The court also takes requests by mail. Include the full name, any dates you have, and the type of record you need. A search fee applies. Regular copies cost about $1 per page. Certified copies are more. Call ahead to confirm costs.

The Coweta County Probate Court is at 200 E. Court Square in downtown Newnan. The courthouse sits on the town square, which has been the center of civic life since the 1820s. Parking is available on nearby streets and in public lots.

Land Records and Superior Court

The Coweta County Superior Court Clerk holds land deeds, plat maps, divorce records, and civil and criminal case files back to 1826. These records help with Newnan genealogy because they show property transfers, legal disputes, and family ties.

Land records matter for genealogy work in the Newnan area. Deed books show when your ancestors bought or sold property. They often name family members and neighbors. Plat maps show where land sat in relation to roads and creeks. If your family owned land near Newnan in the 1800s, the Superior Court Clerk has the records.

Divorce records are another source. The Superior Court has handled divorce cases since the county was formed. These files often name children, list property, and include ages or birth dates. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, most court records in Coweta County are open to the public. You can visit the clerk's office during business hours to search these records in person.

Vital Records for Newnan Genealogy

Georgia's statewide vital records system started in 1919 under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-9. Birth and death records before that year may not exist at the state level. For Newnan, check church records, cemetery records, and family Bibles for dates before 1919.

The Georgia Department of Public Health handles vital records for the state. Birth certificates cost $25 for the first copy and $5 for each extra. Death certificates are the same price. Under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-26, certified birth certificates are only available to the person named, parents, grandparents, adult siblings, adult children, spouses, or legal guardians.

Death certificates have fewer restrictions. For genealogy, they are often easier to get. They list the person's name, date and place of death, parents' names, and burial location. This information can open up new lines of research.

Marriage records from 1952 to 1996 were also filed at the state level with the Georgia DPH. But the Coweta County Probate Court in Newnan is the best source for marriage records going back to 1826.

Coweta County GAGenWeb Genealogy

The Coweta County GAGenWeb page is a free volunteer-run genealogy resource with cemetery transcriptions, census data, family trees, and records shared by researchers working on Coweta County lines.

This site connects you with other people researching Coweta County families. Volunteers often post records they have found at the Newnan courthouse, local libraries, and state archives.

Other free resources for Newnan 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 Georgia newspapers. Search for obituaries, legal notices, and family announcements tied to Newnan and Coweta County.

Georgia Archives and Online Access

The Georgia Archives is at 5800 Jonesboro Road in Morrow, about 40 miles northeast of Newnan. Call (678) 364-3710 for hours. The archives hold microfilmed Coweta 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 available there. So are Confederate pension applications, county maps, and the Vanishing Georgia photo collection.

You can also search Coweta County records through the E-Access to Court Records system. Registration is free. Basic case data costs nothing. If you need actual documents, the first page costs $2.50 and each page after that is $1.00. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71, the Georgia Open Records Act sets limits on copy fees for public records.

Research Tips for Newnan Genealogy

Start with what you know. Write down all names, dates, and places you have for your Coweta County family. Then work backward one generation at a time.

Census records are a strong next step. Federal census data from 1820 to 1950 is available at the Georgia Archives. The 1850 census was the first to list every person by name and age. The 1890 census was mostly destroyed by fire. For that gap, use tax digests to track your family near Newnan.

Coweta County was created from Creek Nation lands ceded in the 1826 Treaty of Indian Springs. Early settlers came from older Georgia counties to the east. If you can't find your ancestors in Coweta County before 1826, look at neighboring counties like Fayette, Meriwether, and Carroll for earlier records.

• Check cemetery records when vital records are missing
• Search church records for baptisms, marriages, and burials
• Look at Family Bible records at the Georgia Archives
• Use the Vanishing Georgia collection for old photos from Coweta County
• Try estate records when birth or death dates are unknown

Coweta County Genealogy Records

Newnan is the county seat of Coweta County. All marriage licenses, probate records, land deeds, and court cases for the city are filed at the Coweta County courthouse in Newnan. Records go back to 1826.

View Coweta County Genealogy Records

Nearby Georgia Cities

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