Access Pooler Genealogy Records

Pooler genealogy records are filed at the Chatham County courthouse in Savannah. The Probate Court and Superior Court Clerk hold marriage records, wills, land deeds, and estate files for Pooler and all of Chatham County.

Chatham County Probate Court

The Chatham County Probate Court in Savannah handles all marriage and estate records for Pooler. Probate records go back to 1777. Marriage records start in 1806. These are some of the oldest county records in Georgia. Under O.C.G.A. § 15-9-30, the Probate Court has full jurisdiction over wills, estates, guardianships, and marriage licenses.

Chatham County is one of Georgia's original counties. It was created in 1777 during the Revolution. The Probate Court holds wills, letters of administration, guardianship records, estate inventories, and marriage licenses. These early records are important for colonial and early American genealogy in Georgia.

The Probate Court is at 133 Montgomery Street in Savannah, Room 509. The courthouse on Bull Street handles other court records. Pooler is about 15 minutes west of downtown Savannah, so both offices are a short drive away.

Land Records for Pooler

Land records for the Pooler area go through the Chatham County Superior Court Clerk in Savannah. Deed books and property transfers go back to the colonial period. Under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70, these records are public.

Chatham County land records are especially rich for genealogy. Colonial-era grants, Revolutionary War bounty lands, and early state grants are all in the deed books. If your ancestors were in the Savannah area before 1800, these land records may be the best way to trace them. The colonial records predate most other Georgia record types.

Property transfers between family members are common in the deed books. Look for deeds of gift, estate sales, and divisions among heirs. These documents name family members and sometimes state relationships. Copy fees under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71 are 10 cents per page for standard copies from public agencies.

Vital Records for Pooler Genealogy

Georgia started statewide vital records in 1919 under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-9. For birth and death certificates after that year, contact the Georgia Department of Public Health. Birth certificates are $25 each. Death certificates are the same.

Birth certificate access is restricted under O.C.G.A. § 31-10-26. Only the named person, parents, grandparents, adult children, adult siblings, spouses, or legal guardians can get certified copies. Death certificates are more open and more useful for genealogy. They list parents' names, birth dates, and burial details.

Savannah had its own vital records before the statewide system. The city kept some birth and death records as early as the 1800s. These early Savannah records are at the Georgia Archives in Morrow. Check the Virtual Vault for free death certificates from 1919 to 1943. FamilySearch has Georgia death records from 1914 to 1943 at no cost.

Chatham County GAGenWeb

The Chatham County GAGenWeb page provides free genealogy resources compiled by volunteers, including cemetery lists, census data, and family files for Chatham County.

Volunteers post courthouse record transcriptions, cemetery headstone data, and other primary sources on this site. It is free and a good way to connect with other Chatham County genealogy researchers.

Online Resources for Pooler 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 Chatham County probate records on FamilySearch go back further than most Georgia counties because of the colonial records.

The Georgia Historic Newspapers archive has old Savannah papers. The Savannah Morning News and other papers have obituaries, legal notices, and family announcements going back many decades. This is a free resource run by the University System of Georgia.

The E-Access to Court Records system lets you search Chatham County court cases online. Registration is free. Basic case data costs nothing. Full documents cost $2.50 for the first page and $1.00 per additional page.

The Georgia Archives in Morrow has microfilm of Chatham County records. Free access to Ancestry.com, FamilySearch, and Fold3 is in the search room. Address: 5800 Jonesboro Road, Morrow, GA 30260. Open Tuesday through Saturday.

• Check colonial-era records for pre-Revolution families
• Search Savannah cemetery records for burial information
• Look at old Savannah newspapers for obituaries
• Use the Live Oak Public Libraries genealogy collection
• Review estate inventories for family member lists

Chatham County Records

Pooler is in Chatham County. All genealogy records for Pooler are filed at the Chatham County courthouse in Savannah. Visit the full county page for more details.

Nearby Cities

These cities are near Pooler. If your ancestors lived in the coastal Georgia area, check records in these locations too.